The Washington times., 1902-04-20


interviewing he should plead suddenly
remembered engagement and leave the
field to Calfort.
The program was carried out up to
his point according to plan. Calfort's
name might have been anything from
Dusenford to Jones for all the good Car
ters mention of it did Miss Burton. The
newspaper man asked her what parts she
had played before her present one, found
out when and where she had made her
debut. and caught her once or twice cast
ing a puzzled glance toward Calfort, who
tried to appear as if he weren't listening
TO every word she said
Suddenly Carter rose. with the exclama-
ton: 4 must be off at once. Good-by,
Miss Burton. Thank you, very much.
You'll excuse me, old man, won't you?"
to Calfort. The next instant he was gone,
and Calfort and the actress were left
looking at each other.
Calfort was enjoying it hugely. He saw
that Mary didn't remember him yet. and
was thinking it mighty strange that he
should have remained behind.
Wont you sit down." she murmured
family, when the pause began to grow
embarrassing. Are you connected with
the same paper?"
No." replied Calfort, slowly. 81 deal
not so much with news of the present as
with memories of the past" He smiled,
and the smile broadened as he caught
look of alarm on her face His little sur
prise was succeeding beyond his hopes
Il do not quite understand you" she
replied and she moved her chair the
fraction Of an inch farther away from
his.
But you would understand" Calfort
went on, ''if / were to mention certain
winter afternoon when novelty in skat-
ing rescues was enacted by small girl
in a red tippet-Jove, | can see it yet,
and her little mittened hands showing the
fence rail over the ice to shivcring me in
the water"
Calfort was grieved to play his trump
card so early in the game but then he had
had considerable enjoyment out of it al
ready, and now he was quite ready to
laugh with this friend of his youth over
her denseness in failing TO place him
sooner.
But she didn't laugh. On the other
hand. she looked truly terrified as she
rose and stepped over to place finger
on the electric button.
You must excuse me-" she murmured.
IL am not feeling very well. l am
sending for my maid
Calfort began to wonder whether his
| trump had been taken by the joker
Mary Burton he exclaimed, sis it
possible you don't remember Billy Cal
fort? l had Carter humble my name on
purpose to see if l could fool you, but if
you can't recall pulling yours truly out
of an ice watery grave, l give up
Miss Burton dropped her hand from
the ivory button, which she had not yet
pressed.
There is evidently some mistake" she
replied 81 never knew anyone by the
name of Caifort before, and l certainly
never pulled anybody out of hole in
the Ice
CaIfort dropped into a chair, which
luckily happened to be just behind him.
And did you never live in Kinderkill?"
he gasped family.
| Never" Now that the actress had dis
cover I'd she had only an embarrassed gen
| iitilidU anu UOl u u dIy ~ utGi WIN,
she could afford to smile little.
Perhaps" she added, you know some
one of the same name. 1t is not my own;
was chosen for the playful. 1t is not
uncommon"
But / have seen you before" Calfo.t
blurted out, determined now to probe the
mystery to the bottom. Before l met
, you that day in the book shop, ] mean.
And you looked as If you recollected me,
but could not quite place me-"
Yes, I remember seeing you in the
book shop" Miss Burton admitted, and
: your face was certainly familiar, but I
trust there is no longer any doubt in
your mind about my not having once been
the little girl in KiEderkill you used to
know
And l trust you will pardon me for
my stupidity" and Calfort was on his
feet and reaching for his hat. What
a laundering idiot you must think me"
: Not at all. 1t was partly my fault
for taking name that was 20 apt TO
belong 10 somebody else. Don't 20 yet
We must try 10 find out where we saw
t each other before. Have you been to See
! me play?''
: Not till after that time ! met you in
} the little shop. But l have seen you
in that gown somewhere" and Calfort
3 stepped over TO make a closer inspec-
tion of a photograph stuck in the side
} of a large mirror between the windows.
5 Miss Burton gave little exclamation Of
triumph.
"Eureka,' she cried. II have it now.
Seeing your face in the glass brings IT
} all back to me. Weren't you behind the
: scenes at the Berkeley Theater one even
, ing about two weeks ago."
5 Yes. went in there with Carter for
! a moment or two one night"
And do you remember standing in front
of an open door TO little room, the
r green room, and seeing a girl pin a white
rose in her hair in front Of the looking
, glass?'
) by Jove, do. And you were the girl.
/ and that's why ! knew / had seen you
somewhere else before. You must have
! thought me awfully rude, but really.
there wasn't any place else to look but
the blank white wall on the other side Of
me, and that wasn't bit interesting. And
Carter babe me be sure to remain in thai
spot till he came back. Great Scott,
seem to be doing nothing but the wrong
5 thing wherever you are concerned"
You will do the right thing If you
mn cit doup AGAIN now and toll me