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THE EVEN Little Fraulein and the Big World * BYIDAR.WYLIE. | | l One of a series of the il year’s best short stories. Copyright by International Magazine Co. (Continued from Yesterday's Star.) And now they had gone like every- thing clse. The baker's wife said nothing. lips, thin and anemic, tight together. She wouldn't explain. She wouldn't hold out any hope. She wasn't sorry i Her and her eyes ess and cold, like the eyes 1 fish. dchen turned slowly away. IHer to belong to her. 1 this way and that under rfed and wizened little bod ey were much 100 long and thin ut of proportion, so that thy amnay fraulein auf and zu, with b short plafd skirt and tam’ o'shan look like one of those comic pen wipers that you can make out of itches, u scrap of old duster and a b w . Only somehow she wasn't funny. Even the children in the g um where she went when she was strong enough, and who hated her, didn't laugh. The woman with the basket stood doorway and looked back at Ler. was frowning as though she were trying to make up her mind. Mer mouth tremb She might be going to smile full of Kindness. Then suddenly she remembered-—as every one did sooner or later. She snapped the lid of her basket, and tossed up her head, and stumped out angrily. But Trudchen knew that if she had been any other little girl something wonderful would have happened. One day Trudchen's schoolmistress had told her class the story of Robinson Crusoe, and Trudchen had said in her prim, grave way, “I wish I could be wrecked on a desert island.” Every one had burst out into mock- ng laughter. And Trudchen had set Ler teeth and sat very upright, swal- lowing her shame, But in her heart she knew what she meant. She knew it was the truth. There was nothing terrible in the ery. wild beasts. But it was terrible to be alone in a world crowded with people. They might jostie you and almost knock you over, and yet they never really ‘touched 'you. Wherever you ‘went there was a barrier between you and them, and nobody ever crossed it even to scold, much take you in their arms and pet you. On the other side they quarreled, were happy or unhappy, but at any rate they be- longed to one another. You were different—it was very difficult to un- derstand in what way, because you seemed to yourself just like everybody else—and so people hated you. When You came into a shop they stopped complaining about the price of things end looked proud and aloof. The ldren in the gymnasium walked eway from vou and played in another corner. The teachers changed their voices when the. were top of the class. hide how hard it was for them Sometimes it worse than that. Sometimes in a winter's dusk, coming down on a deserted street, Trudchen could feel how all the bitter, terrible things people hid in their hearts slipped out of their hiding places and closed in on her. She could almos them and their lightless, hating almost feel their hands clutch at her, tweaking at her pigtai ‘with cruel fingers, hear their maliciou whisperings. And she walked very lowly, very upright, as though she had swallowed a poker, because she was {rightened. She knew that it she began to run, she would never stop. It was like that today. The winter's sky hung so low and was so gray that the street was already in twilight. The fine rain had become a deluge which had swept everybody indoors The big drops danced on the pavements likq demons. It was of no use to hug the wall. They jumped into vour shoes. They dragged your clothes @bout you in a dank, heavy weight €0 that you could hardly walk. They got into your glasses so that you were half blinded. om the pointec that looked witchlike and wicked ainst the gray-vellow background came racing down together in des, shouting and burbling. They wouldn't She hadn't had any break- 1d there wouldn't be any lunch Frau Hildebrandt d em. She was wet through and cold, and there wouldn't be any fire. She thought of her mother’s poor white face. When she heard that there was no bread, per- 1aps she would faint again. It must be very nice