The evening world. Newspaper, June 27, 1916, Page 17

u ——— ee / Y / ” CHAPTER IV, (Continwad ) 00 younn.” anid Mas, briefiy “Why, ate can't be over ait- ten” “hale oehtenn.” . “Well, over eighteen, Do Fou think any wirl of that ame in re- sponsible enough to have life and Geath put in her hands? Besides, al- though 1 haven't noticed her lately, she used to be « pretty little thing, ‘There te no use filing up the wards tnternes all stewed up.” “Bince when?” asked Dr. fd, mil4- fy, “have you found good looks in a Giri @ handicap?” In the end they compromised. Maz ‘would eee Sidney at his office. Hav- ing given his promise, Max promptly forgot about it, interest him, The Street did not Christine and Sidney and ince his return he had hardly noticed them. Society, ways kind to single men of good ap- pearance and easy good manners, had taken bim up. He wore dinner or evening clothes five nights out of Seven, and was supposed by bis con- fervative old neigivors to be going the pace. The rumor had been fed by Mrs. Rosenfeld, who, starting out for her day's washing o'clock one morning, had found Dr, Max's car, lamps lighted and engine going, drawn up before the house door, wita its owner asicep at the wheel. Down the clean steps went Dr, Max that mornnig, a big man, almost as tail as K. Le Moyne, eager of life, strong and a bit reckless, not fine, perhaps, but not evil ‘The oltice nurse had her back to htm, When turned he faced an agres Instead of Miss Sim d @ young and attracuve familiar, morning, and she have to have some one. I was just starting for my vacation, 6o they sent knew you would ther a poor substitute for a va- cation,” he commented, “[ am Miss Harrison,” explained the substitute, and held out nis long white After that came work, Miss Har- Prison wea nimbie and alert, but the eurgeon worked quickly and with few words, Was impatient when she could not find the things he called for, even ke into restrained profanity now nd then. She went a little pale over her mistakes, but preserved her dig- and her wits. \ Now and then found her dark eyes fixed on him, ‘with something Inscrutable but pleas fing tn their depths, The situation ‘wes rather piquant. Once, between cases, he dropped to @ personality. ‘ou are almost @ foreign type, Harrison, Last year, in a Lon- ballet, I saw a blonde Spanish who looked like you.” “My mother was a Spaniard.” She not look up, ney eat very demurely in the waiting room with @ magazine in Ber lap. “Dr. Wilson will see you now.” ®he followed Miss Harrison into the @onsulting room. “For goodness’ sake, Sidney,” sald Dr. Max, “here you are a young lady and I've never noticed it!” “Did Dr. Ed tell you?” “Bit down. How's your mother and ‘Aunt Harriet?” “Very well—that ts, mother’s never * quite well.” She was sitting forward on her chair, her wide young eyes on him. “Is that—1s your nurse from the sBospital here?” “Yes. But she's not my nurse, She's @ubstitute.” “The uniform 1s #0 pretty.” “It takes a lot of plugging before one gets the uniform. Look hers, Bidney; if you are going to the hos- pital because of the uniform, and with any idea of soothing fevered Drows and al! that nonsense”—— Shoe interrupted him, deeply flushed Indeed, no. Sho wanted to work. She bad no silly ideas. He follo her, and, because they aid not resent nd on her shoul- were old neighbors, it when be put der. IL speak 1 * about you hi to he 5 superintendent “Perhaps you'd like mo t W you around a little," “When? To-day?" Ho had me month, or a year. It was quite a ute before be re- to-day, !f you say, I'm oper- foric, Mow about three 1 out both hands, and he lest person I ever perhaps you'd better not say are Ay g unul wo find out if there ia a va y 1 ey “No, We-wo have & toomer now, Ho is very much ‘rested. 