| Show the GIRL in the MIRROR by ELIZABETH JORDAN 6 by tb con any STORY FROM THE START laufle devon ray young chap somewhat inclined to wildness haa recently succeeded a a playwright his wealthy bister barbara who has helped him to succeed has just been married and Is boenk to japan leaving baurle on his own and banes bis theatrical partners have promised barbara to keep an eye on laurat they scold him for his of late and he retorts that he seeks ad venture from his window in sew york he sees the reflection ot a beautiful girl in a mirror in the house opposite prom the elevator boy in the girl a house baurle learns the carls name la mayo apala in the mirror s re he seea her with a re and tears she means to commit suicide he rushes into her apartment and her confidence induces her to lunch with him though she aarns him of dancer at lunch she admits there Is a mastery in her life she fays also that her funds are arnost exhausted but refus matiy baurle s offer of anan ual help As a stranger enters the restaurant the girl mutters he has found me learning that the man has no claim on her baurle warna the stranger not to molest the carl ctrl whose name baurle learns Is doris to louise ordway hla invalid sister in law baurle admits his interest in doris mrs ordway offers her help but doris refuses flatly to meet her CHAPTER VII continued 10 the police can stop all this non ense but baurle spoke without his customary authority don t imagine that the police know nothing about tills matter and hey neer will A sudden thought struck her and she rose almost with B spring lie rose too staring at her in bewilderment bhe caught alg boulders hould ers and held them tightly in a grip wholly free from self conscious nesi if you warn the police ehe paid swiftly if ou draw them into this you hlll ruin ever thing tou will do me a harm that could never be un lone give me your word that you oft t please please 1 she was almost shaking him now binler the clasp of her hands on his shoulders baurle paled a little but ats black yes bield hers steadily of course I 1 promise he said ly as you mate such a point of it she removed her hands and stepped hick lease go now so soon why I 1 ve only just ine 1 I know but am tired chere was no mistaking the sancer ity of this it was a poignant outcry loir lv at the breaking point lie took both her hands blits 11 hole experience gives me 1 l c oddest feeling lie told her gentl in one way I 1 seem to be dreaming it L ader it all s a I 1 m on the track of the mastery ahat eer thing will be cleared up for no both in another minute or two it a merely an instinct I 1 cant ex I 1 lain it but one thing I 1 know soon pr nr later sooner I 1 hope I shall b I 1 me to work it out for you she seemed suddenly to remember flint he was holding her hands flush ing she gentl withdrew them ihen klie gurnei and with n brusque lure naked away from him I 1 m sorry I 1 got you into this she II 11 led don t worry about me lie smiled ut tier from the door he was holding apen mav I 1 come and take you to kunii tomorrow ot tomorrow the next day per b aps v c got to look for eliat job you know auh all she indicated with the toe of her slipper a loi on the rug I 1 nurle regarded the slipper with ii proal it was a beautiful slipper n n foot it BO lil from the main issue of lie con ur atlon thit he was in the elevator i rid half dav down to the ground floor before lie recalled that issue he was not disturbed dorla had enough to agn on with and lie himself sum clent score for thought in the ref lations she had just made aa he walked down the outer steps 0 the stu ilo building and emerged or in a figure detached it relf from alie shadow of a low lion fence and stealthily followed him it was a short egure coated out of recognition it carried its in its pockets and its head was thrust forward in a peculiar way jt kept a feet him until he readied the pretentious entrance of the apartment building where he here in the glaring light of two huge electric globes conveniently neld aloft for him by a pair of bronze warriors leurle turned suddenly warned by the inner sense that tells us we are watched the figure be fc d ducked modestly into the background but not until he biad lecog the round face and MM f herbert ransome liaw laerte checked a passionate impulse to hurl upon the lurking and unpleasant shape slowly but surely he was learning self control martin the elevator operator and graggs the night hall man were already bidding him good evening and regarding him with friendly and interested acs to see him suddenly fall upon and beat a shabby stranger would surprise and pain them besides unpleasantly