Show 4 44 i i the G t by i ELIZABETH JORDAN 0 by th Coni piny I 1 bertli 0 i t 4 STORY FROM THE START leurle devon a gay young chap somewhat inclined to wild ness baa recently succeeded as a playwright ills wealthy els tr barbara a ho has helped him to succeed has just been married and Is colne to japan leav ing eaurla on his own epstean and bangas his theatrical part ners have promised barbara to keep an eye on baurle they scold him for his laziness of late and he retorts that he seeks ad venture from his window in new york he sees the reflection of a beautiful carl in a mirror la the house opposite from the elevator boy in the earl a house baurle learns the earl a name la mayo aaen in the mirrors re he abes her with a revolver and fears she means to commit suicide lie bushea into her apartment and winning her confidence induces her to lunch with him though she warns him of danger at lunch ene admits there Is a mystery in her life CHAPTER IV continued that wont do he declared ahe lid Is off you ve just admitted it you feel better for having it off so do I 1 As your big brother aud self appointed counselor I 1 choose this opportunity port unity to tell you what you re going to do bhe pursed her lips at him it was the gesture of a rebellious child her entire manner had changed so sud denly that baurle felt a bewilderment almost equal to his satisfaction in it for the first time throughout the in he experienced the thrill she had given him in the mirror blie prompted in the flirt place he hesitated the ground that stretched between them now was firmer but still tain one false step might lose much of what he had gained there s the question of your future he went on in a brisk matter of tact tone I 1 spent two months last year looking for a job in new york I 1 was about down to my last cent before I 1 found it it occurred to me that you lie was beginning to that I 1 am out of work she hn dished calmly you are right I 1 aarle beamed at her surely his dav was clear bowl had a streak of luck last year he resumed 1 I collaborated on a play that people were enough to like ever since that money has poured in on me in the most vulgar way I 1 clink when I 1 walk dollars ooze from my pockets when I 1 make a gesture last week at the bank the cashier begged me to take some of my money away and do something with it he it was burdening the institution so as your adopted broth w I 1 m going to start a bank account for you he ended simply indeed you are noti indeed I 1 am 1 I agreed to live I 1 did not agree lo 10 what Is it ov americans say 4 lo 10 sponge HP ignored all but the phrase of the reply v what do you mean by that he demanded with quickened interest aren t you an american she bit her lip no N o not wholly what then I 1 she hesitated fl cant tell ou that just yet she all at last h I 1 aurie pursed his lips n noiseless whistle the girls voice as musically english and though her accent atas that of london up till now she had spoken as colloquially as any american indeed her speech ans much like his sisters ite was ried why you tell roe this before I 1 im not wholly american smiling at him ironically but he remained serious yes and oh a lot of of course aon know I 1 am all at sea about you the familiar shadow fell over her fie lien one Is within an hour or two of the next world she asked indifferently should one tell anybody anything ilow long have you been in amer lea all my nap off and on alila as least was reassuring ite imagined he saw a gleam of light the na declared tint she was not a apt or involved in war kropa canda but it was quite possible he reasoned she waa enmeshed in little web of politics of as im to her and ner group of very little importance to nav one else 1 I suppose he suggested cheerful 1 thit set vou ve said so much about la a political net they had been speaking throughout in low tones inaudible at any ther table rifer nearest fellow diners were two women at least thirty tt ay but she tl 1 antly under his words she made a acl cestare ol 01 caulion and turning half around swept the room with a art atene rin lauric ea ru in fingers vi klied f s her curiously taking in hep evident tension her slowly returning poise and at last the little breath of relief with which she turned back to him I 1 wish I 1 could tell you all you want to know ehe said but H cant that s ai Is to it so let us change the subject ills assurance returned youre not a crown head or an es princess or anything ot that kind are you he asked politely this time she really laughed n soft low gurgle of laughter joyous and contagious no then lets get back to our bank account we have plenty ot time to run over to the fifth avenue branch of the corn exchange bank before the closing hour what color of check book do sou prefer 1 I told you slie declared with