to faint and forget things. A troop of school chldren came swarming round the corner. They wore short mackintosh capes over the square satchels strapped on their backs, so that they looked hunch backed and uncanny in the gloom: ght, like unfriendly elves. Theil es were white and pinched, without ughter. as though the cold, biti: Splendid Buying Opportunity a Short Way From Town A well built dwelling of 8 rooms with 8 acres of good land at BROWNE STATION Rockville Car Line The property contains, besides dwelling,” a tenant house, houses for 1,000 chickens, or- chard, garden, shrubbery, etc. Wide frontage on the State road and car line. Priced “Right” at $20,000 Convenient Terms Immediate Possession WILCOX, HANE & CO. Inc. 1422 F St. N.W. Attractive Country Home Alta Vista Montgomery County, Md. Just off the Old Georgetown Pike, ut 12 miles from Washington, accossible by good roads and electric car line: up-to-date S-room frame dwelling and about 5 acres; specially priced for quick sale. $17,500 THOMAS J. FISHER & C0., INC. 738 15th St. NW. Main 6330 were pressed | Her face was | in_being | alone with bees and flowers and even | read out that you | | alone, but when they were hungry and rain were the last endurable ‘exas- peration. They plodded on in silence, until suddenly a boy i the yellow cap of the Tertium caught sight of Trud- cher and raised a_cry. “Sieh da—die Prutwitz—die witz!” She had hoped for the best. If only this time they 3 often in the was shining, out round and black through the rain- splashed glasses. “Who killed my brother?” “—And my father- » “—My three brothers ‘Who killed he: ‘Aitch! Aitch. —P'raps her mother did. Prut- They Suddenly the thing she had ‘been afrafd of happened. She couldn’t nything any more. She was like |a liftle ‘mad thing with a_wild, white |face and fiying arms and legs, hitting out frenziedly, tearing, biting—not car ing. At first it was all an Inextrica- ble confusion. Iverybody tumbled over every one and screamed and tried to get out of the way, for now they were frightened of her. The vext min- ute, almost, she was. through. They didn’t even try to pursue her, Perhaps in a sort of way they had got what they wanted. For now she was run- ning and crving. At least, there were |no tears, but the sobs tore their way out from the very bottom of her through her open, gasping mouth. And she ran and ran, quite blindly, they would leave her cold, a kind of rage got into them, and they became like a pack of hounds. With a sinking heart she saw them turn about—hesitate, and then come drifting back “Ah—ha-—dfe Prutwitz— The terrible &nigger that was always the beginning of their worst anger curled up their lips, but left their eyes cold and pitiless. They didn’t look at her as though she were an- other child like themselves, but as though she were a strange, wild beast, with curiosity and hatred. She made no attempt to escape. She stood with her back to the wall, a quaint, bedrag- gled figure. Her compomure and prim uprightness incensed them. It looked|yp gne street and down anoth like superiority—as though she de~=u!m rain lashing her and nfé’“«'fi'éfl spised them—as though they couldn't {p1owing her along like a wisp of straw. hurt her whatever they did. She was | Byt however desperate you are, you always like that—"Trudchen-head-n-{oun't run to the end gf the word the-air” they called her—so stiff and |Tjere isn't any end. It's round. And proper and aloof. If they had seen into | s, cooner or Tuter you have Lo come her wildly beating heart with its an- 3o JOQREE OF RIS VOR guish of fear and loneliness, the worst | “*71.0 (0 MO S0 G0N Lo of them would have slunk away. The | oI ATy Hars. et s passing best might have said: | A o8 oo een “Never mind. Come on and play | she was pressed so closely against the with us. dripping wall. She could just see But if you come of a race of heroes, | (NFOURh the glass top of Frau Hilde i . = | brandt's shop window, and the jumble you keep your wretched heart to Your: | o good ‘on the counier had an seris They hadn’t touched her yet. They | 109K in the twilight. But then Trud- e Chen couldn't see very well. Her began to sharpen thelr .stubby little| i fe®\ere’ Broken. - That meant Aitch! Altch! Altch! Die England- ;11: n:h(v;w«:u]x’)‘.ll n..