The Girl from Sunset Ranch Part 12

"Yes."

"Yer kiddin'; ain't yer?" demanded the stranger.

"Why---- What do you mean?"

"This ain't Madison Avenyer," said the black-eyed girl, with a loud laugh.

"Ain't you the greenie? Why, this is Madison _Street!_"

"Oh, then, there's a difference?" cried Helen, much relieved. "I didn't get to Uncle Starkweather's, then?"

"Not if he lives on Madison Avenyer," said her new friend. "What's his number? I got a cousin that married a man in Harlem. _She_ lives on Madison Avenyer; but it's a long ways up town."

"Why, Uncle Starkweather has his home at the same number on Madison Avenue that is on that fanlight," and Helen pointed over the door.

"Then he's some swell; eh?"

"I--I guess so," admitted Helen, doubtfully.

"D'jer jest come to town?"

"Yes."

"And told the taxi driver to come down here?"

"Yes."

"Well, he'll take you back. I'll take the number of the cab and scare him pretty near into a fit," said the black-eyed girl, laughing. "Then he's sure to take you right to your uncle's house."

"Oh, I'm a thousand times obliged!" cried Helen. "I _am_ a tenderfoot; am I not?" and she laughed.

The girl looked at her curiously. "I don't know much about tender feet.

Mine never bother me," she said. "But I could see right away that you didn't belong in this part of town."

"Well, you've been real kind to me," Helen said. "I hope I'll see you again."

"Not likely," said the other, shaking her head.

"Why not?"

"And you livin' on Madison Avenyer, and me on Madison Street?"

"I can come down to see you," said Helen, frankly. "My name is Helen Morrell. What's yours?"

"Sadie Goronsky. You see, I'm a Russian," and she smiled. "You wouldn't know it by the way I talk; would you? I learned English over there. But some folks in Russia don't care to mix much with our people."

"I don't know anything about that," said Helen. "But I know when I like a person. And I've got reason for liking you."

"That goes--double," returned the other, warmly. "I bet you come from a place far away from this city."

"Montana," said Helen.

"I ain't up in United States geography. But I know there's a big country the other side of the North River."

Helen laughed. "I come from a good ways beyond the river," she said.

"Well, I'll have to get back to the store. Old Jacob will give me fits."

"Oh, dear! and I'm keeping you," cried Helen.

"I should worry!" exploded the other, slangily. "I'm only a 'puller-in.' I ain't a saleslady. Come on and I'll throw a scare into that taxi-driver.

Watch me."

This sort of girl was a revelation to Helen. She was frankly independent herself; but Sadie Goronsky showed an entirely different sort of independence.

"See here you, Mr. Man!" exclaimed the Jewish girl, attracting the attention of the taxicab driver, who had not left his seat. "Whadderyer mean by bringing this young lady down here to Madison Street when with half an eye you could ha' told that she belonged on Madison _Avenyer_?"

"Heh?" grunted the man.

"Now, don't play no greenie trick with _me_," commanded Sadie. "I gotcher number, and I know the company youse woik for. You take this young lady right to the correct address on the avenyer--and see that she don't get robbed before you get her there. You get in, Miss Morrell. Don't you be afraid. This chap won't dare take you anywhere but to your uncle's house now."

"She said Madison Street," declared the taxicab driver, doggedly.

"Well, now _I_ says Madison Avenyer!" exclaimed Sadie. "Get in, Miss."

"But where'll I find you, Sadie?" asked the Western girl, holding the rough hand of her new friend.

"Right at that shop yonder," said the black-eyed girl, pointing to a store only two doors beyond the house which Helen had entered. "Ladies'

garments. You'll see me pullin' 'em in. If you _don't_ see me, ask for Miss Goronsky. Good-night, Miss! You'll get to your uncle's all right now."

The taxicab driver had started the machine again. They darted off through a side street, and soon came out upon the broader thoroughfare down which they had come so swiftly. She saw by a street sign that it was the Bowery.

The man slowed down and spoke to her through the tube.

"I hope you don't bear no ill-will, Miss," he said, humbly enough. "You said Madison----"

"All right. See if you can take me to the right place now," returned Helen, brusquely.

Her talk with Sadie Goronsky had given her more confidence. She was awake to the wiles of the city now. Dud Stone had been right. Even Big Hen Billings's warnings were well placed. A stranger like herself had to be on the lookout all the time.

After a time the taxicab turned up a wider thoroughfare that had no elevated trains roaring overhead. At Twenty-third Street it turned west and then north again at Madison Square.

There was a little haze in the air--an October haze. Through this the lamps twinkled blithely. There were people on the dusky benches, and many on the walks strolling to and fro, although it was now growing quite late.

In the park she caught a glimpse of water in a fountain, splas.h.i.+ng high, then low, with a rainbow in it. Altogether it was a beautiful sight.

The hum of night traffic--the murmur of voices--they flashed past a theatre just sending forth its audience--and all the subdued sights and sounds of the city delighted her again.

Suddenly the taxicab stopped.