1 should ike to tell him.” He ¢ ved her hands and looked mock severity Aterested! Is uo in love with at we M1 dou't believe tt, I'm feslous. You al " than l say @ hreo,” ehe sald took an unflurried do- © wparture Butt le seed of rness had taken ng in last we wo » rinoo¢ womai outgrowing Joe, had only known it, a8 she had outgrown te street, had como that day into ber first contact with @ man ofthe ta | oth adhd POOR TT LAT OTET Story ef Romance ant Mystery Revealing Life In a Rospital “THE EVUE! + (hat ae wae inaving bee | Him aent im a ote at noon, wien | word ty Tile at Mre Mokeda le put t enter bia plata + ta Moyne: 0 hardiy write De, Wileon, 6, going to taka ma « hompital thia afternoon. z fOMET PAG ripe hacauae hie utter eoft Tam ao ee Wish me K rend ft, and, tha day waa hot and tha other “mealies” irritable with the heat, he ate little of no) luncheon fafore ha want into the @un, ha read the note again, To his Jeale cama a vinion of that hospital. Midney, ail vibrant engern atiiek of by fomily emf iin in aplta of himeeit, He drew @ long breath and thrust the note tn his CHAPTER V. IDNKBY and K. le Moyne pat under a tree and talked. In Bidneys top my a emall pocket, S panteboard bom, punched with many holes, It was the day of reloaning Reginald, tut she had not been able to bring herself to the point of separation, “And #0,” said K. Le Moyne, “you Uked it all? It didn’t startle you?” “Well, in one way, of course—yoo pee, I didn’t know it was quite Hke that: all order and peace and quiet, and white beds and whispers, on top— you know what I mean—and the mis- ery there just the eame Have you ever gone through @ hospital?” At her question he closed bis ayes, He 4i4 not reply at once. “I've been around dospitade « little, I suppose now there is no question about your going?” “Tho superintendent said I Rid but that any ot would certainly de ¢iven @ chance. K. Le Moyne was Gaily gaining the abflity to see things from the angie of the Street. Sidney's acttve young turned inward for the first time in her life, wan still on herself, “Mother i plaintivety resigned— and Aunt Harriet has been @ trump, She's going to keop her room. It's rnny, up ? you.” “To me?” “To your staying on. Mother trasts you absolutely. It isn't as though you were young and wild.” “| have promised to stay on, in the capacity of watch dog, burglar alarm and occasional recipient of an apostle spoon ina dish of custard. Lightning conductor too—your mother says she isn't afratd of storms if there ia 8 man in the house, I'll stay, course.” ‘The thought of his age weighed on him. He rose to his feet and threw back his fine shoulders. “How old do you think I em, Miss Sidney?” “Not over forty, I'm sure.” “i'm alm thirty. It ts middle ace, of course, but—it 18 not senility,” She was genuinely eurprised, al- most disturbed. “Perhaps we'd better not tell moth- er." whe said. “You don’t mind being thought older?” “Not at all” Clearly the eubject of his years aid not interest her vitally. “I'm afraid you're not saving, as you promieed, Those ere new clothes, aren't they?" “No, indeed. Bought years ago in England—the coat in London, the trousera tn Bath, on a‘ motor tour, Cost something like 12 shillings. Aw- fully cheap, They wear them for cricket." “To think,” sald Sidney, “that you have really been across the ocean! I never knew but one person who en abroad, It is Dr, Max Wil- You lke this Wilson chap pretty don't you?” hat do you mean?” "You talk about him rather a lot.” “I've known him all my life," Sid- ney sald at last. “You're perfectly right about one thing: I talk about him and I think about him. I'm deing candid, because what's the use of being friends if we're not frank? l admire him—you'd have to see him in the hospital, with every one deier- ring to him and all that, to under- stand, And when you think of a man like that, who holds life and death tn his hands, of course you rather thrill, I—I honestly believe that's all there tg to it.” “I see, Then, tf you thought he was in love with you, things would be d'f- ferent?” “I¢ I thought Dr, Max Wilson was tn love with me,” eald Sidney sol- emnly, “I'd go out of my head with Soy."" One of the new qualities that K. Le Moyne was cultivating waa of living each day for itself. Having no past and no future, each day was wor.n exactly what It brought. He was to look back to this day with mingled feelings: sheer gladness at being out in the open with Sidney; the memory of the shock with which he realized that she was, unknown to herself, already in the throes of a romantio