‘\l-‘lr go in, because Pty *ito s ea=—lerity XD eal 1i darling—not whatever you “ By i ou see, [ couldn’t buy another pair.” to Al the English pigs have Plenty| | inq now they were broken. And there was a long, terrible tear in the leeve of her reefer coat. Poor little mothe udchen could see Frau Hil debrandt’s bulky form looming down : | upo: It was like fate. Nothing appease them. The first act of violence | 4PN hins had set them free. They pinched her—‘l_“"‘”“ stop )m_ ‘\"””':,':"v,,u"";'fi',‘” pulled her hair—twisted her arms with [and heavy she c e Srgoetinot little, mean, quick movements. And | kind. either. t inevitable. she ‘made o resistance, but stood | Trudchen said aloud: “Oh, please— there patiently, keeping her eyes fixed Please, don’tl” though she knew it I heads, | was no good. BT O D b ear 1t i | The shop: door opened with a tinkle sharp and spiteful—the kind that |of the bell. Frau Hildebrandt looked makes you go wild with rage and hit | out blindly. But what hurt was be- | ing alone and the terrible bigness of | ; the world. | She wanted her mother. She wanted to run to her mother and hide against her. Her mother, who was so pale and | * helpless, became an overshadowing sweet figure of refuge. Only she must run—and she musn't cry. She pressed her mouth tight, and her eyt red Woodley Park Homes Opportunity to Locate Here—in this altogether desirable residential section—overlooking beau- tiful Rock Creek Park—Is Fast Slipping Away. We Built 71 We Have Sold 69 There Remain E Unsold Quick Decision Will Get You Yours See Today EXHIBIT HOUSE—2725 WOODLEY PLACE (Furnished by Palats Royal) OPEN DAILY UNTIL 9 P. M. TO INSPECT: One-halt block east from Connecticut Ave. and Cal- vert Street Bridge to Woodley Place. that good Germans starve——" R ched the basket out of | her hand.” But its emptiness did not LD stone or brick buildings made to ap- pear as if new— special cleaning pro- cess. We Damp-proof Cellars! i Thone L. 6040 or address T. 0. 3 o 1E TRERPROOF NING €0. UL S Eight rooms, three baths, built-in garage, hot-water heat, electricity, cold storage, cedar closet, large attic, ample lawns. BuUItDERS 919 15th St. Owners Franklin 1140 Kite Home . Wait until you see these cute Homes 3056-3110 Monroe St. N.E. Wholly Detached —and you’ll have found the Home you’ll want to own. Compact and cozy—with lots of room—but little trou- ble to care for—because of the wonderful plan and arrangement. The location is a pleasing combination of town and country—with unusually big lots—and plenty of space to garden. Six rooms; bath; hot-water heat; separate heater for hot water; sleeping porch; front and back porches; exceedingly good floors; big closets; hand- some electric fixtures; complete kitchen with dresser; grassy lawns and artistic shrubbery. Remarkable Price—Easy Terms Open for Inspection Every Day and Evening— Including Sunday If You Motor On the Trolley —come out Rhode Island —use G Street cars—leaving Avenue N.E. and turn into them a; Il}hofc Issland /‘\\\le; Brentwood Road—which will Rueanc NEWEOR Stiect N-bo —walk a f S carry you right into Monroe JEELC Ehiowsope o, Newton—taking the first Street at these Homes. turn to right over foot-bridge. Bullt, Owned and For Sale by Harry A. Kite o Main 4846 (Incorporated) Member Washington Real Estate Board 1514 K Street R AR, up the street and down the street. And then she saw Trudchen crouched WASHINGTON | |against the wall, and stood back with i |a nod. Trudchen crept in. But Frau Hildebrandt lald a heavy hand on her | | shoulder. “Armes Kindchen,” she sald. She was crying. And so Trudchen knew that her wish had been glven her and that her little mother was dead. It seemed that when people are dead you forgive them everything. But it was rather difficult to under- stand why. What have the dead done? Perhaps the dead don't care anyway. But the living would have been so glad. Trudchen, {n her new black dress and her black hat with crepe and her new black shoes and stockings, couldn’t help. thinking how pleased and astonished her mother would have been at her own wonderful funeral. The Kriegsvereln sent a deputation to walk behind the coffin with a wreath, and three officers from Hauptmann von Arnstein-Prutwitz's old regiment (in brand-new uniforms with shining JAMESON B <% < 08 D. C ATURDAY epaulets) came with another wreath and an inscription. 