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Show big banking account." ahe added audacl ouslv. "Well, and what do you want ma to d for this dajnaal In disireee?" ha aake gently. "I want yon to get her a berth soma. whTe," he was told promptly. "No, It'i , - no use aaylng you can't.- Vy dear man. you must know erorea of people who'd take her In. Hhe thought ahe was fixed I up all right, but now It appears that the people ahe waa with before haven't got a vacancy for her. and so that'a knocked on the head. She told me that she'd have to k CHAPTER V. Mlckf passed three daya before he made any attempt to ae Eather 8hep-i stone again; days that seemed like a month at least, and ritisjpg which he ' lout hla appetite and forgot to smoke. That ahe did not particularly care If sht saw him agnln or not, he was rotx-embly rotx-embly sure Hhe had no thoutrhts for any one l.iit Ashton. He frit as If he could not nettle to anything. Priver came Into the room. "If you pleanr, sir. Miss Mason has been on the phone. Hhe said would 1 ask you to meet hrr for tea." Micky did not look enthusiastic; h liked June awfully, hut todav every one 1 -and eatery tiling-seemed a bora, I 'Tea. Where?" he asked vaguely. "Miis Mnmn said that you would know, sir; the same plnce as usual." "Oh. all right!" Micky looked at the clock and nlghed. , After all. June whs always amusing; j he went off almost cheerfully to the un- ; pretentious club of which she had spoken to KMher. He had to wait In the tehby while a bov n buttons fetched ' June tohim. Hhe csme downntHlrs look- lng very much at home, and smoktnff the InevltabU cisrelt. It was ens of June Mason s rharms that she alwavt managed to look at home wherever ahe waj. Hhe had taken off her cost, hut ahe wore a green hut with a gold ornament thit suited her to perfection, act on her dark head at rakish angle. Just take the first thing that came along. I don't helieve she's hardly got a shilling to her name. I offered to take her into partnership with me. I said we'd go traveling together for my beauty cream, but ahe wouldn't hear of It. . . She a ao proud!" and here a sound of tear crept Into June Mason's voice. "I a-tk you, Mickey, what can be done with any one like that?' Mickey shrugged his shoulders. "If she'll take anything that comes along she ousht to get a job pretty I soon.' he said laconically. - "I'll apeak to a man f know can she write a decent hard and all that sort of thing?" "Of courtie she ran! But I want a good berth, mind you! I've never been so fond of anybody as I am of her. She's aw--iiUly worried about this horried man she's engaged to. Hhe doesn't any mm h about him, but thla morning she said that there i didn't seem to h anythins- to live for, and here yes looked so sad. . . ." Mickey smtled at her serious face. "You'd make an eloquent appeal In a court of law." he aaid. He took a pencil ; from hts pocket and an envelope. "Give j me her name and address and I'll ae ; what I can do. I don't prom ins anything, mind you, but I'll do what I can. , ." "You're a dear." said June warmly. "I j knew you were the one to come to. I'm quite sure when you've seen Kit her. o.'11 . . why, what's the matter. Mickey V Mickey had looked up aharply. Hla face had paled a little. "What name did you say? he asked. He never knew how he managed to control con-trol his voice. H is heart seemed to be ! thumping in his throat. "What name did you say?" he asked .a-galn, with an effort. ef-fort. "I did not catch it " I "It's Ksther." said June. "Esther Shep-1 Shep-1 stone." I June was drawing on her gloves; she had very white handa and beautifully kept finger nails, and she waa very proud of them. "Never mind me,' he said briskly. "You bustle about and find a post for Ksther, and I'll love you for ever. Are we ready? Hhe rose and gathered up her various belongings. Mickey"tieti-lared that she was always laden with small oddly ahaped parcels. "Samples, my dar, samples" ahe said briskly, when Mickey aaked IT he might not be allowed to carry some. "And ttvey're much too precious to risk you dropping any." "Ther's Just one stipulation," Mickey sa!d as h? followed her downstairs