Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-03


tendance. Where shall I send your
old one?"
Nancy gave the address and added,
With the bill I haven't so much
money with me-"
II am so sorry" said the clerk, "but
-" she stopped In genuine discomfit-
ure. Nancy who was about to flare up,
perceived that the woman was really
embarrassed, not knowing what to say
and dreading in any case to say too
much:
Wont you call the f1oorwalker?" she
asked quietly "I had to come in here
Unexpectedly to get a hat" she ex-
planned to him. "And find 1 have no
money. I want to wear this. What
can I do about it?"
The foorwalker was gently apollo
getic. He gave the impression of hav-
ing sacrificed a sensitive nature to a
machine.
I'VE can send the boy with you," he
said.
"oh" said Nancy I'm not going
home, and I'm in great hurry"
The floorwalker permitted himself a
sympathetic smile.
Suppose then we send the boy to
the house." he said, with smoothly ar
ranged hesitation.
MY aunt is i'll and 1 cannot have
her disturbed" said Nancy, thinking
aloud in desperation.
THAT will not be necessary" said
the f1oorwalker, quickly "If the clerk
says that you live, there. OF course,
you understand that it is only to pro-
tect myself in case He stopped in
apparent awkwardness, but he had the
air of having conducted the same af-
fair before. "Will you give me your
card?"
She handed him the only one in her
case.
You have others? Pardon me, but
you see I must be sure"
"Oh!" calculated Nancy in helpless
vexation.
but you see the loss would fall up
on me in case"
Nancy ran over the ground hastily
Should she go back to the hotel chape-
roned by the errand boy and the box?
1t was ridiculous. Besides why make
that journey twice again? Should she
take off the hat and withdraw scorn-
fully? 1t seemed equally ridiculous.
"Send me the errand boy" she COM
manded, impressively.
"Boy," she said, take this card to
the clerk at the Zodiac and tell him a
young lady in a blue gown gave it to
you. She left there half an hour ago
and she lives with her aunt in No. 612
in the front suite on the sixth floor.
She left orders that her aunt had
headache and mustn't be disturbed
Ask him If it is all right and come back
here at once. Will that satisfy you?"
She turned defiantly to the floorwalker.
He gave a reproachful cough. IT am
so sorry. OF course it is all right. But
you know"
WELL" snapped Nancy. will that
be sufficient identification or will it
not?"
Certainly, madam" said the floor
walker.
Then said Nancy, "you run on
and I'll wait here" She dismissed the
foorwalker with an icy nod and sat
down grandly upon stool to wait She
got up and stood before the mirror and
eased her annoyance by arranging the
triple reflection at every possible angle.
She had never possessed a more becom-
ing hat. 1t was quite worth any trouble
she might have been put to.
AS she stood there smiling she caught
a glimpse behind her of man who,
seeing her in the mirror. paused an ad-
miring moment and went on. Nancy
looked at him again as he stood by the
elevator shaft. 1t was man whom
she had met some weeks ago at house
party. Evidently he had not recog-
nized her. as her back had been turned
to him. She turned to one of the boys
who was passing.
run oyer there she said quickly