THE WELCOME
Helen would have faced almost any peril of the range--wolves, a bear even,
a stampede, flood, or fire--with more confidence than she felt at this
moment.
She had some idea of how city people lived, having been to school in
Denver. It seemed impossible that Uncle Starkweather and his family could
reside in such a place as this. And yet the street and number were
correct. Surely, the taxicab driver must know his way about the city!
From behind the door on her right came the rattle of dishes and voices.
Putting her courage to the test, Helen rapped on the door. But she had to
repeat the summons before she was heard.
Then she heard a shuffling step approach the door, it was unlocked, and a
gray old woman, with a huge horsehair wig upon her head, peered out at
her.
"Vot you vant?" this apparition asked, her black eyes growing round in
wonder at the appearance of the girl and her bag. "Ve puys noddings; ve
sells noddings. Vot you vant--eh?"
"I am looking for my Uncle Starkweather," said Helen, doubtfully.
"Vor your ungle?" repeated the old woman.
"Mr. Starkweather. Does he live in this house?"
"'S'arkwesser'? I neffer heard," said the old woman, shaking her huge
head. "Abramovitch lifs here, and Abelosky, and Seldt, and--and Goronsky.
You sure you god de name ride, Miss?"
"Quite sure," replied the puzzled Helen.
"Meppe ubstairs," said the woman, eyeing Helen curiously. "Vot you god in
de pag, lady?"
To tell the truth this query rather frightened the girl. She did not reply
to the question, but started half-blindly for the stairs, clinging to the
bag with both hands.
Suddenly a door banged above and a quick and light step began to descend
the upper flight. Helen halted and looked expectantly upward. The
approaching step was that of a young person.
In a moment a girl appeared, descending the stairs like a young whirlwind.
She was a vigorous, red-cheeked girl, with dark complexion, a prominent
nose, flashing black eyes, and plump, sturdy arms bared to her dimpled
elbows. She saw Helen there in the hall and stopped, questioningly. The
old woman said something to the newcomer in what Helen supposed must be
Yiddish, and banged shut her own door.
"Whaddeyer want, Miss?" asked the dark girl, coming nearer to Helen and
smiling, showing two rows of perfect teeth. "Got lost?"
"I don't know but what I have," admitted the girl from the West.
"Chee! You're a greenie, too; ain't you?"
"I reckon so," replied Helen, smiling in return. "At least, I've just
arrived in town."
The girl had now opened the door and looked out. "Look at this, now!" she
exclaimed. "Did you come in that taxi?"
"Yes," admitted Helen.
"Chee! you're some swell; aren't you?" said the other. "We don't have them
things stopping at the house every day."
"I am looking for my uncle, Mr. Willets Starkweather."
"That's no Jewish name. I don't believe he lives in this house," said the
black-eyed girl, curiously.
"But, this is the number--I saw it," said Helen, faintly. "And it's
Madison Avenue; isn't it? I saw the name on the corner lamp-post."
"_Madison Avenyer?_" gasped the other girl.
"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, splashing 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.
"This is the number, Miss," said the driver.
Helen looked out first. Not much like the same number on Madison Street!
This block was a slice of old-fashioned New York. On either side was a row
of handsome, plain old houses, a few with lanterns at their steps, and
some with windows on several floors brilliantly lighted.
There were carriages and automobiles waiting at these doors. Evening
parties were evidently in progress.
The house before which the taxicab had stopped showed no light in front,
however, except at the door and in one or two of the basement windows.
"Is this the place you want?" asked the driver, with some impatience.
"I'll see," said Helen, and hopped out of the cab.
She ran boldly up the steps and rang the bell. In a minute the inner door
swung open; but the outer grating remained locked. A man in livery stood
in the opening.
"What did you wish, ma'am?" he asked in a perfectly placid voice.
"Does Mr. Willets Starkweather reside here?" asked Helen.
"Mr. Starkweather is not at home, ma'am."
"Oh! then he could not have received my telegram!" gasped Helen.
The footman remained silent, but partly closed the door.
"Any message, ma'am?" he asked, perfunctorily.
"But surely the family is at home?" cried Helen.
"Not at this hour of the hevening, ma'am," declared the English servant,
with plain disdain.
"But I must see them!" cried Helen, again. "I am Mr. Starkweather's niece.
I have come all the way from Montana, and have just got into the city. You
must let me in."
"Hi 'ave no orders regarding you, ma'am," declared the footman, slowly.
"Mr. Starkweather is at 'is club. The young ladies are hat an evening
haffair."
"But auntie--surely there must be _somebody_ here to welcome me?" said
Helen, in more wonder than anger as yet.
"You may come in, Miss," said the footman at last. "Hi will speak to the
'ousekeeper--though I fear she is abed."
"But I have the taxicab driver to pay, and my trunk is here," declared
Helen, beginning suddenly to feel very helpless.
The man had opened the grilled door. He gazed down at the cab and shook
his head.
"Wait hand see Mrs. Olstrom, first, Miss," he said.
She stepped in. He closed both doors and chained the inner one. He pointed
to a hard seat in a corner of the hall and then stepped softly away upon
the thick carpet to the rear of the premises, leaving the girl from Sunset
Ranch alone.
_This_ was her welcome to the home of her only relatives, and to the heart
of the great city!