attachment for Wilson; and, long, long after, when he had gone down to the depths with her and saved her by lis steady hand, with something of mirth for the untoward happening that closed the da: Sidney fell Into the river, They had released Reginald, Tho little squirrel hag squeaked hi 1 mess, and darted into the grass, Having perched herself out in the river ea @ cugar-loaf geek, Sidnew lid, slowly but with a dreadful inevfabt ity, Into the river, K. happened to be looking in another direc! zm So it occurred that at one Soment Sidney sat on a rock, fluffy white from head to feet, entrancingly pretty and know ing ft, and the next she was standing neck deep In water, much too startlod to scream and trying to be dignifie. under the rather trying circumstances. K, had not looked around, The aplas} had been a gentle one, “Tf you will be good enough,” sald ey, With her chin well up, “to give me your hand or a pole or some- thing—beenuse if the river rises an inoh IT shall drown.” ‘To his undying credit, K, Le Moyne did not laugh when he turned and wher, He went gut on, tbe eugar- f rock, and lifted’ her bodily up \ AM DEAD FOR SLEEP I WAS UP ALL NIGHT CUT OUT Taar SPoet y LiFe GET MARRie AWD SEE —ceeeg ose + NO, WALIKING THE FLOOR ALL NIGHT WITH tte al! aides. He had prodigtous strength, in epite of his leanness. “Well!” gaid Sidney, when they were both on the rook, carefully bal- anced. “Are you cold?” “Not a bit, But horribly unhappy. I must look a sight.” Then, remem- 1g her manners, as the Street hed it, she said prim! “Thank you for saving me.” “There wasn't any danger, really, unless—unless the river had risen.” And then, suddenly, he burst into delighted laughter, the first, perhaps, for months. He shook with it, strug- sled at the sight of her injured face to restrain it, achieved finally @ de- gree of sobriety by fixing bis eyes on the river bank. “When you have qffite finished,” said Sidney severely, “perhaps ‘you will take me to the hotel. I dare eay I shall have to be washed and ironed." Ho drew her cautiously to her feet. Her wet ekirts clune to her; her shoes were sodden and heavy. She clung to him frantically, her eyes on the river below. With the touch of her hands the man's mirth died. He held her very carefully, very tenderly, as one holds something infinitely precious. had made was to change the hour for major opera- tions from early morning to mid- afternoon. The day had been a hard one. The operating room nurses were fagged. ‘Two or three probationers had been sent to help clean up, and @ senior nurse, Wilson'a eyes caught the nurse's eyes as she passed him, “Here, too, Miss Harrison!" he said gayly, “Have they set you on my trail?" With the eyes of the room on her, the girl answered primly: “I'm to be in your office in the mornings, Dr, Wilson, and anywhere lam ied in the afternoons.” Ho Was in @ magnanimous mood, CHAPTER VI. HE same day Dr. Max op- erated at the hospital One of the innovations Dr, Max He smiled at Miss Gregg, who was elderly and gray, but visibly his creature, “Tho sponge lst, doctor.” He glanced ove ately sponges prepared But he missed no ¢ tood beside Misa Gregg. He returned the at Was a mighty er I brought you TWo sinall frowning lines appeared between Miss Harrison's dark brows. Hie caught tiem, caught her sombre noting accur- used, turned ure of the eyes, tya, was @mused and rates werntfated. Q ry young.” yor sald Dr, Max, “Willing to learn at that You'll have to w h her, thoug! You'll have all internes buzzing around, neg! sii " Miss Gregy rather fluttered, Wilson was left alone with Miss Harrison, “Tired? He adonted the tle, ale most tender tone that made most women his slaves. “A little, It is warm.” “What are you going to do this evening? Any lectures?” ctures are over for the summer. leo to prayers, and after that roof for air.” n't_you take a litle ride to- pight and cool off? I'l. have the car ‘wherever you aay, A-tide end eome supper—how does it could get away at seven’ “Miss Gregg ts coming! + But he was clever with the guile of the pursuing male. Eyes of all on him, he turned at the door of the wardrobe room, where he would ex- change his white