feud den seriousness that my bargain did not sponging for the first time in the somewhat xang interview her companions good humor deserted him aay dear girl he said almost am patiently dont beat the devil around the bush I 1 youve got to ih e till we can find the right work for you and that may take some time you have intelligence enough to see that 1 m neither a gay lothario nor a don juan in your present state of you re not fit to decide anything make up your mind once for all that I 1 m going to decide for you it will save us both some trouble he stopped lie had discovered that she was not listening to him she was sitting absolutely still her head a little turned her lips were parted and her eyes wide and star ing were fixed on some one across the room eyes followed hers they focused on a man sitting alone af ft little table it was clear that he had just entered for a waiter stood by his side and the newcomer was giving judicious attention to the bill of tare he was a harmless looking person of medium height and rather more than medium stoutness carelessly dressed in a blue serge suit his in difference to dress was further betrayed by the fact that his ready mide four ln hand tie had slipped the mooring of a white bone stud leaving that useful adjunct of the toilet open to the eyes of the world ills face was round smooth shaven and rather pale he had dirk slightly veiled gray eyes which blinked near sight edly at the menu altogether he was a seemingly worthy person to whom the casual observer would hardly have glen gl en n second glance valle the two pairs of eyes across the room stared at him he his order to the waiter it seemed a brief order for the brow of the latter clouded as he wrote it down and detachedly tac hedly strolled oft ahe newcomer leaned back in his chair and as he did so glanced around the room projecting eyes movane indifferently from table to table suddenly rested fixed on the girl they showed in terest but no surprise lie bowed with a hilf smile an odd smile bland and understanding then her lack of response he fixed his eyes on he wall facing him and waited patiently tor his luncheon to be served lauries attention returned to the girl she was facing him again but her byca looked past him as if he were not there he has found me een here she muttered of course he would HP always does I 1 auric looked at her do you mean he asked crisply that that chap across the room Is fol lowing you around aishe looked at him as it abruptly recalled to the fact of his presence her ayea dropped yes she muttered dully 1 may escape him for a time but hp always learing where I 1 am he will catch me when he chooses and roll me about under his paws tor a dihe and then perhaps let me go again that sounds like a certain phase of domestic life commented baurle s he by any chance our husband her eyes held a rising anger he Is not she said I 1 am not married I 1 aarle dropped his dead cigarette into the ash tray ind a sigh its alt very confusing contusing con aa admit ted and a digression from the main issue hut im afraid I 1 shall have to go to thea exertion of reasoning with him she started up but before sue could protest of restrain him he nad left glicr and crossed alie room to the stran gers table I 1 CHAPTER V mr herbert ransome shaw the map in the shabby blue serge suit detached his absent gaze from the opposite hyill and looked up quickly when lauria stopped at his ide lie waa clearly surprised but courteous rose from bla chair but the came over here he said casually to mention to you tha you are annoying the lady I 1 am with newcomer waved him back and dropped easily into alie vacant seat opposite him lie was smiling the man in blue serge was not he looked puzzled though vaguely responsive A third person patching the two almost have thought the episode the casual reunion of men who frequently lunched together baurle leaned forward in his chair rested one elbow on the table and opening his cigarette cj garette case it to the stranger the latter reject it with a slight bow I 1 thank hubut not before he said quietly ills voice and unai ner were hoof an educated man the quality 01 his tone was slightly harsh 1 I 1 aure lit a rl garette blew out the match and looked straight into the strangers projecting gray eves he had acted impulsively biow eliat he was here he was anxious 0 o put the job over concisely firmly but all neatly must be nothing done that would attract the attention of the few persons in the big room 1 I 1 came aver 1 to mention tha 1 to mention must stop i berhe glance aurie obi erv 1001 of th changed R little the to the strangers d att before I 1 answer yoi teak tiding he said formal y B do you act as the ladys pro i y aarle hesitated an instant the 1 question was embarrass ns has she authorized authorised