Evening journal., 1899-05-05
HER BIG BROTHER.
..can,t You eet rld Of him. Miss HOOD"


Of the restaurant she shuddered.
Sticks like O plaster, doesn't he:" re-
marked Miss Cushman, with a contemptu-
Ous ring in her voice.
Don't think that 1 have encouraged
him" pleaded Miss Hood, TREMENDOUSLY. Il
have to answer his questions, for / suppose
that ii did not the head waiter would say
was impoite to the customers and I'd lose
my place"
Miss Cushman laughed a little at first and
then her face clouded with indignation.
ooh, dear" gaspod Mary in dismay,
'what shall do? What Go you suppose his
plan is? I'm afraid I'd better give up my
place at once"
"You won't do anything Of the kind,
| Mary" returned Miss Cushman with de-
cision. my guess is that he is going to fol-
10y you home, so as to find where you live.
Wen fool him. You go along home with me.
That viii prevent him, probably, from
speaking TO you on the street and It will
put him on the wrong track"
But, Miss Cushman,' interrupted Mary,
81 can't have you taking my trouble on your
self. What if he should try to annoy you!"
Miss Cushman laughed ironically at the
very thought Of it,
1--WE got the best defense in the world,
Mary" she said, comiortingy; "Tll set my
big brother on him. Tom and ] live to-
gether and I'm sure Tom would rush
valiantly TO the rescue OF both or either Of
us"
II was plain that Mary was greatly en-
couraged by this suggestion, for her face
lighted, and she said with sigh Of relief;
1T must be fine to have big brother to fall
back on"
There was an expression Of intense emuse-
ment on Miss Cushman's face for just an
instant. She repressod it quickly, and said
with enthusiasm: 1T is, Mary; and want
you to meet my big brother. You'll fall
dead in love with him. He's the most af-
fectonate fellow, and he'll love you at
sight"
Nothing more was said of the matter until
\ e was time to start for home. The obnox-
ious customer had gone out and now could
be seen standing at the curb, as il waiting
for a car, but letting car after car pass him
INHALED.
"Now for the protection of my big broth
err" said Miss Cushman, gayly linking her
arm in Mary's.
They decided to make an effort to elude
the fellow at the start, and with this plan in
view they walked some distance up the
street before taking car. When they were
seated, however, they saw the persistent
customer on the rear platform. They did
not look his way again during the trip, OF
when they alightod, but they were certain
/, that he was following, and Mary was ex-
tremely uneasy.
, AT last they entered Miss Cushman's lodg-
ing house and went into the sitting-room
where they told the landlady the sitauation
The story was hardly done when there came
a ring at the front door and a servant al
nounced that young man was there in
Quiring for vacant rooms. Both girls peercd
through the curtain at the man on the stooI
[ and both turned simultaneously with an
aspirate, ITS him.
q Then said the landlady promptly, at
send him away"
NO" responded Miss Cushman, "tha
would be merely to postpone the trouble
. Have you vacant room!
q Cone little enc on the top floor"
2 "Take him up to it and leave the rest Il
us"
The lanAady hcsita,ad hut an instant be
/ fore she yielded TO her respect for he
q dodgers sagacity, and presently the tw'
mattresses were tiptoeing upstairs in pur
suit of the offensive customer, Mary Hoo,
wondering eNcitedly all the time what wa
going to happen. Halfway up the last fligh
s they paused, hearing the young man and tn
= landlady in conversation. lie was asking
o foolish questions about the house and il
e occupants and the landlady was answering
1 at random, for She like Mary, could no
d guess what it was in Miss Cushman's min,
a to do, At length a key was turned and
!, door thrown open.
r ITS the only room I've got, lsaid tn
q landlady. you can take a look at it,"
e Saying that he would do SO and inquirin
n aboutthe persons occupying the other room
i on the floor, the young man stepped acres
the threshold. Instantly Miss Cushma
hurried to the top landing, glided acros
the hall, pulled the door TO and turned th
n key in the lock.
4 Here, say What do you mean? Ii
=. me outl' came in tones of CONSERVATION an
Il anger from the young man, while he seize
! the door knob and ratified it vigorously. III
a landlady looked on specohessy and Mis-
r Cushman called to the prisoner:
y 4 know why you came here You don
, want a room. You've been annoying
a young lady who lives here. Very well, you
N stay in there until her brother comes hom'
, III let you out then"
- llele Was LlolltNt OF oAtuNS NiAutA "a
room, after which the prisoner shouted
"rll have you arrested" to which M
Cushman retortcd: Not until that hi
brother let's you out"
In the stting-room the three eaptors wei
4 discussing the affair with growing animt
Pr ton, when a small boy dashed into til
ST room
"Sayi" he cried. there was thief nc'
L. door He climbed down the lre-escape.
NJ seen himl And he got away He ran III
~ thunder and nobody couldn't catch him"
"Our mani" fairly shouted Miss Cushmai
and followed by the others she IA
w. upstairs TO the top floor, turned II
!. key TO the vacant room. threw open the doc
'' and strobe in. The room was empty. Fro
an open window it was clearly an easy dr.,
N, TO the roof of the adjoining building, when'
descent to the street was possible 10y the fl
US escape.
I'VE shan't see him ago n" said Mi
5s Cushman, mot even at the restaurau
Mary. let me introduce my big BROTH
Tom" and she indicated the tenyoaro
Us boy who had brought news Of the prisoner
escape.
re There was an expression OF infinite SD