, 1902-03-24

Coming nearer and nearer"
ment. 1 saw by Teddie's expression
that he was plainly aware of my in
tention, and also ware of his incom-
patibility to cope with his adored and
very much spoiled sister. We'll" at
last I inquired. as Tom still stared at
me, do you think I'm afraid, Mr..
Merrill?"
NO" said that young man, slowly
and with emphasis, "I don't think
you are"
Miss Reynolds looked her supreme
scorn and unbelief. Indeed, it's all
very well to talk that way" she said,
but when it comes down to the thing,
I'm quite sure you would back down.
There isn't any woman | know who
has nerve enough to sleep in Number
S."
"Oh," l rippled out quite sweetly,
but you see you don't know me, or any
Of my friends. Wouldn't Betty Park
er or Till Bliss just give their very
souls for this chance. Theodore
Margaret" replied Ted, and | k.ew
he wanted to be strict. He always
tries to be when he forgets to call me
Peg. II dor't like you to talk this way.
You haven't any idea, l hope, of car
rylng out your absurd scheme?"
Now. l might have given up the idea,
but just at that moment Miss Rey-
nolds. who had apparently forgotten
that we were there, looked down at
Toms hand. idly crumbling bread
crumbs on the white cloth, and archly
said: "I must have my ring. Tom.
All my luck has flown to the winds
since I gave it to you. botched half
a dozen things to-day"
I must be a heather at heart, for l
ing my fish knife, and slowly saving
that wretched girls throat with it.
But instead. I dimpled, and replied
with my best grade of coax, fiddle
wink, please have my things sent over
to Number SO. That's where I'm go
ing to sleep tonight" And then l
looked at Tom Merrill, sitting across
the table. with a girls ring on his fin
ger. Bah! but he had grown common
in his tastes since l had denied him a
wife. I wonder il he knew what my
eyes said?
Miss Reynolds laughed outright
when she heard my order. "You can't
make ME believe that you will go into
that suicides room, with its horrible
associations, and sleep tonight. You'll
get out Of it some way or other. You
brave, high-spirited girls always do
in the end. I'd much rather tell the
truth, and be safe"
Tom and Teddie saw some humor in
her remark, and Tom added insult to
injury by quietly suggesting that there
was probably a secret passage built
for adventurous American beauties.
And then Tom and Ted talked of the
steel industry, and Tom asked me
about the girls at home. and l utterly
refused to be enticed into giving him
any of the thousand and one delightful
messages that had been sent him.
Miss Reynolds and / finished our din
ner in polite commonplace, while she
took in every detail Of my costume.
She had been in Halifax four months,
anu hSl hCCh uAllSo anu tuC way sue
wore her hair showed it.
AS we passed out Of the dining-room
Theodore asked me II l really meant
what I said. Miss Reynolds laughed
d%cubtingly. and I heard Tom say to
her: 81 can't believe that she has
nerve enough to do it. Gee whiz-"
And then he stopped. for I was watch
ing him. straight and level. with
blazing eyes.
r picked a piece Of lint from nv
gray skirt before I replied to Theo-
dore: Il am going to sleep In Number
So, Teddie Coulson, and you know 1t.
without asking me-"
So my things we're sent to Number
50, and We all followed the boy.
through the old-fashioned parlor, and
the queer little conservatory. and out
the long hall, overlooking the harbor.
The boy slammed open the door. and
threw my bags down in Number 80,
while l stood idly at the low window,
watching the fickering white eye in
the mouth Of the ocean. A soft-voiced
maid brought us chairs. and We sat at
the broad window In the hall until
eleven O'Clock. Every time that I fer
gave Tom, and wished he would come
near. and call MI Peg. the light would
clint on that hateful little ring. and
Something In my soul would sAut with
. click.
I was drowsily weary when I 1t last
shut the door Of H. haunted room
a~~r~ Hh~.a &aasa AmA aAnraSu1 anA
tenderly solicitous. end one fall Of
, dumb pleading. Buk Tie hand which
Aald open ~ dor tor . LAT glance
vas marrsd ~ : oold bAad. How !
hated TIT mi
Nunbse = sWaosA na1sAebp9 the