The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-10-01


beside her in the park, had every
facility for studying her closely. He
was puzzled by the sad, harassed look
on her face, which he thought had no
business to be there at all. 1t was a
lovely June evening, but the park was
rapidly thinning. for the inevitable din
ner hour claimed society for its own.
So absorbed was Granger in con-
templative study that, mirabile dictu,
he had forgotten about that all inn
portant function.
Presently the chair ticket man came
along and stopped before the girl.
Have you paid yet, m'm?"
mo" she answered.
"One penny, please"
She fumbled in her pocket, but no
purse made its appearance.
I'm afraid IL haven't-Ive left
"Allow me-" put in Jack, seizing the
welcome opportunity. Most awk-
ward, of course" he went on, not
noticing her deprecating gesture. Il
really see no other way out of the diff
Guilty and he settled the matter by
paying for them both, while the ticket
man walked on, his face wreathed in
inscrutable smiles.
''An old trick. tnat, he thought, as
he strolled along, though there's
many marriage the outcome of it an
the likes"
''It is really good of you" said the
girl at last, but rather than be under
any obligation to you l would have
much preferred to pay another day"
"A pleasure at any time to help a
lady out of difficulties answered
Granger, delighted that the ice was
broken. ITS so easy to forget your
purse, too. l never bother myself with
such impediments. Much safer to
carry your money loose in your
pocket; don't you think so?"
'If you have any--yes." replied the
girl, smiling in spite of herself and
tracing little patterns in the grass with
her parasol.
Rather an odd remark" thought
Granger.
"Er--er, perhaps your pocket has
been picked?" he ventured at last.
mo"
Lost your purse?"
She shook her head.
Forgot it?"
ooh, how dense you are" she ex-
claimed, almost petulantly, you men
never seem able to realize that we
women can be hard up although we
present fairly respectable appear
ance. Now, does not another possible
contingency occur to you other than
what you have guessed?" .
Jack thought for long while, but
his brain could not rise to the solving
Of such a riddle. Impecunios..y was
as foreign to him as are the tropics to
the polar bear.
Then you must shame me to an ad-
mittance," she answered.
"Oh!" put in Jack, at last begin
ming to realize the truth, you don't
mean, you can't mean that you havn't
GOT"
( "Yes," she whispered, and her eyes
filled with tears as she gulped down
a sob, in spite of all--all this" and
she made pretty gesture, indicating
her dainty clothes.
"Wheugh," whistled Jack softly,
"well, I'm -" he didn't say what he
was. but whistled again.
She hardly realized why she had
taken this man, total stranger, even
thus far into her confidence. But there
was something so kind, so sympa.
thetic in his face-something different
from other men.
"Have you no friends, no relatives
In town." asked Granger at last.
II know no one"
"Then what are you going to do?"
81 don't know" She began to cry
"Come," said Jack cheerily, there
Is always silver lining to every
cloud. Perhaps can help you. Tel
me all about It,"
my father and mother died a yeai
ago, leaving me with scarcely any
money" began the girl, land until o
month ago l remained in my, Devon
phire home. My slender resources be
Igan to eke out. SO came to LondoI
to see II ! could get employment al
. governess. Luck has been agains
me and have now come to the enc
cf my resources. That's all-th,
whole thing In q nutshell" she con
cluded bitterly. II need not go int
detaile. You will understand what
have gone through.
The girl flushed scarlet with sham'
at such an exposure. Her pride ant
iself-esteem were wounded, too.
The irony Of It struck him forcibly
~rm-Im swfully sorry." be said .