garments for street clothing, and spoke to her over the heads of a dozen nurses, “That patient's address that I had forgotten, Miss Harrison, is the corner of the Park and Ellington Avenue.” “Thank you. Sidney, after her involuntary bath in the river, had gone into temporary eclipse at the White Springs Hotel, In the oven of the kitchen stove sat her two small white shoes, stuffed with paper #o that Uiey might dry in shape. Lack tn a detached laundry @ sympathetio maid was ironing vari- ous soft white garments, ome one tapped lightly at the door, “It's Le Moyne. Are you all right?” “PerfecUy, How stupid it must be for you!” “I'm doing very well. The matd will soon be ready. What shall 1 order for supper?” “Anything, I'm starving.” “The moon has arrived, a per specifications, Shall we eat on the terrace?” “I have never eaten on a terrace tn my life. I'd love it.” At the foot of the staire he wag startled out of his reverie, Joe Drum- mond stood there waiting for him, his blue eyes recklessly alight, “You—you dog!" said Joe ‘There were people in the hotel par- jor, 16 Moyne took the frenzied boy by the elbow and lei him past tha door to the empty porch. “Now,” he said, “if you wit keep your voice down, Tu Usten to what you have to say, “You know what I've got to say.” This failing to draw from K. Le Moyne anything but his steady glance, Joe jerked his arm tree and clenched dis fist. Pil aid you bring her out here “I do not know that I ows you any explanation, but I am willing to give you one. I brought her out here for a trolley ride and @ picnic luncheon, In= cldentally we rough ground squirrel out and set hi free.” He was sorry for the boy, Life not having been all beer ani skittles to him, he knew that Joe was suffering, and was marvelously patient with im. “Where {s she now?" “She had the misfortune to fall in the river. She is upstairs,” And, see- ing the light of unbelief in Ju : “If you care to make a tour of inves- tigation you will find that I am en- tirely truthful, In the laundry @ maid" “Sho is engaged to me"—dogeedly. “Everybody in the neighborhood knows it, and yet you bring her out here for a picnic! It's—it's damned rotten treatment.” His fist had unclenched. Be K. Le Moyno's eyes bis own fell. He felt suddenly young and futile; hie just rage turned to blustering in his ea ‘Now, bo honest with yourrelf, Is there really an engagement?” “Yos," doggedly, “Even in that case, isn’t it rathey arrogant to say that—that the young Jady in question can accept no ordi- nary friendly attentions from another man?" Utter astonishment left Joe almost speechless, The Street, of course, re- ®arded an engagement as @ setting aside of the affianced couple. “I don't know where you came from,” be said, “but around hi a cent men cut out when a@ girl's en- gaged.” ee!"" What's more, what do we know about you? Who are you, anyhow? I've looked you up. Even at your office they don't know anything. You may be all right, but how do I know it?) And, even if you are, renting a room in tho Page house doesn't en- ttle you to interfere with the fam- ily, You get her into tropble and I'l Kill you!” It took courage, that speech, with K, Le Moyne towering five inches above him und growing a little white about the lips. “Are you going to enay all theee things to Sidney? es ehe allow you to call her Sidney?” “Are you?" “Iam, And I am gotng to find out why you were upstairs just now, Perhaps never in his twenty-two years had young Drummond been go near a thrashing. Fury that he wae ashamed of shook Le Moyne. For very fear of himself he thrust his hands in the pockets of his Norfolk coat. “Very well," he said. “You go to her with just one of these ugly insin- uations, and I'll take mighty good care that you are sorry for it. I don't care to threaten, You're younger than I am, and lighter, But if you Gre going to behave like @ bad child, you deserve @ leking, and I'll give it to you.” An overflow from the parlor poured out on the porch, Le Moyne had got himself in hand somewhat, He was still angry, but the look in Jon’a eye startled him, He put @ hand on the boy's shouldar, “You're wrong, old man,” he aald. “You're !nsulting