Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-03-07
Street Scene
By LAURA LINcHEN
@, Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

marching ants as they nleu past ner'
nor the world itself more like dung
hill of crawling insects.
Claude, her stepfather, was waiting
for her in the lobby Of the Maldridge.
Mother worked but Claude lived on
pension; he was gassed or something
once. Patricia had just come to live
with them since Aunt Margot died.
Aunt Margot understood. Patricia was
a sensitive child that needed encour-
agement and patience. Her talent
needed good soil and fair weather for
its growth. Aunt Margot had nour-
ished Pats literary seed. But Aunt
Margot had died and Patricia at nine
teen was left dependent on mother
and Claude. Claude seemed to hold
some strange power over mother.
Patricia loathed him. He was heavy
and almost vulgar and the once good
contours of his face were flabby now.
Claude thought Patricia a moon-struck
fool. He had told her to get out and
find job and make her own. Mother
had mildly added that it would do her
no harm.
Three mornings now had she walked
the streets and answered ads, and
made inquiries. "Any experience"
How could one say yes? Some took
her application; others would not do
that 1t was strange, hateful world.
At the corner she saw voluptuous
old negress wabbling down the street.
She was humming to the swaying of
her ripping fat. Patricia watched her
while waiting for the green light The
old black woman came up to her.
swell, hello, honey, Miss Wilma"
Pat stared at her not replying.
II know you all think you don't know
me-" she went on, "but l knows you. I
knows you by that pretty little dress
you wearing" Patricia felt en-
barrassed.
mo, you don't know me. I'm :"
'Listen, honey, Miss Wilma, l dom
fo'git no dress after 1 done once
washed it" Pat glanced uneasily at
her green pleated crepe. 1t was only
its second wearing. The old woman
was mad.
Get out" she said hurriedly. "I'm
a stranger here in town." The light
was green. Patricia hurried across
but the old woman was at her heels
and talking loudly.
"Sho huff. Well you and Miss Will
ma JUS look so much alike, ah, honey,
you dom know no one what wants a
good washwoman?" Well this was
technique.
"No," said Patricia kindly and
quickly realized her indulgent tone was
mistake; the negress was walking
abreast of her now.
"Well, yo' all couldn' put nickel on
a church calendar, could ya?"
"I'm looking for job myself" and
Pat suddenly jay-walked to shake her
off, but the old negress jay-walked, too.
Oats right, honey, OATS right.
You'll find one, too. Just depend on
da good Lord he makes TO- us
all" Well, that was thought. Then
the old woman stopped to confab with
a street cleaner and, Pat, seeing her
chance, lodged down the street. It
was only little piece, however, until
the old woman came calling after her.
"Lissen, chile, you done run off and
pass'd up sign in dat winda /.
you muslin nebbah pass a sign, Miss
Honey"
Despairingly, Pat looked back.
"Why, sure enough, it says Girl Want
ed,' might go in" The old woman
nodded proudly and turned back with
her. Well, this was too much.
Listen, you stay here, I'd better go
by myself" she said, but just as she
was about to enter the shop door the
old negress caught up with her.
II ain gonna let you POI child go in
there without no hep" she said, open
ing her dilapidated purse the while.
'Heah, now, this gonna hep da good
Lord do his work." She took out a
rabbits foot, and giving it three moan
ing kisses, handed it to the young girl.
Laughingly Pat took it. What a quaint
old fool, she unused, as she entered the
place. Crazy as a loon, but she did
give her a warm feeling inside. She
saw man standing in the back talking
to lady. Still smiling she sought him.
Il saw your sign in the window, sir"
"Oh, forgot" But then he was
staring round-eyed at the thing in her
hand.
whats thatT' he said. Pat looked
down and felt the heat creep over her
chin and up her cheeks. She gave a
silly little laugh.
"Oh, that's for good luck" she said.
The man did not smile but looked q
long time at her innocent young face
All right all right >"
he said at length gruffly. Report in
the morning. Place for girl in the
Office"
The lady standing beside the man.
ager gave significant humph.
II thought you wanted clerk,ny
help" she said.
II did," he answered, ''but inst
hired woman for that. / forgot n
take the sign down."
Then, why in the world did Won hire
this young thing for?"