Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 122: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A64 ‘Miss Bowles?” Belle pushed the door open without waiting for an invitation. Esther rose stiffly. ““ Now, don’t be huffy, girly, over what I said about your date,” the woman gushed. “IT was only kiddin’ you. No wonder you have dates, you’re such a swell dresser. This is a nice room you got. What do they tax you for it?” “Ten dollars,” Esther answered as Belle seated herself in the only rocker. “Board and room?” 6¢ Yes.” “That ain’t bad. How’s the eats?” She caught sight of herself in the mirror and began patting her hair. “* All right.” “T believe I’ll make Burt move over here. Housekeepin’s all right for them that likes it; but not for mine.” ‘Mrs. Davis—Miss Benton—I’m—”’ ‘““ Call me Belle. All my friends do, and we ought to be friends. Burt thinks so much of you. He says you’re some plucky kid; and you can act, too. The old lady down-stairs said you had company. What was the large idea—to keep me out?” She pulled her hat to a tipsy angle. ‘“*T did have—but—”’ ‘‘ Well, get your duds on. Come on, have breakfast with me.” “‘T’ve just had breakfast.” “Well, we can wait a while. I want you to go over on Sixth Avenue and see that cerise dress on me. It’s only a few blocks from here. I want to stop in at the agent’s, too, to see if there’s anything doing. I was talkin’ to a stock man yesterday ‘bout going to Duluth. Burt ain’t got a thing yet. He’s hopin’ to get ‘A Pair of Dice’ this year. But, anyhow, we get along better when we work separate.” ‘‘ Miss Benton,” Esther broke in desper- ately, ‘‘ please don’t ask me to go out with you—I’m—sick.”’ “Stuff and nonsense,” laughed Belle. ‘You're lazy. You want to go back to bed; but nothin’ doin’; get your things on. You ought to see the agent yourself; get something to tide you over the summer. Unless you got a friend,” she smiled signifi- cantly. “If Burt gets hold of a new show for this fall, I expect he’ll be looking for ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. you. He thinks you are a great little actress —my God, but it’s hot in here! Why don’t you raise that other window?” Esther got upon her feet. She could hardly stand. She was sick with horror. She must get rid of this woman somehow. Oh, if she were only dressed to go out! “Gee, but you’re neat in your room!” exclaimed Belle. ‘‘ Not a thing out of place. You ought to see my room. I got a closet; but my clothes are all over the place. Where you got that swell rag you had on last night? In the closet?” The woman went over and stdrted stripping off Esther’s kimono. ‘“‘ Go on, dress.” ‘“No, no!” cried Esther, frantically pull- ing the kimono back. ‘* My Gawd!”’ cried Belle, backing away in astonishment. ‘‘ How you scared me. What’s the matter with you, anyhow?”’ “I’m nervous,” Esther smiled faintly. ‘Well, you must be, to jump at a fellow that way. No wonder, if you stick in this room. Who’s the kid? Little sister?” She went over to the dresser and picked up Esther’s picture as a little girl. ‘“‘ No, mine.” “Humph! Hurry.” She turned back to Esther, who was taking the rusty black suit out of the closet. “For Gawd’s sake! You ain’t going to put on that freak!” She sailed over to the closet, snatched the black suit out of Esther’s hand, and took down the new French frock. ‘ Believe me, this is some rag! What else you got?” She pushed Esther away and dragged out the pink silk crape negligee with white down trimmings. ‘“‘ Some doll!” she cried. “ What’d you pay for this?” For a moment Esther did not answer; then, her overwrought nerves giving way, she sank down limply on the bed. Belle ran to the door in a panic. ‘“ Some- body come quick. Miss Bowles has fainted.” In less than five minutes the entire popu- lation of Ma Frank’s boarding-house was on the scene. A jumble of voices, bath- robes, and kimonos filled the room. Suddenly Esther stood up, wild-eyed. ‘““Leave me, everybody, please! I’m all right.” COM cloooks. com