'o the Widow of our heroic Com- rade.” he Frau Backerin sent a tiny ch of flowers. MAY REAL ESTATE. (Continued in Tomorrow's Star.) —_— TAX PROBE CONTINUES. Couzens Committee Is Hearing Evidence Today. Falling to complete its hearings yes- terday, the special Senate committee investigating the Internal Revenue Bureau was meeting today, while all the rest of the Government was closed for Memorial day. .The committee authority to require the Treasury to submit evids pires May 31. After concluding the hearings the committee plans to hold frequent meetings during the Summer and Fall to digest the testimony und write a report for the Sewate in De- I ERERREE RS 1000 to 1022 Quebec Place N.W. at 13th & Spring Road Low Price Inspect at Once 9 Sold - Six large rooms, tile bath, h-wh, elec. lights, double floors, built-in ice box, serv- ants’ toilet, double rear porches, wide cement front porch and built-in heated ga- rage. Street and 3lley to be improved. ! Ask the Man Who Owns One Built, Owned and For Sale By Thos. A. Jameson Co. Main 5526 906 N. Y. Ave. N.W. — Ffort Stebens has arisen the finest of memorials to the heroes ¢ who strove and died there new semi-detached brick homes ch with its six bright rooms; fine oak floors: enameled woodwork; rear service porch and con- crete English front porch; fine electric and plumb- ing fixtures, hot-water heating plant; complete screens throughout and other modern comforts un- paralleled at the amazingly low price shown. They are selling rapidly, don’t delay your visit to the EXHIBIT HOUSE—608 Roxboro Place ! / Open Till 9 P.M. Daily Drive out Sixteenth and through Colorado Avenue to Georgia Avenue, thence _east two squares on Rittenhouse Street and north on Seventh to Roxboro &2 Place. Or take Georgin Avenue cars to Rittenhouse Street. Reasonable Terms OVER 130 1430 K St. “We House One-Tenth of Washingion's Population Oy B M. 3830 oAl e “Before you fill your Coal Bin Investigate OIL Heating” Take Steps NOW to Have Clean, Even, Healthful Heat Without Attention Next Winter Associated Members And Recommended Burners Mutual Service, Inc. “Gir 1411 N. Y. Ave. N.W, Telephone Main 3883 Kieen-Heet Sales Co. “Kleen-Heet” 1013 12th St. N.W. Telephone Main 7886 Ray Fuel Oil Burner Co. “Ray” 1504 Conn. Ave. N.W. Telephone Potomac 160 Standard Engineering Co. “Caloroil” 2129 Eye St. N.W, Telephone West 1343 'The Federal Hgating Co. “A. B. C. 310 13th St. N.W. Telephone Main 4140 Zellers & Company “Aetna” 2035 K Street N.W. Telephone West 858 Automatic Heating Corp. “Nokol” 1719 Conn. Ave. N.W. Telephone North 627 Ballard Oil Equipment Co. “Ballard” 1745 Conn. Ave. N.W. . Telephone North 659 Biggs Engineering Co. “Electrol” 1310 14th St. N.W. Telephone Franklin 317 G and H Heating Co. “0ilO-Matic” 917 H 'St. N.W. Telephone Main 4886 ASK any Oil-Burner Dealer of the Washington Association for particulars. They will gladly discuss the subject with you, explain the opera- tion of their particular burner, answer ques- tions, and advise you as to the suitability of your present heating plant—without cost or obliga- tion. Automatic Oil-Burner Homes are increasing rapidly. Each represents a permanent investment that lengthens the life of the heating plant and increases its efficiency, with practically no attention on the part of the owner! The strictly modern home is Automatically OIL Heated. INVESTIGATE! Before you spend another dollar for coal, phone or write for information. DON’T WAIT. The best time is N—O—W ! Associated Qil-Burner Dealers OF WASHINGTON A ). & & 52 R % by % 4 & W 2 4> RIS IOR R RO RO ORI OROIOI IO O OR R IO DI CIOTC 108