Through the land of the stork–vulture wandered Liz. Her black eyes searched the passing crowds fierily but vaguely. Now and then she hummed bars of foolish little songs. Between times she set her small, white teeth together, and spake crisp words that the east side has added to language.
Liz's skirt was green silk. Her waist was a large brown–and–pink plaid, well–fitting and not without style. She wore a cluster ring of huge imitation rubies, and a locket that banged her knees at the bottom of a silver chain. Her shoes were run down over twisted high heels, and were strangers to polish. Her hat would scarcely have passed into a flour barrel.
The «Family Entrance» of the Blue Jay Café received her. At a table she sat, and punched the button with the air of milady ringing for her carriage. The waiter came with his large–chinned, low–voiced manner of respectful familiarity. Liz smoothed her silken skirt with a satisfied wriggle. She made the most of it. Here she could order and be waited upon. It was all that her world offered her of the prerogative of woman.
«Whiskey, Tommy,» she said as her sisters further uptown murmur, «Champagne, James.»
«Sure, Miss Lizzie. What'll the chaser be?»
«Seltzer. And say, Tommy, has the Kid been around to–day?»
«Why, no, Miss Lizzie, I haven't saw him to–day.»
Fluently came the «Miss Lizzie,» for the Kid was known to be one who required rigid upholdment of the dignity of his fiancee.
«I'm lookin' for 'm,» said Liz, after the chaser had sputtered under her nose. «It's got to me that he says he'll take Annie Karlson to the dance. Let him. The pink–eyed white rat! I'm lookin' for 'm. You know me, Tommy. Two years me and the Kid's been engaged. Look at that ring. Five hundred, he said it cost. Let him take her to the dance. What'll I do? I'll cut his heart out. Another whiskey, Tommy.»
«I wouldn't listen to no such reports, Miss Lizzie,» said the waiter smoothly, from the narrow opening above his chin. «Kid Mullaly's not the guy to throw a lady like you down. Seltzer on the side?»