The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-09-04
Ruth Leaves Home; Boards Bus, Wishing
 No Longer To Be Burden To Her Cousins

lnterrupting somethlngT
 "No," replied Ruth in embarrass- ment. "Oh, no. I'll go and call Cecil" As she passed Lefty their eyes met and the hatred in those sky-blue eyes gave Ruth the an- swer to the question she had been asking herself for weeks. Lefty was in love with Jack Willer. and regarded Ruth as her rival.
 Ruth wished bitterly that there were some spot in the house where she might go and be alone, some little sanctuary where she might go now with her problems and her mistakes. and try to think them out. We'll, there was the street.
 She went to the coat closet and got her hat and coat and put them on. She slipped out of the kitchen door.
 Ruth did not know how far she had walked, or how long. She found herself on the fringe of a busy business section. She saw a great bus chugging before a sta- tion. Across its sides, in neat painted letters, were the words, "CLEVELAND, BUFFALO, ROCH- ESTER, SYRACUSE, SCRAN- TON" The lights were lighted but the driver was not in sight.
 Ut won't be going for while," Ruth said aloud to no one in par ticular.
 Next door there was pawn shop She saw that, too. There were three gilded balls hanging above the door. She went through that door.
 The man who came to serve her was elderly. He wore skull cap and had white beard and infi- nitely kind eyes. He reminded her | of Moses. She said to him, "I have a little pin here that l would like to sell. Ie belonged to my mother, and to my grandmother before that. think 1t even belonged to my grandmother's mother" She un- pinned it from her collar and showed it to him. What will you give me for it?" she asked.
 The old man took the pin in his slender, sensitive hands. He said, You must need money badly to part with this thing of your peo- ple." His voice held a sort of re- proof, the reproof of a proud race that respects heritage.
 II do need money badly" Ruth answered. Il need to catch the bus out there that's apout to leave." The old man raised his eyes from the pin and looked at her. Then he said, II am a sentimental man. do not need any more money than l have. can do what | like to do." He seemed to be explain ing these things to himself, rather than to the waiting girl. T will give you $20 for the little pin, and I will put 1t away until you come again to get it. It pleases me to do this"
 You are good," Ruth said, as he counted out the bills. T think God sent me here."
 The old man shook his head in negation. We can never be sure of those things" he said. CHAPTER "
 The big bus shook the lights of New York from its bleamlng sides and plunged onto the darken- ing highway. Finally it turned it's Ruth WoodsOn, sitting in one of the deep seats. felt a thrill of ex- citement. Off>into the unknown! A porter went through the car, offering pillows to the passengers. When he came to Ruth she said. NO, thank you," firmly. An elbow prodded her side. It belonged to the large, gray-haired woman be- side her. Take it," the woman advised. Tt don't cost anything" Thank you so much" Ruth said when the clean pillow was adjusted under her head. 1T didn't know it was free service." She closed her eyes to discourage further conver- moment she had drifted off into delicious sleep.
 When Ruth awakened there was 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, "I always wish l was a man at 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 Pm getting off there"
 "We'll be there soon," the woman answered. "Tm changing buses there. Pm on my way to Hunting ton, to visit my sister-in-law. haven't ever been this far west be- fore"
 "T haven't either" Ruth replied.