The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-02-05
CHAPTER TWO

TURING the long hot morning at
II Barclays department store,
Myras words fingered with Ellen.
Myra had said that the Rossiter
family always would be just one
jump ahead Of the poorhOuse.
Myra had said that the Rossiter
girls never would find men finan-
cially able to marry them. With a
pang in her heart Ellen thought
of Myra, engaged for nine years to
Bert, worn out with ceaseiesS wait
ing fer the opportunity, the break
that never came.
She thought of little Mike. In
an age of specialization, Mike must
have his chance But how was that
chance to come? How was Mike to
go TO college as other boys did?
How was Mike to get an educa-
ton? All the Rossiters desired ease
and beauty and luxury in life. All
Of them deserved those things.
AS she mechanically cut lengths
Of 19-cent outing flannel for women
who for some inscrutable reason
wanted outing flannel in midsum-
mer, the girls mind returned con-
tinually to that morning converse
ton.
Were the Rossiters fooling them
selves? Were they indeed all lost
in worse than medocrity? Did the
past glories of family count for
nothing when the present of that
family was poverty?
What's eating your" Jenny Ell
kins, her counter mate, asked once.
Nothing" Ellen replied-spirit-
lessly.
But she felt weary and discour-
aged. Her head ached from the
heat and from the ceaseless COM
plants of shoppers who desired
more for their money than their
money would buy. Like us"
thought Ellen bitterly.
With noon and the lunch hour
she cheered AS she combed her
hair and powdered her damp face
dry, she observed that she had
great deal Of company.
AAiC VI Coo4llB 4OOlll Wdo 4ull VI
ealesgirls, less we'll off than herself,
many Of them fading, past the age
of romance and past the possibility
OF attaining happier futures.
Ellen was young. She had unde-
niable good looks and distinction
Just around the corner who knew
what might be in store?
She swung out into the street.
Fifth avenue was jaded and willing
in the August sunshine. Even the
shop windows seemed dusty and
the merchandise, usually so en-
ticing, was dimmed by the blazing
noon light.
DUT Ellen felt the customary lift
I'D of spirit as she left the store.
She was almost eager now for the
coming adventure. After all, she
never had been inside Dreamland.
There was no reason why it might
not be fun. There would be youth
there at least. 1t was better to
dance than to sit evening after eve
ming in a stuffy apartment wonder
ing how two small salaries were to
be stretched to feed and clothe
three adults and one active boy.
That feeling of suppressed ex-
citement was still with her when
she reached the dancehall a few
steps off Broadway and plunged in
to the graceful dusk of the build
ing.
1t left her abruptly when, at the
second floor, she left the elevator
and stepped into Dreamland.
The big, over-decorated room,
even with all the shades drawn, APP
peared cheap and tawdry. The
paper roses that shaded the lights
were not only imitation-they were
dirty.
The floor, not yet swept, was
lmussy with confetti remaining from
the night before. Nor did the peel
ing gilt chairs and tables arranged
around the walls present a setting
for romance. Or the glass ticket
booth near the door like the ticket
booths of motion picture houses. AS
though romance were for sale!
Ellen squared her law, assured