Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-26
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~ Bis:bops


| full But he looked bit puzzled just the
| same.
i He looked more puzzled yet. even be-
wildered. when we came back into the
| main office q quarter Of an hour later, the
| woman and I. and she reported that no
paper OF any kind had she found.
| Me? Oh, l was sweet amiabiltty person.
| flied with the woman and with the Ser
geant. who began to back-water furiously.
But with Tausig-
not on, Mag? Oh. dear, dear. it's we'll you
had that beautiful wig of red hair that
puts even Carriers in the shade; for you'd
| never have been a success in-in other bus
inesSeS / might name.
| Bamboozled the woman? Not bit Of 1t:
you can't deceive women with mouths and
eyes like that. 1t was just that I'd had
| nash Of genius in the minute heard Tau
| sig's voice, and in spite of my being so
| sure he wouldn't have me arrested I'd
Guess, Mag. guess! There was only one
| way.
had-N wasn't long-Pd stopped down, pre-
| tending to kiss that cherub good-by and
| in jiffy I'd pinned that precious paper
with safety pin to the baby's under
| petticoat, preferring that risk to
Risk! I should say 1t was. And now 1t
! was up to Nance to make good.
| While Tausig insisted and explained and
expostulated and at last walked out with
the Sergeant-giving me a queer last look
that was half-cursing. half-placating-I
stood chatting sweetly with the woman
| who had searched me.
| l didn't know just how far l might go
! with her. She knew the paper wasn't on
me- and l could see she was disposed to be-
lieve 1 was nice as she'd have liked me
to be. But she'd had lot of experience
and she knew as most women do. even
without experience. that if there's not al
| ways fire where there Is smoke It's be-
| cause somebody's been clever enough and
quick enough to cover the blaze
1 l~,ys ftv,or "
hand ITS been disagreeable, but I'm
| Obliged to you for-why, where's my
purse! We must have left it"
And 1 turned to go back into the room
| where I'd undressed.
| You didn't have any"
| The words came clear and cold and posi-
tive. Her tone was like an iccle down my
| back.
| I certainly"
you certainly had no purse. for should
| have seen 1t and searched it if you had"
Now. what do you think OF a woman ike
| that?
! Nancy Olden." said to myself. more in
sorrow than in anger. you've met your
| match right here. When a woman knows
| fact and states 1t with such quiet conVlc-
| tion without the least unnecessary en-
| phasis and not a superduous word. ware
| that woman There's only one game to play
| to let you hang round here bit longer and
| find out what's become OF the baby. Play
IT."
| looked at her with respect; it was both
| real and feigned.
| "Of course. you must be right" 1 said
| humbly. Il know you wouldn't be likely to
make mistake but, Just to convince me,
do you mind letting me go back to looky
! Not at ALL" she said placidly. If 1 go
| with you there's no reason why you should
not look
| Oh Mag, 1t was hard lines looking. Why?
Why. because the place was SO bare and SO
| small. There were so few things to move
i - al IL, ,1,.~< t.. j<n re
| all could do and pretend to do. that was
| in despair.
You must be right" I said at length.
looking woefully up at her.
| Yes; I knew 1 was" she said steadily.
II must have lost it,
| Yes"
| There was no hope there. 1 turned to go.
| I'm lend you nickel to get home II
| you'll leave me your address, she said at
/ ter a moment.
Oh. that admirable woman! She ought to
| be ruling empires instead of searching
| thieves. Look at the balance Of her, Mag
| My best acting hadn't shaken her. She
hadn't that fatal curiosity to understand
motives that wrecks 80 many who deal with
| She satisfied just not to let me get
| ahead of her in the least particular
| But she wasn't mean. and She would lend
me a nickel-not an emotionally extrava-
| CANT ten-cent piece. but just a
nickel-on the chance that l was what 1
| seemed to be.
| Oh, l did admire her: but I'd have been
more enthusiastic about 1t II l could have
| seen my way clear to the baby and the
paper
took the nickel and thanked her. but ef-
fusiveness left her unmoved. wholesome,
lhlue-gowned rock with neat. full-bibbed
white apron: that's what she was!
And still 1 fingered. Fancy Nance Olden
just heartbroken at being compelled to
leave a police station!
But there was nothing for 1t. Go, had
to. NV head a-Whirl with Schompq
coming forward with suggestions and be-
ing dismissed as unsuitable; my thoughts
were flying about at such a dizzy rate while
stood there In the doorway, the woman
patient hand on the knob and her watchful
eyes on me. that 1 actually
Mag, 1 actually didn't hear the matron's
voice the first time she spoke.
| The second time though, I turned-so
happy 1 could not keep the tremor out of
my voice.
said.
Oh we were friends, we two! We'd chum-
med over baby, which for women is like
what taking drink together is for men.
The admirable dragon in the blue dress
didn't waver a bit because her superior
spoke pleasantly to me. She only watched
and listened.
Which puts you in a difficult position
when your names Nance Olden-yOu have
to tell the truth.
I've been detained" I said. with dignity.
against my wish. But that's all over.
I'm going now. Good-by:" | nodded and
| as the admirable dragon was closing the
door on me. rs the baby asleep? 1 won
der II l might see her once more"
My heart was beating like an engine gone
mad. in spite of my careless tone and
! there was a buzzing in my ears that deaf
| ened me. But 1 managed to stand still and
| listen. and then to walk off. as though 1t
| didn't matter in the least to me, while her
| words came smashing the hope out of me.
We've sent her with an officer back to
| the neighborhood where you found her.
He'll find out where she belongs, no doubt.
Good day."