The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-08
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The classified ads, she noticed were intact That was enough. She hurried back to the waiting room and began to check of the advertised rooms in order of To- cation. She worked desperately; there were so many ads-so many columns of ads - in the morning paper
 She maoe another list of all those which gave the telephone number. She could phone them; that would save several hours work.
 She rushed back to the news stand again, and changed three one-dollar bills for nickels. The clerk looked at her in astonish- ment, and after she left, he tapped his head expressively. "Nutsw he conf1ded to the young man at the other end of the counter.
 By o'clock she had spent 34 nickels and called 30 numbers. A dozen irate customers had glared at her for monopolizing the phone booth, and one man threat ened to call an officer. But she kept on, despite them.
 She spoke to 40-odd different women shrill women and soft spoken women; suspicious women and curious women; reticent wo- men and garrulous women. She heard every epithet that was ever applied in the glorification of the furnished room; she promised dozen women that she and her sister would take the room without doubt on the morrow.
 But no W>.Lan admitted that young lady, sim and blond. had taken her room that day.
 Fer list Of phone nulilbers was cepleted; new she mus visit the Cher rooms listed S.e E:ust wGlk systemat,f ally and hurriedly, because the vdne was slip, ,'ing by so quickly. Through the windows of the terminal she could see that darkness was already beginning to fall
 She wondered whether it would be better to start on the east side and work north, or go all the way up town on the west side and work south. She chose the latter route, since she might lose an hour or more going from east to west in the upper part of the city.
 She took the west side subway express to the last stop on the line. This was the location of the first room on her list.
 She told the landladies, as she met them, the same story she had used over the telephone, varying it to suit the occasion. Her facial ached from smiling 50 continually and so convincingly; her head rang with the dull echo of her own voice.
 From one address to another she hurried; when the distance in between was too great, she took a bus or a taxi. She climbed endless, consecutive flights of stairs
 But she found no trace of Joan. Discouraged and defeated, all manner of doubts assailed her. She kept on, nevertheless.
 It was after seven o'clock now, closer to eight. She met other peo- pie looking for rooms in earnest, and they complicated her mission and delayed her.
 One fact encouraged her. Evi- dently few rooms had been rented that day. And those women who had rented successfully were eager to boast of their good for tune. But none had rented to slim, blond young lady :. .
 Dorothy's head began to spin, and she caught herself stammer- ing over the words she had re- peated so frequently. There was feverish excitement in her eyes now, and few women regarded her with cool suspicion.
 At nine o'clock she was down. town again, to Columbus Circle, and she changed her course and went over east, to work uptown.
 At nine-thirty a woman in formed her severely that it was too late to show the room that night; she had better come back in the morning
 I'll try a few more," Dorothy persisted. Just a few more, un- til it's ten o'clock. Not every body goes to bed so early"
 It was exactly quarter to ten when she climbed the steps of the untidy house on the poor side street
 May I inquire if a young lady took the room this morning?" Dorothy asked mechanically.
 "A young woman? Yes indeed. A slim, blond young lady An drews. Would you like to see her?"
 Miss Andrews. Joan had bor- rowed the name Bob wanted to badly to give to her. Tears of re-