the girl you eare for by the taings you are thinking. And, if 1's any comfort to you, I have no intention of Interfering in any way. You can count me out, It's betwoen you and her.” Joa pick Ir end his atraw hat from a stood turning it in his as Even tf you don't care for to I know ahe tsn't © 1 My word of honor, she ten't.” She ronds you notes to McKees'" “Just to clear the atr, I'l show It to you, It's no breach ‘of confidence, It's about the hospital.” Into the breast pocket nis cont he dived and brought up a wallet, The wallet had had @ name on tt tn gilt letters that had been carefinly scraped off. Tut Joe did not watt td sen the note, “On, damn the hoapttal!" he said— and went swiftly down the steps, Tt wa ly when he reached the of on’ etreet car and rat huddled In a cor- ner that ha remembered something. So that you will not miss may continue to enjo special features. Incly the TAKE THE EVENING WORLD WITH YOU ON YOUR VACATION daily magazine, comic and other Order the Evening World Mailed to Your Summer Addres: any of the weekly novels and in your summer reading. Only about the hospital—but Le Moyne had kept the note, treasured it! Joe was not eubtle, not even olever; but he was @ lover, and knew the ways of love, The Pag roomer was in love with Sidney, whether he knew {t or note CHAPTER VII. ARLOTTA HARRISON C pleaded a headache, and Carlotta Harrison was not a child, Though she was only three years older than Sidney, her experience of life was as of three to Sidney's one, Tho product of @ curious marriage--when Tommy Harrison of Harrison's Min- strels, touring Spain with his troupe, had met the pretty daughter of a Spanish shopkeeper and eloped with her-—-she had certain qualities of both, a Yankee shrewdness and capacity that made her a capable nurse, com- plicated by occastonal outcroppings of southern Europe, furious bursts of temper, slow and smouldering vin- dictiveness, A passionate créature, in reality, smothered under hereditary Massachusetts caution, She was well aware of the riaks of the evening’s adventure, The only dread she had was of the discovery of her escapade by the hospital authori- ties, Lines were sharply drawn. Nurses were forbidden more than the exchange of professional conversation with the staff. In that world of her choosing, of bard work and little play, of eervice and self-denial and vigor- ous rules of conduct, discovery meant dismissal. She put on @ @oft black dress, open at the throat, and with a wide white collar and cuffs of same sheer ma- terial, Her yellow hair was drawn high under her low black hat, From her Spanish mother she had lear to please the man, not heraelf, Shoe guessed that Dr, Max would wish her to be inconspicuous, and she dressed accordingly, ‘Then, being a cautious person, she disarranged her bed slightly and thumped @ hollow In- to her pillow. The nurses’ rooms were subject to inspection, and ehe had pleaded @ headache She was exactly on time, Dr. Max, driving up to the corner five minute late, found ber there, quite matter-of- fact’ but exceedingly handse was excused from the operating-room and from prayors. acknowledged the evening's adventure much to his taste, I'm very tired."" car toward the sub- ar into the drive Springs Hotel, — The Supper Was alinost ove motor parties were preparing for the Herteta. pr grave closed. ehanee, even In her dreams. and There te alwags something { aoman @he “slarte on a way tla a fortune, 4 | Black Gold By FREDERICK RB. BECKDOLT WEXT WEEK'S COMPLETE NOVEL IN THE EVENING WORLD ye a vital part tn Hf) HOTLY-CONTESTED OIL FIGHT ot, n f thrill pan over nurse from be t+ hut Mine Tarrison about fa looking at wa” Cariotta's even ware blinded for a moment by the mlara of th Bhe dropped tnto her & flash of resentment Ity of the other tab she wat up, her eyes on t profile turned toward the valley, Bhe went white and clutched tho edge of the table, with oven That gave her quick brain w It was madnona, June mad- Hho was alwaye geeing hin, This man was Hhe looked agata. Here, with at nem, fr, much older. ho had not been mistaken. tor all these months! K. Le quite uneonnate her » looked down Into the valley. the