The Argosy, Christmas 1912 — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

IN THE LAND OF ILLUSION. lodging-houses in New York are so dirty and ill-smelling, for really the competition is so strong that places have to be kept in better than “ literary repute,” otherwise they would have no patrons. ) Miss Ferguson’s room was very tiny, and when she got in and unpacked she had to pack again to get out, and all this work took time and caused her almost to miss her dinner. Immediately upon her return from this the landlady came to collect her rent in advance. Mrs. Green was a large person with operatic bosom, swathed in a square- cut, black, perfectly fitting garment, demi-train, jet ornaments, and with elaborate hair of several textures. She was agreeable and kind-seeming, and said that Millie might prepare her breakfasts in her kitchen and use her stove. Millie had timidly asked about this, knowing that she must be careful of her pennies. To Millie’s inexperienced ear “ The Green”? talked most queerly.. She explained that the neighborhood was in “the sporty part of town,” and that if the newcomer did not wish to have “ her duds pinched ”’ she had bet- ter keep her door locked; and as there was only one key, she suggested that this be ‘“bunked”” where the maid could find it. She went on to explain that her house was “a straight joint,” but sometimes “ crooks ” would get in and “crab a place”! When she had swept away, Millie was terrified. She closed and locked the door, and put the chair and water- pitcher against it, then sat on the bed, tucking her feet up under her, fearful lest some “ crooked” hand steal out and grab her defenseless ankle. It grew dark early, but she continued to sit there. She was so hungry and tired and dazed. ‘Then. she began to cry. Afterward she went to sleep, having undressed ‘without stepping from the bed. The day following she spent atternpt- ing to get used to the noise and glare 227 and rush. And, oh, it was hot in her little pen, and she was so lonely! She al- most admitted to herself that she would have been glad to see Bob. The streets she found wonderfully alluring, and the shop-windows were “just splendid.” She discovered a cheap eating-place quite near by; but in the dark hall, as she came out, a man tried to kiss her, at-least she thought that was what he tried to do, and she made a vicious jab at him with her hatpin, and after that, although she had not touched him, he desisted. The street crossings were an endless surprise; for she was certain that the cop held back crowds of pedestrians only while he assembled a host of cabs and automobiles, then waved the crowd of people forward to reach the middle of the street only to sick the vehicles upon them, withdrawing himself to a safe distance, to watch the wild strug- gle and frantic mix-up. The strange part of it to her was that the public never seemed to catch on, but continued to play the deadly game over and over again. After breakfast the next morning Millie passed the “actress-lady” of the train in the hallway. Both were surprised at the encounter. Millie had not known that the other woman was living in the same house, and that per- son had never supposed that the girl would find the place. Millie, delighted to find some one to talk with, began at once to retail her adventures, but the woman seemed not particularly interested. She looked puffed and sleepy, but a wave of pity swept her benumbed senses, so she gave Millie names and addresses of some theatrical managers and agents. The girl hurried back up-stairs and dressed herself in her best gown and sallied forth. At the first place there was a long line of men and women sitting quietly in the darkness and heat of a sort of anteroom. They seemed nervously apprehensive, and frequently bit their CoOMmicbook CO