Part 29 (2/2)
”What! You don't know anyone in New York!”
Rue looked at her dumbly; then, of a sudden, she remembered Neeland.
”Yes,” she said, ”I know one person.”
”Where does your friend live?”
In her reticule was the paper on which he had written the address of the Art Students' League, and, as an afterthought, his own address.
Rue lifted the blue silk bag, opened it, took out her purse and found the paper.
”One Hundred and Six, West Fifty-fifth Street,” she read; ”Studio No.
10.”
”Why, that isn't far!” said the blonder of the two. ”We are going that way. We'll take you there.”
”I don't know--I don't know him very well----”
”Is it a man?”
”Yes. He comes from my town, Gayfield.”
”Oh! I guess that's all right,” said the other woman, laughing. ”You got to be leery of these men, little one. Come on; we'll show you.”
It was only four blocks; Ruhannah presently found herself on the steps of a house from which dangled a sign, ”Studios and Bachelor Apartments to Let.”
”What's his name?” said the woman addressed as Lil.
”Mr. Neeland.”
By the light of the vestibule lantern they inspected the letter boxes, found Neeland's name, and pushed the electric b.u.t.ton.
After a few seconds the door clicked and opened.
”Now, you're all right!” said Lil, peering into the lighted hallway.
”It's on the fourth floor and there isn't any elevator that I can see, so you keep on going upstairs till your friend meets you.”
”Thank you so much for your great kindness----”
”Don't mention it. Good luck, dearie!”
The door clicked behind her, and Rue found herself alone.
The stairs, flanked by a ma.s.sive bal.u.s.trade of some dark, polished wood, ascended in spirals by a short series of flights and landings.
Twice she rested, her knees almost giving way, for the climb upward seemed interminable. But at last, just above her, she saw a skylight, and a great stair-window giving on a court; and, as she toiled up and stood clinging, breathless, to the banisters on the top landing, out of an open door stepped Neeland's shadowy figure, dark against the hall light behind him.
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