wooden ching the hal 8 eyon Boe If he came down to her, ti man at the next table might turn, and would nee her Bho rose and went quickty tok’ to. ward the hotel. All the gayety wae gone out of the evening for her, but she forced a lightness #he did not fee! “Tt ts ao dark and depressing out here. It makes me sad." “Surely you do not want to dine tn the house?" “Do you mind “Just as you wish, This ts your evening.” Rut he was not pleased. It was only by wild driving that she kot hack to the hospital by 19 o'clock. ‘Wilson left her at the corner, well content with himaelt. ‘As he got out of his car at the curb A young man who had been standing In the shadow of the tree box mo quickly @way. Wilson emiled after him in the darkness. “That you, Jos? he called. But the boy went on. CHAPTER VIII. IDNEY entered the hospital as @ probationer early in August, Christine was to be married tn September to Palmer Howe, and, with Harriet and K. in the house, she felt that she could safely leave her mother, Tho balcony outside the parlor wae already under way. On the night be- fore she went away, Bidney gat alone fod viewed ber world from this new and pleasant angle, Le Moyne's Light wae still going. ‘The rest of the household slept, Bhe paused outside the door, “Are you sloupy?"—very softly, ‘There’ was u inuvermont inside, the sound of a bovk put down, ‘Then: “No, indeed.” “1 muy not see you tn the morning, 1 leave to-morrow.” “Just @ minute.” From the sounds she judged he was pulling on his #habby Kray coat, The next moment he had opened Wwe door and #tupped out into the core ridor. “L believe you had forgotten!” “1? Certainly not, 1 started down- stairs a while ago, but you bad @ vis- ito: “Only Joe Drummond.” He gazed down at her quizzically, “And--is Joe mure reasumable?” ‘He will be, ite knows now that I—that I whall got marry him.” Hie hesitated, Then, hurriedly: “L got @ little present for you— nothing much, but your mother was quite willing. In fact, we bought it together,” tie went back fnto his roum and returned with @ amall box, With ali @orts of good luck,” he @aid, and placed it in her hands, “How dear af youl And may I look now?" “tC wish you would. Because, if would rather have something you else fhe apened the box with excited flugers. ‘Noking away on its satin Led was @ small gold watoh My wll heed it, you see, he ex- N plained nervously. “It wasn't ex- travagant under the cireumstances, Your « ‘4 watch, which you had intended to take, had'no second hand. You'll need a second hand to take Pulses, you know." “A watch,” said Sidney, eye on tt, le watch, to pin on and pocket, Why, you're the pers was afraid Presumptuous, “Don't you might think it ho sald, © for making me ao Ive wonderful, 6 hand is tor Ilow many queer things you the she must pin ft on and @ befor: mirror and sult. It gave Le Moyne » see her there in the Nig books and his pipes. you up shamefully," she you get up so early, Wa note from the hoi ittle lecture on e w can I now, travagance—b Huse " t with this Joy shining on me? And moonlight drive back to tie city. J Under her mask of languor, Car- Hs ut how to kee Katie in order lotta'’s heart was bea'ing wildly, bout your socks and all forts f What an adventuss! What a night! things. And—and now, good-night Tet bim lose his vead a Bho could keep hers, she we: and played things righi, tell? To marry him, to leave behind the drudgery of the hosnital, to feel eafo as she had not felt that was a Sidney and K. Le Moyne were dine ing together, ‘The novelty of the exe perience had made her eyes shine like etara, Another tablo was were not to be alone Bidney, who had been leantng fore rd, talking eagerly over the table, y alghtened and a arrison came out alo! brought; ¢! She had moved to the door and he followed her, stooping @ little to pase under the low chandelier, food night,” satd Sidney, “Goodby—and God bless you." The went out and he closed the door soitly behind her, CHAPTER IX, S were chaotic enough at first. There were uniformed IDNBY young women coming and'eotng, oftle never forgot impressions of hospital, although they hor early the rrr re ener rs steinating soout the otory of