Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1932-03-25
The "One Arm"
By sTANDIsH B. REAMER
e by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.l
(WNU Service)

L ANE THOMAS wandered aimlesS
II ly along "Boul Mich" utterly In
different to the jostling Of the MONDAY
crowds. Seemingly nothing attracted
his attention. Yet nothing of mood
ness, nor even thoughtfulness, ap
peared to be occupying his mind.
Lane was aimless. Al the moment
he had nothing ON his mind of i'm
port, even an objective for his walk
For an hour he had been roaming
about the loop district, with no pur
pose In mind, then the movement Of
the crowd or some other impulse moi
of his own, caused him to turn into
"Boul Mich" Equally unconsciously
he turned with a section of the crowd
into Randolph street.
Several persons In the hurried
throng turned into one of the several
"one-arm" restaurants that line Chi.
cago's Rialto. Sensing q desire for o
sandwich and cup of coffee, Lane
turned with a small crowd, entered
the restaurant and lined up at the
counter. Receiving his sandwich and
coffee, Lane looked about for an emp
ty one-armed chair. All seemed to be
filled and he passed the length of the
restaurant feeling rather foolish with
his load, before he espied an empty
seat. Crowding in the space to SIT
down he jostled the next chair, caus-
ing an over-full cup of coffee to lose
a trifle of the contents.
BEG pardon" he said mechanically,
without looking at the occupant.
"Granted" came back the reply,
equally mechanically. Such incidents
are common in the one-arm eating
places. Lanes back turned sharply
as he heard In a throaty voice. at
would seem that the originator of this
style Of restaurant had the community
spirit"
Lane stared in surprise at the speak
er. Not at all the class Of girl to pick
up an acquaintance. was the thought
that rushed through his mind.
"Why2" he asked.
''The chairs are placed so close to.
| seIuer' IL just seenns u cVnpei SOli'
panionship."
Lane gazed into pair or deep,
clear, steady dark blue eyes set III
an ivory and rose oval face and sur
mounted by a fluff of red gold hair
that even the tightly-htting plane
hat could not confine. He felt sense
OF regret as ne replied, TOO transient
Tor eompanionship." He waved bis
arm towards the hurrying feasters
'Rush in-rush out. Seeing no one,
knowing no one-caring less for any
one. Three and one-half millions
each struggling to maintain himself OF
herself against all the rest"
RATHER cynical, aren't your Car
you not rather see the community spir
1t struggling for recognition? Wouldn't
that De the more human way to looR
at Chieagos rusning milllons-human
ity building a more complete civilian
tion and doing 1t In community
spiritT
Some welfare worker, probably
new to 1t and trying herself out or
me-" was Lanes thought, for his con
tinued study of the girl convinced him
fully she was not the type to start q
Irritation. Yet his sneering thought
showed in his next remark, though
lightly. Her slight flush proved she
caught the impression In his mind
when he said:
SLOW did you happen to start such
subject? Are you one Of Chlcago't
welfare workers-and do you think
nm suitable subject on which to
work?"
"0h." she gasped. 'T-L-did moi
think you would take my remarks that
way"
"What did you think?"
Her embarrassment grew so appar-
ent Lane felt ashamed of himself, YET
he gazed steadily into her eyes to
learn the truth.
"Oh. I'LL"
IT saw your back-and the back Of
your head, as you turned to place
your lunch on the arm-and-and-"
swell, for the love of heavens, what
about my backf Does front view
change your ideas? And what was
your idea, anyway"
A pleasant smile lighted her features
so entrancingly. her confusion strong
as II was, having failed to repress her
risibilities, that Lane himself grew
red with contrition at his sharpness
"Never mind" he said. 81 apologize
for my rudeness. Stiu, I am inter.
osted In knowing what Won saw in nv
hack Perhons l can hiring front
view to vour favor also n T know"
Th,s time she launched ortr,ght