had not returned. Noon came; still no sign. I could stand it no longer. I de-
termined to follow. After an endless ride under the scorching midday sun I
reached a wretched hole called New Egypt, a few run-down shacks beside a rail-
road track. From somewhere came the sound of vulgar rag-time. I followed it,
and soon came upon a disreputable bar-room. Something seemed to urge me on.
The bar-keeper rolled a large, black cigar in his mouth, and was busy mixing drinks.
I hesitated to go further, but the rag-time became louder, and I heard the sound
of jazzing feet issuing from the next room. It was labelled ‘Dance Hall.” I
forced my way in.
How can I describe the scene which presented itself? A garish room with
colored crepe-paper decorations. Here, swaying madly around in the intricacies
of the most abandoned of dances, half-empty bottles in their hands, were Betty and
her associates, while all the town louts loafed about ogling them. Oh, the horror
of it! Oh, poor, erring Betty! What could I do? Gently I took her by the hand
and led her out of that sweltering place into the pure air. She was incoherent
and muttered, ‘Cretaceous fossils, cretaceous foss—! Oh, oh, oh!”
309
“So it has come to this?” I said.
I took her home and put her to bed.
KATHERINE PEEK.
Shrubs
Why can’t they let the poor shrub be?
They snatch it up persistently;
Sometimes it’s here, and sometimes there,
And sometimes ’t isn’t anywhere.
Today I found it quite forlorn
Crouching behind a wall of corn.
Salis Ele
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