Evening star., 1933-02-07
INSTALLMENT xxi.

AAASAN tA1C uOOI Ndo SlOcCN
after the taxicab driver
wv Miss Meens led Carroll up
stairs, and mounting. Miss
Meens sustained a mono
logue, which Carroll soon learned was
hushed only by the Tightening arms OF
Morpheus.
Il want you should use the back stairs
regular" Carroll heard, because what
with the way the roomers tear up and
down these stairs-I rent out rooms
the carpets going something terrible
They amt day don't take notice to
another wore spot and have 'em padded
good, too, but nothing seems to help,
and I'll give you the room on the bal
cony that I can't rent out on account Of
it being too small. 1t gives on the bal
cony and it's next to Mr.. Todd's: he's
a married man from the South who IS
working for the chain works and half
the time they only work five days week
now, and then he's Settin here wearing
out my chairs, but 1 guess a body can't
complain, and as I seid in my advertise
ment-that's the bath room door-Ill
expect you to help out in any ways
want; I'll expect you to make the beds
anyway regular and wash out the tub.
Mr.. Todd bathes regular as clockwork
every morning, and it certainly wears
guess, and this is your room"
Carroll stepped within the room,
dizzy. She looked around to see a cot
composed of Jumps and gray bedding, a
frayed mating, chair minus two rungs
and a washstand that was to serve as
dressing table. She also saw chimney,
which jutted into the room, and the
water stained ceiling and the door that
gave" on the balcony, and a window.
She set her bags, which she had
dragged up the long stairs, by the wash
stand and Miss Mems continued. The
room, Miss Mems stated, was heated by
the chimney-even the most unimag-
tnative Of us often indulge flights of
purest fancy-and she was prepared to
pay" four dollars week. which, with
board and room was good, considering
the hard times and how mean people
we're about settling for clothes they felt
they had to have whether they could
pay for them or not, and there were
hooks against the wall for Carroll's
clothes and as soon as Carroll had un-
packed her stuff" she should hurry
right down to pull basting threads,
using the back stairs, because-and on.
After Miss Mems voice was faded by
distance Carroll closed the door to stand
against it for moment, eyes closed.
She had reached this spot, haven,
sordid though it was, in safety. She
felt certain that no one had seen her
to follow her. The urge to live sur
vived beneath a slowed drugged variety
of horror-her mother, Theresa. But
she must take her clothes from her bag
and hatbox to hurry down the back
stairs to basting threads. She unlocked
her bags with clumSily faltering fingers.
AS she was unpacking Carroll heard
the chair testing Mr.. Todd open his
door, clump into his room and slam his
door. The noise was hearty and cheer
ing And in his room she heard him
puttering around and either there was a
canary in his room or he WAS whistling
q la canary. She dropped the brush she
had bought from the hair dresser, her
hands seemed so thick, and the whis-
ting ceased. And, since canaries are al
most never made sheepishly conscious
by an unexpected audience, Carroll de-
cided that it YVES Mr.. Todds pursed
beck that had made the noise She
wanted to call, Don't stop; I like It'll"
but it took the day to reach that point.
She went downstairs little later to
find the pattern of her hours She pull
ed basting threads to al accompaniment
of Miss Mems monotone, which crush
ed the life from commas and utterly ig-
uO-EQ Tie mercy OF p6TlOQ.
Carroll, in the big kitchen where most
OF the sewing was done, sat by a back
window on which was q row of cacti,
their feet shod in tomato cans There
was begonia enriched by plant lice,
In the other rear window. A big coal
stove, on zinc mat with an upcurling
edge, jutted out into the room. A sew
ing machine was in front of the begonia
window and there were what Miss
Mems called "the dresser" two rocking
chairs with pads on them, which smelled
of cabbage, and some straight chairs,
and twins in sewing tables. The table
held an open pattern, the community
butter plate, dish of Jelly marked by
a higher jelly tide, and three empty
milk bottles. An old clock on wall
shelf licked solemnly, as its pendulum
swung bahind round of colored glass.
The walls were papered in weary
brown, which was never done with eat
ing light
Carroll was to know the room inti-
mately and in it to learn much of work
and ouerulous complaint and that one
may fail to please despite the most ar
dent trying.
"Where'd you say you come from?"
Hiss Mems now questioned. Carroll had
not said, but this was one Of Miss
Mems favorite ferns of extracting in
formation; it rarely failed her.
Connecticut" said Carroll.
Connecticut" Miss Meens echoed;
she added, severely. Don't know moth
ing about it. Why'd you leave home?"
MY father married again'-that
much was true. Carroll realized, speak
tng-"and I thought it would be bet
ter"
Guess you're right. Young woman?"
eyes, she was quite young"
There amt no fool like an old fool,
as the saying goes. Hand me that spool
of fifty white cotton that's on the sew
ing machine"
Carroll rose to do the handing.
"Wha'd you say the name of the
town VASE" Miss Mems continued, as
she took the spool from Carroll.
Stamford"
Never heard of it. Do you have any
relatives in York;"
mo, I haven't"
How'd you happen to come to York;"
That took some quick thought, which