Mr. Parke, the agent,
said the man paid his rent regular and he was sorry to lose him as a
tenant, but he didn't know where he'd gone. If his wife took
boarders he didn't know anything about it. The girl might have
rented a room--" Mrs. Mundy hesitated, looked at me uncertainly.
"Shall I ask Mr. Crimm to--to help me find her? If she's in town
he'd soon know where."
Something in her voice sent the blood to my face. "You mean--oh no,
you cannot, do not mean--"
"I don't know. It's usually the end. The only one they have to come
to when a man like Mr. Thorne's brother makes a girl lose her head
about him. After he tires of her, or when he's afraid there may be
trouble, there's apt to be a row and he quits. When he's gone the
girl generally ends--down there." Mrs. Mundy's hand made movement
over her shoulder. "Respectable people don't want to have anything
to do with girls like that, and it's hard for them to get work.
After a while they give up and go to what's the only place some of
them have to go to. Would you mind if I ask Mr. Crimm?"
I shook my head.
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