The Washington times., 1902-04-20


the corner of his eye at the girl by the
seen her before.
Caifort was not a particularly impress
sionable fellow, but his inability to place
the young lady annoyed him.
'SWell, if it's anybody l know" he told
himself, its her place to speak first,
that's one comfort
He put down the book and went over
to prefer a query of the shopkeeper. At
the sound of his voice the girl turned and
glanced at him. she did not bow, but an
odd look came into her face, she mum
bled a few words about not eing able to
find what she wanted, and then hurried
out OF the place.
That YVES Mary Burton. remarked the
shopkeeper to Calfort, with an air Of
pride in being able to impart the informa-
ton. She's the new actress at the Rock
well Square who's made hit in Love
on Stills"
But Calfort scarcely heard more than
the name Mary Burton. No wonder her
face looked familiar, though to be sue he
hadn't seen her in almost eight years.
Why. Mary Burton and he had been
brought up together in that little town up
the State, and 10 think that they had
Just been standing elbow TO elbow, seen
familiar lines in each others faces and
yet had been unable to pin recollection to
certainty.
Il dare say the mustache disguised me"
he thought, but shant we have good
laugh over the affair when l see her. Lit
tie Mary Burton a successful actress!
Well, well, she always vowed she would
do it. But how she has changed, Her hair
has grown ever so much darker, and her
eyes-I never imagined Mary would make
such a pretty woman. Jove, | must go
call on her But where can l find her?
Wish I'd paid more attention now to what
that fellow in the shop said. l cant very
well 90 back and ask him to say it over
again.
Calfort had only recently settled in
town. after an immureH ent OF some years
in California mining district. He still! felt
somewhat green at doing the proper
thing in good society usage. With plenty
of money, and leisure Just at present in
which TO spend it, he had not yet had
an opportunity to make friends who could
most advantageously assist him in the
process.
The evening of the day in which he had
his encounter in the booksellers shop
he was moping about his rooms, trying to
cudgel out of his brain the name OF the
theater where that man had said Mary
Il
and Ted Carter walked in.
Carter had been a schoolmate Of CAL
fort at St. Paul, and was now dramatic
man on daily paper. 1t was a wonder
Calfort had not already thought of him
in the present emergency, especially as he
had been out to the theater with him two
or three times already. This was.the rea-
son for the others advent on the pres
ent occasion, and before Calfort had got
on his overcoat he announced 4 say,
Ted, want you to introduce me to girl
/ already know
But who's going to introduce me to
her?'' was the reply
"Oh, you know her fast enough, or
ought to, OF easily cam
trouble. though, if you already know her
yourself?" was Carriers natural query.
"Oh, TO have a bit OF fun. You see,
we've each forgotten the other, and when
you present me / want you to humble
over my name so she won't catch it clear
", then / can watch to find out just the
minute when il all comes back to her.,
and Calfort thereupon proceeded TO ex-
plain by recounting his experience in the
bookshop.
$50 Mary Burton comes from your town.
does she?" commented Carter. Il had no
idea she was a Westerner ! don't know
her yet personally, but she's been making
such hit that I've been intending 10
interview her i tell you what, Billy.
III take you along with me. How'll that
suit your
"Tip-top. When can you go?"
"As soon as l can arrange an appoint
nnent. I'll write tonight"
Calfort went to see Love on Stills
the very next evening. and the heroine
so charmed him by her performance that
IL was all he could do to refrain from
sending his card back and spelling he
plan he had conceived out of which to
derive a little fun by mystifying her.
He had a note from Carter appointing
Sunday afternoon for the call.
Ibid you tell her you were going to
bring me along?" Calfort demanded, as
they set out for the hotel.
..Of course not; she'll think you and
are going somewhere else together. But
believe the program is for me to 80
out after a discreet interval and leave
vou two old chums together. All, Billy,
little / though in the old st. Paul days
that YOU would be bribing me 10 put you
I'm the way of tete-a-tetes with actresses!
"Bribe nothing exclaimed Calfort.
"Don't | tell you we knew each other
when we were considerably under seven
It's only for the joke of the thing. to
see how long it will be before she places
me that I'm letting you have finger IN
the pie at ALL
"Oh. thank you, Billy. for permitting
me to breathe the same air with you and
Miss Burton. Suppose you Introduce me.
Then there will be no necessity OF my
mumhling your name SO she won't catch
it."
Carter ceased chatting before they ar
rived at their destination, and 1t was
+
The Angel Of Safety.