The record-union., 1897-12-31

; flSii OilS OlS blOoA OQLialO
| IN the other, and a girl beside him
| whom he had never laid eyes on ten
minutes before. 1t was a good thing
that she was pretty. He had become
aware of that fact during their chase
in fact, l am afraid he would hardly
have been so obliging had she possessed
frecllles and a snub nose.
This way" said the girl, and he
| found himself walking back toward
| Fifth avenue, while she offered to re-
lieve him Of his bundle-an offer which
he accepted without a qualm, finding
her live stock quite enough to look
| after.
They walked the first few steps in 81
lence, which the girl was the first to
break.
Il suppose she said, looking shyly
up at him; II suppose you think it's
awfully funny for girl to go around
New York carrying live chicken, dom
you?"
Derringford had to admit that he did,
and her cheeks got little redder, but
she gave no explanation, simply looked
up at him and demanded in quite a
tragic tone: do you know who /
amp" and then, not waiting for his very
i L
now do you know? Well, them" as he
still looked blank, I'm Bob Prescott's
sister,
Now he knew we'll enough-Bob Pres
colt that lucky young writer who was
making money in the most exasperat-
ing way by the phenomenal success of
his witty little one-act plays and cur
tain raisers. Somebody had thought
last spring that he would just suit Bob
Prescott. and had offered TO Introduce
lhim, but like so many other promises
it had never come to anything.
Patty saw that her impression was
made and smiled serenely.
Il knew you'd know him." she said
sweetly. because you're in the pro-
| fession yourself, aren't you?" Then,
as he nodded, Il thought SO. Where
are you playing?"
Derringford thought that he would
: rather jerk out one of his teeth than
that tell-tale Nowhere but it had to
! be done and he did it like man.
"Humph, down on your luck?" and
though the big brown eyes were SYM
pathetic Derringford felt that they
saw every shiny seam about him.
! Way DOWN." she went on, as he
| nodded He nodded again, and the
chicken gave an asserting squeak.
| 'Hu-u-m- m-m,'' and a shrewd little
J look came into her face as she tapped
! the bulky parcel under her arm. Were
you-going to your uncle's?" Derring-
ford's face grew scarlet and his fingers
tWitched with anger. What an imper-
tinent, unfeeling impish little thing she
| was; and he was about to- growl out an
/ indignant No" when she went on
calmly, Now don't lie about it, and
don't get angry either. Nobody ever
minds me. What's your name?"
AT first he felt inclined not to answer
her, but she seemed so sweetly uncon-
scious of any wrong doing that at last
he muttered sull1ily Guy Derringford -
That's good,' with nod of ap-
proval. You chose very pretty one
for Of course it isn't your real name?"
This with a slight rising infection
which was answered by Derringford's
half involuntary shake of the head.
Il thought not-professional folks so
seldom use their own. Aren't pretty
| enough, generally. Well, Mr. Guy
4 Derringford, whatever your name is,
here we are, and I'm going to take you
right up to see my brother He's al
ways nice to folks l bring him, because.
You see, he knows I bring him good
ones. / hate stupid people," and the
little lady gave her head an impatient
shake, as if she would gladly shake
away all the commonplace people who
We're ever likely to cross her path
BY this time they had entered a cozy
| little house of red brick and made their
way UP the stairs to a big room, where
pendemonium and chaos reigned to-
gether
Robert Prescott himself was tearing
up and down the floor with both hands
grasping as much hair as they could
! conveniently hold while two members
from the cast of three in his new COM
edy stood dolefully among a collection
Of improvised props" with which they
had been rehearsing, and ore small tel
egraph boy covered in a corner. The
entrance of Derringford, Patty and the
chicken was announced by loud and
indignant squawk from the latter, but
the young lady Immediately sailed into
the middle of affairs
What's the matter, Bob? Hope
the chicken isn't too late for rehearsal.
I had an awful time to get it. 1t got
away from me and-but do tell me what
the matter is
| ll- AildtlEt Cfitu nGT DTOIner IRAN
tically. why, the matter is that this
piece goes on in three days, and here
Z I've got wire from Williams to say
he's broken his leg and can't play.
What'd he go and break his leg for?
| Three days and not decent man left
in the city for the part
"Oh, yes there is, said Patty, as she
/ constructed a coop from the waste pa
per basket and sat down on top Of it.
! Don't scare that boy So Here, I'll
write your answer. Very-sorry Part
d-accept-con-oh, no that isn't
| right-I don't mean congratulations
it's sympathy. We're the ones to be
| congratulated. Now, boy, come and
get It, I can't get off this basket
chickens are awful strong. That's it,
here's the money-good-by Now them
| as the door closed behind the young
ster ALLOW me to introduce to you
Mr.. Guy Derringford, your new lover.
He's lots handsomer than Williams
and HIS names prettier, and is just as
| well known" which was not quite true,
but Derringford forgave her-"and he's
a first-class artist into the bargain
Now what do you think?"
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