The diamond drill., 1903-01-17

engaged for years. The infatuation
stiil lasts. This is friendly warn
ing"
Betty tore the hateful slip OF paper
into thousand pieces and threw
taem scornfully out of the carriage
window.
She had time 10 drive to her bank
er's before going to the steamer.
IL was the sting Of seeing Gordon's
greeting to the tall girlv,n the deck
which made Betty giF, .>counter or
der to her eoachT and turn and
driss ds,d". Sssh. .ro,r4AT .ro.nea :. h.
read the posos in the paper, and
crumpling il, tBrew il into the fire.
He had stopped in this city on his
way out west. He decided To leave
the quest in the hands of his lawyers
at their urgent suggestion.
Gordon Forester looked haggard
and worn out rs he got up and rest
lessly passed up and down.
Then he took his hat and button
ing up his overcoat. went out in spite
drizzling rain.
Tramping moodily along. he passed
shabby, genteei house just as a cab
stopped, slender woman got out, a
good-natured youth jumping off the
top seat, helping her.
They exchanged a few words and
she went up the steps, paused and
turned, and nodding brightly, went
in.
There was something strangely fa-
miliar in the grace of her moyemeht
as she half turned. The afternoon
was dark, her hat shaded her face,
and her furs were drawn up to pro-
tect her from the cold wind and rain.
But Forrester's heart stood still.
How like Betty!
He wheeled and rang at the door,
"A young lady who writes on the
newspapers. The Evening Chronicle.
A very respectable young woman.
Was the gentleman related To her?'
Mrs. Beezley asked. Young Gordon
Forester, with disappearing suspi-
cion, and accepting his apology for
inquiring on the plea that he was
hunting for a relative who looked
like the young lady, with an incredu.
lous snort.
Upstairs in the room with the dor
mer windows Betty sat feeling
wretched and forlorn for the tall,
fne-loolIlng, well-dressed young man
who passed just ns she came in re-
called Gordon Forester so wildly
that her heart beat and her face
flushed hotly.
MAY come in?" quiried Mary
Crawford. which she proceeded TO
do, handing a bunch of violets TO
Betty.
Mary Crawford's one beauty was
her melodious voice, which rang true
and sweet. She was an Unconditional,
clever young woman, and has devel-
oped a warm friendship for the
beautiful. unhappy and forlorn
young woman, the society editor of
the Evening Chronicle.
aren't you sick of all this stuff?'
she asked Betty, pushing aside a pa
per Betty had brought with her,
while helping with the tea things.
"What an outrage TO publish such
stun as the account of that young
man and his wife. IL may do any
amount OF harm. OF course there's
not a word of truth ia il. Did you
see il 2"
"Why do you think IL is not true -
Betty asked family, while busy with
the spirit lamp.
Mary laughed.
when you are as old newspaper
woman as | am you won't have to ask
that. You'll know intuitively. There's
So much sensation abroad. It's like
anonymous letters. Newspaper peo-
| pie have too much sense 20 attach
any Importance to anonymous let
| ters. IL takes n green outsider TO
take n thing of that kind seriously"
Then you would not believe one
word OF an anonymous letter."
Not one. | have too much respect
for my intelligence TO think such a
thing possible"
But suppose"
my dear, heated imagination
and jealousy and overhaste are what
the snake in the grass who writes
trash of that kind dote on. Now n
newspaper reporter knows too much
about real trouble. sorrow and dis
tress, IL he has been sent, as l have,
TO investigate the lives Of the work
ing people, 10 believe any of these
| silly, sensational stories, much less
anonymous letters. Trouble"
But Mary did not conclude, because
Betty had thrown her arms around
her neck and was weeping softly.
"A very fne-looking young man
called at the Office after you left, +"
Mary mentioned a little later II
saw him, as you had gone, and
answered several questions. He was
much struck with that photo you
gave me. | believe he said he was
coming TO see you. He seems to
know some OF your people"
| There was "A raDid stem ON the