Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-03-16

ahead al rapidly as the perpetual
stream OF cars, wagons and cabs
would permit. They passed the CITY
{ hau park and then ran into Beekman
street. Goddard saw Blanche's cab
man scanning the doors in search of
. number, and knew she was near her
destination.
! The major raped on the top of the
cab, and the driver looked IN at him
through the hole in the roof.
/ well, sir?" he said.
III the lady should get out keep
your eye on the house and put me!
down near there, y. ordered the major.
1 Right you are, SIR"
I In the most disreputable part of
the lower end of Beekman street the.
foremost hanson came to q halt be-
fore red brick fve-story building.
tAs major saw the face of his ward
for single moment as she stood ON
the ground and held up her fare to-
the cabmsn, his own driver having
refined in behind a wagon loaded with
bales of hay.
Goddard felt like spy, but he told
himself he had the right to follow her.
fearing that she was being led into
danger.
I shall get down here" he said, hur-
riedly, when Blanche had gone into
the house. The cabman took his
double fee reluctantly.
Had better wait about here, sir?"
he asked, evidently the prey of curl
osity.
No, shall not need you," and the
major was of. When he reached the
building Blanche had entered he saw
nothing OF her. The entrance was
very unclean. A barrel of rags stood
at the foot Of the stairway and three
battered boys were tossing pennies in
the doorway.
"A lady came In here just now" he
said to the first smutty visage that
turned towards him.
went upstairs said the owner of
"Do you know which hoor2" asked
Goddard.
The boy did not, and shook his head.
she asked for the Simpson," said
another urchin- They are top floor
back"
who are the simpsons9' asked the
major.
Il don't know. sir" said the hrst
boy who had spoken. "You can't
mise 1t; it's AZ high as you can CO."
IL then occurred to Goddard that he
was unarmed, and as he did not doubt
that Blanche had been beguilsd into
some sort of trap he felt his In ability
TO defend her in an emergency, and
yet he almost ran up the Ave flights
OF narrow, unswept stairs. Reaching
the top. and seeing q door at the side
OF which stood . bsdstead which had
BEEN taken apart and . mattress and
ragged bed coverings, hs bent his ear
TO listen For q moment he heard
nothing, and then suddenly from the
room came the sound Of weeping and
the wailinC Of q woman's voice. This
startled him, and he tried the doox
latch. 10 turned. Inc door opened
Into . cherries room. Around the
walls sat dozen old men and women
as still and silent an Quakers at q
meeting. A door In this room opened
into another chamber, and there he
saw . throng of women and children.
and thence issued the sounds of sobs
and cries Of grief. Bewildered, he
went TO the door and looked for
Blanche. His eyes fell on the corpse
Of woman covered to her wrinklsd
face with white sheet. Looking over
the heads Of this group Goddard saw
Blanche seated on q low couch be-
tween two sobbing young girls. She
had an arm round the waist of each,
and the major heard her trembling
voice try to speak words o. eouEola-
ton.
''Oh, Mrs. Goddard" the elder girl
said, II cannot bear i'll simply can.
not give her up. She was all we had
--all-alli'
So much was Blanche concerned In
the duty before her that she did not
look up. A light broke upon the
major, but he did not have the pres
encs of mind to retreat unnotioed, as
he might easily have done His relief
/ at finding his fears ungrounded was
80 great that he felt weak all over.
Suddenly the younger of the two girls
with Blanche looked up She pointed
at him. and touchsd her sister acroa.
Blanche's lap.
"Is must be the new doctor" she
said. IA
Blanche stared at him In bewilder.
ment for an instant. A slight fush
mantled her brow.
mo. 1t Is my husband" she said;
excuse me q moment"
She came to him at once.
why did you Gomez" she asked. a
look OF embarrassment on her face
IL am 40 surprised. really do not
understand how"
he drew her to the side of the room
away from several persons who were
listening curiously.
have no excuse for spying on
you, he said, lamely; none, except
that l was afraid you were in danger
and came TOTO protect you"
don't understand" she said. ''I
really do not"
For moment he was reduced to
saying:
Pardon my foolishness, dear; do
pardon mel"
"oh, don't think J am finding fault"
she said, quickly. ST am glad you are