shoes'ring ede his story ia told ia this Inaptring romence of tvion There with orderly ‘ \ roome ka sheets and tone § ng floors and lines of beta T swore brisk internes with duck clothes and bene® buttons, whe eyed » friendly, great white vod It " iperinten tent hhed the IP dn Twelve hours a with the off duty | labored at tasks w foul, She awept and cleaned clone sheets am towels, rolled bandages—did every. thing but nurse the sick, which wae what she had come to do Now and then there was a death behind one of the white sereens. It caused little changs in the routine of ward. A nurse stayed behind the fereen and hor w done by the ra. Whe ne Was over nth y ractly on the Tecord and the b taken aw At first it seem Midney that she could not stand this nearneas to death, Sho thought the nurses hard because they took it quietly. Thea she found that it was only stotciam, resignation, that they had learned These things must be, and the work must go on. ‘Their philosophy made them no leas tender On her first Sunday half holtday ahe was free in the morning, and want to church with her mother, going back to the hospital after the service, Bo it was two weeks before sho Moyne again. ven then, for a short time. Palmer Howe came in to see her, and to inapect the balcony, now fintshed. But Sidney and La Moyne had a few words together first. ‘There waa a change in Sidney, La Moyne was quick to ree it. She was a trif_le subdued, with a puzzled look in her blue eyes. Her mouth was tender, as always, but he thought it drooped. ‘There was a new atmos- phere of wistfulness about the girl hat mado his heart ache. He seemed older than ahe had re- called him, the hair over his ears was almost white. And yot, he was just thirty. But he heki himself more erect than he had in the first days of his occupancy of the second floor front. Across the atreet the Rosenfeld bov had stopped by Dr. Wilson's car and ‘was eying i with the cool, appraising jance of the street boy whose sole nowledge of machinery has been ac- quired from the clothes-washer at home, Joe Drummond, eyes carefully ahead, went up the street. CHAPTER X. IN Monday morning, shortty after the McKee prolonged breakfast hour was over, a small man of perhaps fifty, with Jron-gray hair and @ sparse goatee, made his way along the street. He moved with the atr of one having « definite destination, but o by Ro means definite reception. ‘At the door of Mfrs. McKee's board~ ing house he stopped. Mra, McKee herself opened the door, “Oh, it's you, is ith “It's me, Mra, McKee.” ‘ “If you want to sce Tillie, ehe'e ““T only want to eay how-d'ye-o: T'm just on way through town” “ru say it for you.” ¢ A certain doggedness took the place of his tentative simile, “VU vay it myself, I guess T don't want any unpleasantness, but I've come a good ways to see her, and IU bang around until I do.” Mrs. McKee knew herself routed, and retreated to the kitchen. “You're wanted out front,” she eal “Who ts it?" “Never mind. Only, my advice te you 1s, don’t be a fool.” Tillie went suddenly pale, The hands with which she ued a white a@pron over her gliugham one were ebaking. Hor Visitor hed accepted the open door as perinission to enter and was standing in pees ho mw Til down the k Tillie this visit was fre moan that he war not free, Shear and b sale fumed poor question in her eyes. Mr. Sc through, ana T just and tell you~ to 868 You i'm glad reply but opened the shaded ttle her in and closed I know I proun- ‘ Playing with 8 the latest.” » sat down suddenly on one of chairs, Her lips were es know ¥ me, 5 alton Upset everythin around bother: “I've been gett now you come ar Mr. Schwitter "ose and took @ atep toward her. , Weil, I'll tell you why I‘ came Look at mo. I ain't getting any younger, am I? Tino's going on, and I'm wanting you all tho time ‘and what am [ gottine? What've I got out of lif, anyhow? I'm lonely, Tile!” “What's that got to do with me?” “You're lonely, too, aln't you?” “On, what'a the use!” cried poor Tilt, “We oan talk our heada off and not get anywhere, You've got @ wito living, and, unless you intend to do away with her, I guess that'a ab there ta torit.” (To Be Continued.)