The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-11

dered his clothes from Broadway tailor,
knew life and how to enjoy it and had been
privileged guest at the Stuyvesant House ever
since he had been on the road. He was a
special favorite with Mr.. Paxton, who granted
him the unusual favor of an introduction to
the new clerk
Alnslee Was to stay a week this time.
When Mr. Paxton heard it, he regretted the
introduction Ainslee convinced the head
waiter tnat 1t was the diplomatic thing and
likewise pecuniary advantage to that dig
nltary to give him seat at Miss Ruggles' ta-
pie Later he assured his pretty table VISA
Wis that sne was looking peaked and pale. Her
position was too confning She needed more
fresh air in the evenings. Now, the very next
n1snt ne must run out to Lake Placid to meet
customer. Would she go along? It meant
lovely trolley ride, dinner with music on
the piazza and a summer spectacle at the
Casino. 1t would take him but short time
to go over business details with his GUS
TONER, and in the meantime she could be
drinking In that much needed fresh air
Elsa consulted both nor mother and ber
nance, but with an air of fnality that showed
the futility of objections. note of COM
plant sounded in her voice. She never went
anywhere, while everybody at the hotel
seemed to live for pleasure. Anstruther might
have reminded her that last year they had
gone everywhere together, but that now he
was DENYING himself every pleasure to make
u,
kissed her long and tenderly and said he
felt quite sure that Mr. Paxton would permit
her to meet no one who was not fit COM
panion.
1t was great evening for the unsophisti-
Gated Elsa, who did not realize that the money
Mr.. Ainslee lavisned was his firms and was
used 10 entertain his customer rather than
herself. In reality she was merely a side
issue, reward that Ainslee felt he deserved
for the efforts he was putting forth to secure
new line of trade. It would all appear in
his expense account.
Then Alnslee was SO different from her own
quiet lover. She wondered if all New York
men would be like this-so excessively watch
full of her comfort in small things, so enter
taining in their persif1age and delicate in
their f1attery. She wished that Anstruther
had accompanied them. Lately he had seemed
SO preoccuDied and was less mindful of her
little needs when in public. Yet when she
| reached home she was not entirely sure that
she had enjoyed the evening. Perhaps the
serpent OF discomfort had raised his head too
boldly this time
The next evening as she was leaving her
| post Mr.. Paxton came to her, wearing an anx-
| ious expression. The night clerk had been
taken ILL.,. and the chief day clerk had been
| called to the bedside of dying sister. Could
| she, would she, stay on duty until he could
| secure some one to relieve her? He would
gladly do SO himself, but he had political
| dinner on hand. Elsa promptly sent word to
| her mother, also message to Anstruther to
call for her shortly after midnight. when
some one would surely be able to take her
place.
1t was her first experience with night work,
and she was entertained by this new phase
of hotel life-the late arrivals, the theater
parties Cor some of the playhouses were still
OPEN, the tired tourists returning from trips
up the lake. Midnight came. hut no An
struther. The head porter offered to relieve
her on watch and send her home in a cab.
but she insisted upon remaining, feeling sure
that something had detained Anstruther.
One o'clock-and 2! A slight commotion
echoed from the main corridor. and a group
. kof men entered ncisiy, Ainslee in the center.
They stopped and blinked uncertainty at the
circle of light surrounding the office; then
Ainslee, with remnant of the grace she had
admired the night before, strolled to the desk
ana stretched forth his hand. His companions
watched him with wavering, watery glances
"Y'oughter been long tonight. We turned
" Lake Placid red-bright red. It's shame fol-
pretty girl like you-'
Something in Elsa's Mortified gaze checked
his flow of words, and a hand crunched down
upon his shoulder. 1t was Anstruther, white
to the lips, with the delayed message in hi!
pocket and wrath in his soul
Fairly throwing the intoxicated man int
the arms of the head porter, who had beer
reused from his nap behind the telegraph
desk he strobe round to the door leading int
; the Office There his manner changed. Elsa >!
, trembling figure and frightened face causet
a revulsion of feeling. Very gently he reached
for her hat and gloves. With gentle defer
, ence he offered them to her and held opel
, the door for her to pass out. To the porte
as he passed he spoke a few curt words. T
, the girl he said nothing until they reached tn
street-then:
r I'VE must have cab, dearest. You are still
! trembling"
Oh, the wealth of love and tenderness AM
- protection in his tones! She clasped his arm
a lovingly.
mo, no; let US walk. I want to have tim
r to think before I see mama. She must neve
know the truth; it would srieve her So am
/ must find some reasonable excuse to offe
| her for leaving the hotel at once
q And so. arm in arm and in the blessed 81
e lence Of those who once more understand eac
r other perfectly, they walked away from tn
= glare of the entrance into the shadowy stree
= | that led toward-home. 4.