The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-31
CHAPTER FOUR
THE big bus shook the lights Of

New YORK from Its cleaning
sides and plunged on to the darken-
ing highway. Finally it turned its
nose west and held the course. Ruth
Woodson, sitting in one of the deep
seats. felt a thrill of excitement. Off
into the unknown!
A porter went through the car,
offered pillows to the passengers.
When he came to Ruth she said,
No, thank you," firmly. An elbow
prodded her side. 1t belonged to
the large, gray-haired woman be-
side her. Take it," the woman adj
vised. 1T don't cost anything"
Thank you so much" Ruth said
when the clean pillow vas adjusted
under her head. L didn't know it
vas free service"
She closed her eyes to discourage
further conversation, for she was
very tired. In a moment she had
drifted off into delicious sleep.
When Ruth awakened there was
a confused moment Of locating her
self. then a feeling of being rested
and alert. Dawn was in the sky.
The woman beside her was awake,
too, arranging her hair in a pocket
mirror and uttering little groans Of
annoyance.
Catching Ruth's eye, she smiled
at her and said, Il always wish I
was a man at a time like this. A
woman's clothes are hard to tidy.
My collar looks like I'd slept in it."
You have" Ruth said, and they
both laughed. Are We almost to
Buffalo I'm getting off there"
Well be there Soon,7 the woman
answered. I'm changing buses
there. I'm on my way to Hunt
ington TO visit my sister-in-law. I
haven't ever been this far West
before"
I haven't either" Ruth ex-
claimed. Her Seatmate had a kind,
child-liAe face and was as eager to
be nice as a friendly puppy. Ruth
felt grateful to her for telling her
about the pillow.
The woman was studying Ruth
with interest. "A young girl like you
will enjoy visitin' in Buffalo," she
offered. There's plenty to see
there-Niagara Falls and all"
Ruth decided to crafty the stran-
gers curiosity. I'm not going there
to visit" she told her. I'm going
to look for a job. Buffalo just
happened to be the first large city
on this route. so I bought my ticket
for there. I'm being a sort of gam
bier. you see"
The woman exclaimed, We'll,
now!" She was silent for so long
that Ruth hoped it was to be per-
manent. But after a bit she re-
marked thoughtfully, L had a niece
by marriage that went there last
year from Jersey. She and an
other girl. They tried TO get jobs
there. but they couldn't. They had
to leave"
d UTH was now attentive. You
N mean they couldn't find any
work to do?" she asked. Not
either of them?"
NO. they couldn't" the woman
replied. My niece said most towns
have a way of looking after their
permanent residents before they
give jobs to outsiders. She and this
other girl stayed five weeks and
then gave it up and left. They
were hitch-hiking." she explained.
oh" said Ruth. She lapsed into
silence and misgivings.
I didn't mean TO discourage
YOU" the woman remarked. Il
guess I should've kept my mouth
shut. My names Mrs. Tillie Cogly
=" she paused TO introduce herself.
I'm always saying the wrong things
20 people. Sc you mustn't mind me.
Maybe you'll 90 fine in Buffalo"
Ruth smiled at her. Thank you,
Mrs. Cogly. My names Ruth Wood
son I think you did right TO tell
me your niece's experience. Where
is she now?"
Well" replied Mrs. Cogly, that's
the nice part of it. She and this
girl went on to Pittsburgh, it was,
Hitch-hiking. YOU know, and lucky
all the way. They got a place in
Pittsburgh called the Girls Indus
trial League and they live there
now. Or they did the last time I
heard. which was two or three
months ago. This place is a big old