Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-28

afraid of rooms that were handsome and
spacious like this. There was nowadays
no more correctly groomed man in Clark
son than he. though Wary Raridan had
remarked to Wheaton at the Bachelors
that his ties were composed a trife too
neatly-a tie to be properly done should,
Raridan held, leave something to the i'm
agination. Wheaton heard the swish of
Evelyn's skirts in the hall with quicken
ing heartbeat. Her black gown intensified
her fairness: he had never seen her in
black before. and it gave a new accent to
her beauty as she came toward him.
1T was a great shock to us down town
to hear Of your fathers illness He seem
ed as we'll as usual yesterday"
Did you think SO? thought he looked
worn when he came home last evening He
has been working very hard lately
Wheaton had never her grave
He was sincerely sorry for her trouble, and
he tried to say 30. There was something
appealing in her unusual calm; the low
tones of her voice were not wasted on him
Father asked me to send for you this
morning. but he had grown so i'll in a few
hours that I took the responsibility Of not
doing it. The doctor said emphatically that
particular was on his mind. some papers
that Mr.. Fenton should have. They are in
his box at the bank. and was to give you
the key to it. 1t Is something about the
Traction Company; no doubt you know OF
TT"
Yes" Wheaton assented. 1t was not
necessary for him to say that Mr.. Porter
had told him nothing about 1t.
You can attend to this easily?'
Yes, certainly. Mr.. Fenton spoke to me-
about the matter this afternoon. 1t IL
! very important and he wished me to report
to him as soon as l found the papers. Nc
doubt they are in your fathers box he
said. He Is always very methodical' He
smiled at her reassuringly and rose. She
did not ask him to stay longer, but went to
fetch the key.
1t was small, thin bit OF steel. Wheaton
turned 1t over in his hand
"1'N return the key tomorrow, after I've
found the papers Mr.. Fenton wants.
Very well. I hope you will have no diff.
ficulty"
He still held the key in his fingers. no,
not.
There is one thing more, Mr.. Wheaton
Rather seemed very much troubled about
this Traction NATTER
Very unnecessarily I'm sure" said
Wheaton soothingly
He evidently wished all the papers he
mas concerning the company to be given tC
MI F'enton. Now, this probably is of nc
Importance whatever, but several years age
father gave me some stock in the street
railway company. 1t came about through
little fun making between US. We were
talking of railway passes-you know he
never accepts any"-Wheaton blinked-"an6
| told him I'd like to have a pass on some
thing. even II 1t was only street cal
line"
She was smiling in her eargerness tina,
he should understand perfectly.
And he said he guessed he could fl,
that by giving me some stock in the com
pany. i remember that he made light OF
1t when thanked him. and said 1t WASH
so important as 1t looked. He probably
forgot 1t long ago. had forgotten 1t my.
sea-! never got the pass either! but
brought the stock down thinking that Mr.
Fenton might have use for It," She wen
over to the mantel and picked up q paper
while he watched her: and when she pu
| 1t into his hand he turned It over It was
a certificate for one hundred shares ISSUED
| IN due form to Evelyn Porter, but was no
| assigned
1T may be Important" said Wheaton, re-
garding the paper thoughtIully. Mr.. Fen.
1 ton will know. 1t couldn't be used withou,
| your name on the back" he said, indicatine
| the place on the certificate
-. should sign it?'' she asked, In the
| curious fiuttering way In which many wo
men approach the minor details Of business
Wheaton hesitated; he did not imagine tina