you to act in a way but how long have you known her well do you knower of the interview was slipping from the younger man he resolutely resumed it 1 I 1 look here he said firmly 1 I came to this table to tell y u something bi I 1 I 1 will decide what that Is to be I 1 im not here to ans er questions it Is enough for you to now that clr cum stances have given me the right to protect the lady tn n annoyance I 1 want to make it to you that 1 shall exercise that rig it hereafter you are to let her alon do sou un der stand absolutely a one you are nui to follow her not t enter places where she can see you he recklessly en led he stranger looked nt him through thi light veil which again 9 ha e fallen over the projecting eyes 1 I 1 should really know he sa J when and where tou met hm I 1 you starting off together in the taxicab but I 1 nm ay quite sure whether your first encounter occurred this morning J and you wont be I 1 auric stood up fv e warned youl he said curt ly 1 I dont know howell you un der stand our laws in this country but I 1 ancy you know enough ot them to realize that you a lady without getting into trouble ashe admitted that the stranger appeared to experience a tepid glow of emotion bhe must know you beafter than I 1 thought he added re doris Is not the type to poor her confidence loto every new eat he mused seeming to forget the ot lera presence in laa interest in thin revelation have I 1 made masel quite clear ciurle was staring t him with a mingling of resentment resent men and interest th other nodded sou have my young he sal with sudden and no I 1 too will be clear in return for one warning I 1 you an oth ir keep out pt matters that do not you I 1 I 1 aarle grinned at hla ou forget that I 1 lave made this ma er my concern hg said lightly tir to remember thai other man rose his manner he je changed to a fon f on tot impatient w alnes bet her out of h re he said abruptly you are b kalns to ir me you two tg her home dithen an keep away from her unless coutre looking for trouble he delivered the lafit words so deafly and menacingly floathe waiter appeared luncheon hearal them and fell ack a step the baurle alsoc fell a sense of the fel low aras cly there in the dull but fixed look of those toggling eyes in live forward thrust f the smooth brown head ie said my say it I 1 ear catch you that studio or lotny wai annoying the lady you within an of your tv annl then turn chats left of to the author ties under le and san led back to M siavo s table tor p instant the ot henman stood looking after him as if tempted to follow then k with a dhru he dropped into fils chair and began the luncheon th waiter had before him I 1 found the girl standing by the thle ready for trie street her coat listened her glove s buttoned ot how could you she gasped whal did he say laible summoned the balter with a and asked for Us account a nil nute ie suggested and lell me who he Is ot here she urged 1 I coulden couldn t here hurry pi ase I 1 et us get away so obviously li barnest thit he he paid alip alf which the waiter had r adv incepted that servitors with his overcoat and escorted hr guest from roam but for beav ens coo t run 1 he lanpier do you want the crea ture were him she and modern jt d her pace side b side and quite they left the restaurant while the stian gc watched them with his dull fixed gak 1 I seemed toy have decd recd ered hl temper but it wh alo plain ahat ali little given bilm to think about lien lie his luncheon 1 ate slowly and an air of as if w out somei aroh pm hat his narber asad as he miss m ar n to i a salt ing slip startled atleed hi most anual questions to bej r and put bar atti n WB on ter gnan i f bhoj ahls hard stran ger li aurla in for a peek of trouble tit f f HI atey ate y 3 IE dawn of another year ande close 1 whose title page bears the legend ica and replace it upon it is dog eared now smirched ed ana outworn because they were read too I 1 hard lard sime or the imas arc dim others show the blur of tears once so fair and spotless were its pages and the moving finger v rites on and on endlessly endl esaly to each new volume we turn with eager outstretched hands our faces wear expectant looks our hearts beat high with hope and courage what is stored between the covers of this new book how much of joy of healan Is success written therein how it tanus us to on these absorbingly interesting matters ho brief will be the reading of these bright new pagey ah me if only we were oll cred to linger a bit oer o er some of the too soon shall we reach he ajmal another book is done and the year ended yet r S friends may its memories hold more than of storm more courage tean may the f t itt 1 jt t i lt it 1 1 faith seem brighter than you had thought and the great purpose of it all more steadfast sure 1 3 W warn union L |