Show i j o 0 V I N G TON TOI regarded curiously tho rho solitary rY girl at tho t table a fl b 1 I o a across tho the aisle lIe IIo was not alone alono In his t curiosity for a R score of late Into I to diners were WelO I the table with open Ollen amusement I Finally one ono of af a f v P party palt u ty r of o f men walk walked t r a 11 c cc ed e c tI 1 uncertainly unco to toward t toward 0 ward wId the table and with a Il flippant jest on tho the probability of or tho rho tl girl having expected some BOUIC ono one who had hadnot hadnot hadnot not come como ho offered to take lulo tho the ab tb absent absent sent ones ono place The salon Humbert was distinctly Bohemian With nn exclamation of protest rose roso from his coat ecat f at Tho In crossed to the girls table tuulo The Tho In Inebriated Inebriated Inebriated diner shambled on with a muttered apology and nd Covington drop dropped dropped ped into the char chair opposite the girl You must lc Ie me sit here hero he said decidedly This Is no 10 place for tor a ayoung ayoung young oung woman dining alone But It was the tho only place ap apparently apparently parenti where a woman alono alone could dine was the lIto answer I Iwas Iwas was turned away awn from half hUle a Co dozen places Of or course there were the th lunchrooms butI but I was IUS hungry Covington smiled spilled at the naive con confession conCession confession Cession and glanced at the table spread with an order which showed that the tho girl was not only hungry but possessed ed of ota a knowledge of or tho the good things on a menu I 1 dont Ultimo blame you OU for tor ping tho the hurry hurr up places he said saidI I with sympathy s but tho the crowd crowl here I Is 18 just a trifle gay and It Is expect expected ed cd that thal In the tho absence of ot a cavalier some one O ne will volunteer to take the recreants place Tho The girls face taco flamed scarlet and aud tho this blood dyed d cd the soft white neck I as ns well I had no Idea Iden that that Certainly not ho he argued prompt promptly prom ly Iy else you would not be hero horo But I come corne you Oll let that i with your appetite Tho The place is re respectable enough and n a u n d Ill stand I gun rd Tho rho girl eyed him hint She was evidently ol satisfied with her ht hI r In Inspection Inspection for fa I the color In her leer cheeks cheek I turned to a softer sorter pink and she gave her attention to her hel pi ph r I face was one that In Inspired InI Inspired I confidence and attI Beth Bath Horton was well content with her hor pointed guardian guardianI I r am ant between trains she ehe a ex ox explained c whilo a Q Walter waiter brought Cov CO coffee coffeo to his new seat Im going out on Oil the midnight My lI father Cathor is 15 very ver ill III and my aunt with whom I Iwas Iwas was visiting is also aleo ill III and so 50 unable to accompany mo 1110 and ond I had Just time timeto to catch tho the train to lo town by losing my lunch Thero There was no buffet car caron caron caron on the thc train and the eating places near tho the station were so impossible r I was about to go back to them though when I found that I could have dinner here hore Arid And a good one too declared I Covington Its like 1110 a n ward wr caucus held Bald In n a n church chuich The Tho place Is all allright allright allright right Its the tho company objectionable ob obi i I Present t company compan always except excepted I cd ed quoted Doth Bath with a n grateful smile lie It Is very vory vor good of oC you to take mo nie In your care Only too glad Iad responded Cov Covington CO Covington i I ington promptly I was wondering what to do with myself m and curd you OU have I provided a solution for Cor a part parl of the tho I time He drew his hl coffeo coffee toward him and began to chat on general topics to put putI I the tho girl nt at her case ease Covington was a n aI clevor clever conversationalist and soon Both Beth I r E I I I t tt tt tl t I 1 t r l 1 i 1 r ris is d YOUR NAME IS BETH HORTON HE HH ASKED t I had forgotten her embarrassment and I was supplementing her planked steak with sweets and coffee At last she laid down her Jer napkin I have you to thank for tho the din dinner dInner dinner ner she he said But for Ol you I would have hae lied when that horrid man spoke to me trio You would do well to permit mo rite to escort you back hack to lo tho the station ho suggested It Is not always pleasant at nt this into of oC evening to be without an nn escort Both Beth inclined her head In assent and when whon sho she and Covington had bad paid their checks chocks ho he escorted her through the room and out upon the tho street It was waEl all too loo short a n walk to the thes s 5 stall t n a t I Q g n Il for Covington who all ali through tho lie dinner had beon been falling failing deeper and deeper in love lovo with Ills his hl I charge Ho He saw tho the huge structure loom I up before them with wi th a n feeling reeling of or dis I He could not flot In decency ask aek her name and the thought that lint presently she sho would slip Blip out of oC hor her life forever came to Lo him with a sense of oC actual pain In the wide entrance to tho station sho she paused to offer o e l her hor hand Im Int all right now no she alto 1 ho said briskly brisk briskly ly Ir It Is you I have huc to thank for 4 saving sating this trip front from being a n night nightmare nightmare mare marc Ill hover nover alone llano again as sure as us my m names Both Horton The Tho name como canto with tho the natural neBS floss of oC on habitual 11 expression She Shedid I Idid did not scent so em to Lo notice the tho phrase but bul beamed Your name Is 18 Both Beth Horton HOlton ho I asked You como come front from i iHo How Ilow Ho did you 01 know knowl she site asked You are aro acquainted there I I had an nn appointment with your Lather father which was canceled by y his Ill Illness illness ness nos explained Covington As soon eoon an as he ho recovers I shall be In 11 11 your our j town for a consultation with him l I lam am ant Vance Covington who ho represents represent the tho development company which Is to establish a plant on your our fathers lathers I property It nice that wo we 0 should knot kno ouch othor other gasped g the girl To think that In ht this whole big city It Could be you Ol who came to my 1113 Ill res rescue r rescue cue It may mar be bo fate ate he suggested lightly And since wo are aro nt at least le t thaIr halt half way wa Introduced nay n I keep yaa ou j company compan until train time thane Her ller look 1001 gave 0 assent and anti It was W s sI I two hours hows before Covington reluctantly reluctantly I antly antl her hep bug bag Into Ito tho the charge of or ofa ora ofa a colored porter and InrI paused to Z 1 goodby I shall see you OU soon Boon he remind reminded ed cd as soon as your father has hns r or orera era Poor dud cried Beth Bath I bops bope I that lint ho recovers quickly I The 1110 next Instant she sho was all coo con confusion I fusion and had slipped through tn the gate gato but as Covington headed for tor the I street he ho smiled softly to himself 3 as 35 ashe he wondered how much of oC that wa W for Cor John Horton and how much fo for Vance Vanco Covington |