stir ring up the neighborhood A better opportunity would present itself or could be made in the meantime however he must doniev to herbert It ansome shaw some idea of the utter contempt in which he held him taking graggs confidentially by the arm baurle pointed out the skulking shadow see that he asked in ringing tones graggs was a goliath in proportions and deliberate in his movements he took his time to discover the object oung devon indicated in the shad ow the object stirred restlessly kesslr gregga alien said its its a man sir Is it asked baurle with interest and still in loud clear tones 1 I m afraid youre mistaken bat ft whatever it Is step on he entered the elevator after this crisp instruction and was wafred wafted up to his rooms the hall man moved hesitatingly down the building s three A Hs walked down the outer steps of the studio building and emerged on the sidewalk a figure detached luelf from the shadows steps to the sidewalk one never knew exactly what young devon was getting at still if he really wanted graggs to step on graggs stopped A slight sensation of disappointment swept over him he was a conscientious man who desired to do his duty but there was absolutely nothing for him to step on except the snow cohered and other wise inoffensive pavement CHAPTER VIII samuel plays a new game the next morning baurle awoke from troubled dreams with a dagui feeling that life was gettling a rise out of him a feeling that the absent morn ing greeting of cango did not help to dissipate realizing it deon had rather sunned himself I 1 in the adulation of his chum hen tills adulation was removed he missed it and for alie present at least there was no question that adulation was lacking not that hangs failed in nn of lie outward forms of friendship but ills had changed he was increasingly preoccupied hen I 1 au ale spoke bangs had hie effect of coining to him from a long distance and een of having one fot extended as it were for the return journea the two boung men breakfasted to gether for the first time in wyral days and oer their coffee and alga bettes I 1 aarle confided to his friend his new anglety about mrs ordway bangs at once became human in deed he a degree of that surprised hla friend it was sud denly clear that was jaitly in I 1 lutse he had hadan tn ventured to call on her baurle did not et know this for the first call was made as it happened on the afternoon of the day when the two young men biad indulged in their first serious quarrel bangs usually the most modest and self conscious of youths had abruptly lost his shyness under the urge of n need to talk about ahli chum to some one who would understand and louise had understood quite angly the ballf he and ehe had had the help the had given him the plans they had made rod ney grew ry serious it 8 lucky bonya Y in town he said when this further fact biad been repealed letb go ovar to the hotel and tec her after V perhaps we ought to cable to warren sonya will know lie spoke with such studied carelessness that I 1 aarle flashed a sudden look at him under it hangs flushed to the roots of his burnished pompa dour well well murmured baurle this Is interesting I 1 odd I 1 dlan t notice 1 before whatever it waa he gave his whole to it now leaning forward he ostentatiously studied bangs with an expression at once in dulcena and amazed A flush on his cheek too he roused aloud shut up bangs clenched his while the flush deepened easily irritated respiration slightly irregular all the familiar lymp toms tor god s sake I 1 aarle don t lie an ass 1 berged bangs all the familiar symptoms of a heavy cold murmured baurle sym pathetically A hot bath and a dose of quinine might help at this stage but if it gets worse I 1 aarle reflected anxiously shaking his head it it gets worse send for sonya he finished brightly he rose dodged the roll rodnie hurled at him and strolled trolled troll ed out of the room opening the door again to add an afterthought that suddenly oc burred to him don t risk afe ufe by going to the hotel old man he added kindly take bour quinine and I 1 will call on sonya she 11 tell us whether or not to cable for warren repeated bangs with great dignity but bonya when she came into her hotel sitting room an hour later did not immediately solve this problem for the moment her mind was wholly on the infant samuel who was to have his adenoids aden cut out that morn ing and who had been encouraged to look forward to the experience as a new delight while they were ex pressing fitting interest samuel him self entered the room alone but with all the effect of a juvenile procession by the left leg ns dragged his