again. "You're not to tell Mis Hhepatone anything any-thing auo'it me I'm going to be very strict on this subject. Will you promise?1' "Rleas your heart, yes, and if you come to tea one day ' "Oh. I don't think Ml coma to tea. Mickey aaid hastily. "I should only feel rottontt If -conscious and all the rest of It. even if I mas quite sure ihe dtdn't know anything not that there's anything to know vet." he afdd quickly. "I may not be able to help her." Miss Mason laughed. "Oh. you'll heio her right enough." she said breenh. " knew you." Kh dirnvcd htm when they reached the street. "No. ! don't wsnt you to come with me: I've got some bus: ness to eee i to, and you'd only be a nuisance." Hhe rave hia hand a soneese. ";odbve. and thanks ever so much. Mickey. You'll writs to me or wire?' "As soon as there Is anything te report." re-port." He raised his hatand turned away and ; June dived across the road, perilously near to a motor omlnbua. clutching her f samples Jealously ta her heart. "U II be all right new." she told her- self with a sense of comfort. "ery-: "ery-: th.ng's always all right aa soon as Mickey ; geta hvt of It." 1 A sitoquy which made It seem all the I more curious that she should have besi-I besi-I la ted to trust herself to him for life. I Perhaps, as she had told Ksther. she feared too much for him to take the risk for them both. He had told her candidly ' that he did not care for her as a man I should care for the woman he marries. "And he makes ripping friend! Rip- ping:" she told herself as she scurried ' ' along to Interview another beauty specialist spe-cialist about the "swindle," . aa Mickey politely called It. , . To be continued 1 1 1 Drawn up imna you were not coming." com-ing." she antd. Hhe gave him her left hand, and Micky squeezed I- In friendly fashion. Tn went upstairs together to a small tea-room, tea-room, which wis Just now deserted save for two waitress who were giggling together to-gether oer a newspaper. June walked over to a table Jn the window, and Micky followed. He had bet-n hre with her scores of time before, and the i wo waitresses smiled at one another knowing! v; tliey wer quite aure that this was romane.. Micky w.is s.tting with an elbow on the ttble, absntty smoothing the ba -x of his head: he waa wishing It wts Ksther sitting opposite him; he looked up with a little start when June spoke to him "What's up. Micky? I've never aeen you locking so depressed." He shook himself together. "I'm not depressed any longer." he declared. de-clared. "Weil, and how are vou And hew la the swinoier' If was MUky'a pet oke to ci.tl June's Invention the "w!n-dle," "w!n-dle," thouah In hia heart he waa almoal as proud of It as she waa Hhe laughed. "It'a very well, thank you; but that Isn't whnt I want to talk to you about today. Micky, would you llke to come to tea with me one afternoon " Micky Marrd. "lVa Haven't I come to tea with you oday?" "Hilly: I don't mean here; I mean where I live. It's a bnarding house I dare say you'll hate it but ire really q!tts a nic place, and beggars cen t he -hosrs, nnway I've gt a very comfortable com-fortable ittint- room and most of my own furniture, and I can give you a good cup of tea, or anything jse, if you prefer pre-fer it." "I shall he delighted." Micky looked pucethd. "Hut isn't this rather a breaking break-ing of rules? It's not -so very long ago that you made me swear never to try and find out her you lived. I thougat It was all to be a deadly secret." "rto It was. but I've decided to admit you. I know you're aafe. and. Muay wouldn't you like to meet the deareat prettiest, most attractive little girl " Mlrky moved hia chair back in mock ' alarm. "June! You're not turning matchmaker! If you are I give jou fair warning that our friendship will have to end once and for ever. I'll put up with a lot from you, lut not this not. . . " "Don't he an idot'" aaid June calmly. "There isn't the slightest fear: And anv--' ahe addtM, with a half sigh, I "she's engaged, ao It wouldn't be any good. Bul I want you to Help her. , . Oh, I know 1 am always bringing you foundlings to help and look after, but , ou've gut such a big heart aud such a, |