most cherished possession n battered and dim featured rag doll hospitably greeting the two young men he solemnly presented the doll to bangs this asked rodney with a friendly impulse to adapt his con vers atlon to the young hullen affirmed samuel hullen R J ahat does that meant bangs appealed to bonya it s the doll s name he gave it to her himself II ullen I 1 suppose means helen and sir warrens binl you know are R J samuel liked the sound of them baduel retrieved R J hullen R J go hos tl alv sam my he further announced she will corroborated conyn he neer stirs her and she sleeps in his bed every night baurle turned a shocked gaze on samuel and son a laughed then gulped 1 I m horribly nervous ahli morning she admitted 1 I wish it were oer lou see a certain cherub tnt going to like matters at all after hey really begin at the hos tl and hb mother will be more of a burden ahafi a help bangs had an inspiration suppose 1 go with you he sug then it you need a strong roan to hold the cherub two strong men corrected luu rie do jou imagine that I 1 m going to desert samuel in his hour of need besides le got to keep an eye on bangs he added sweetly and was rewarded by a glare from that oer wrought young man noticed an thing odd about bangs lately I 1 aarle asked sonya she tamed OB rodney tt dart gaze of her eye hy no you will baurle predicted with n mournful shake of the head watch him closely and call on me if thera aro alarming symptoms that you don understand bangs rushed into confused speech ne thinks ive got a cold he gulped ills nonsense of course nothing in the world the matter with me er how soon do we start laurl helpless with laughter rolled samuel on the floor samuel a bolce took on an added note of jubilation sonya his mother ciul len R J and masser bangs all nang with him to alie bostl it was agnost too much pleasure samuel became slightly intoxicated ho wants to sing remarked lau ale with masculine understanding of a fellow heart all right old cua he encouraged how about that ban alful hymn I 1 taught you at babs wd ding with considerable help samuel recalled the ditty hey hey v her we care we care now wow wow WOW wowe I 1 aurie I 1 sonya spoke with sudden austerity its a relief from his mental strain I 1 aarle explained any doc tor will tell you that in tho bostl however things a fumed a different aspect still firmly holding hullen R J by the leg and keeping a steadfast eye on the surgeon samuel took in his immediate surroundings with a dawning BUS in his soul having two men throw lights on his face and look down his throat had lost its novelty though sonya had assured him that wonderful views were to be seen there which he alone could reveal also the men seemed hurried and want to look at hullen R J s theoa though samuel warmly recommended tills variety in the entertainment in short the situation had become sinister the smiles around him were dreadful looking things all except I 1 aarle s with an appalling howl samuel detached himself from the surgeons grasp and fled to baurle who picked him up and held him firm ly and comfortably in his lap until a lady in white came with something nice for samuel to smell the next thing samuel knew was that he mas in bed in a strange room he gulped and discovered that his throat was sore he sat up distend ed his mouth for a yell and then very slowly closed it from every corner of the room fi mallar figures were hastening to his side the lady in white sonya and his mother all reached him at the same moment on the pillow beside him R J awaited the honor of his attention like a perfect lady no howls from lier as sons a imme pointed out As she thus soothed sonya was kissing him the lady in white was offering him something pleasant to drink ills mother was patting his back for a long instant samuel took in the gratifying fact of these activities then he assorted as sorted his features grabbed R J his yell tor a large smile and permitted himself to be waited on dap in his jascu line consciousness he had realized his world was normal again and I 1 aarle talked up fifth avenue together stopping at a fo elsts to purchase the mans enter supply of roses for mrs ordway bangs also discovered some masea of and chrysanthemums that as he said looked like her laden with these spoils they took a taxicab to the ordway house where they found jepson exuding an atmosphere of kesslr II ordwa seemed bet ter she ad a more restful night han susanne bad was quite bright ehlt morning course she d see sir deon han 1 probably mr bangs halso jepson would barsk at once baurle ye a mixed up in a nice old fashioned knock down drag out and hap pens to him TO BE |
