Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-11-22
II: :ds he If #:
Appropriation
esIss XIII es&.
93S DlII oI%
By FRANK H. SWEET
Copyright, 1906 by Frank II. Street

AS the car ran up Il street ana on TO
Fourteenth many of the passengers
| alghted. others got off ut the Arlington
and opposite the White House and still
others at X after the car turned up
Seventeenth. BY the time 1t reached
Q only they three were left. At the
next corner the girl touched button.
The old man was still so agitated
from his narrow escape that he tre1n
bled as he rose unsteadily to his feet
In moment Duncan was by his side.
"Allow me to help you, sir" he said
courteously. Then few moments
later as they reached the pavement. 'Ts
your home far?"
"Three blocks and down the next al
ley" the old man answered.
Duncan understood, and he made a
motion for the car to go on. The
northwest was the arlstocratic part Of
Washington, but three blocks and an
alley thus far beyond X was also pre-
sumptlve of economy. He guided the
old man to the sidewalk The girl fol-
lowed, her face full Of doubt.
II am afraid this is not your place
for leaving the car" she hesitated. 81
saw you 20 past r street yesterday,
and other days you have been in the
same car with us and gone by"
"Why, really, had not noticed" with
a half apology in his voice. But then
/ am an absentminded sort of fellow,
and when in the car am usually read
Ing or thinking Easy, easy, my dear
sir" as the old man stumbled little;
lean on me until you feel stronger.
| You have had good deal of-er-ex-
element lately, am afraid, and that
narrow escape at the car was sufficient
to unnerve any one. You will be all
right again In few hours"
II am all right now" quavered the
old man pettishly and as though asham-
ed Of betraying weakness. II have not
slept any in about a week, and that has
upset me trile. We are very much
obliged to you, sir, but will not intrude
| further on your time"
! The old man threw back his shout
ders as though for indignant denial,
but it was last effort of the frail
overweight body. He swayed dizzily
for a moment, then the tired old eyes
closed in unconsciousness.
But as they did SO Duncan's strong
arms closed about the slight form, lift
| ing him as though he were child.
walk on ahead, MISS" he com
manded, "as rapidly as you can. will
keep up. 1t is only temporary faint
ness, think, but we must get your ia
Their into his bed as quickly as possible
Then will telephone for physician"
The girls face had grown white, and
after quick, inquiring glance at her
father she turned and sped away.
| three blocks and down the next alley.
and then the girl fitted a key into a
door which made Duncan's brows
come together irritably. 1t was not
economy; it was poverty.
| Ten minutes later he was hurrying
toward the corner drug store to tele-
phone for physician. When the ply
sician arrived he was back by the bed
side. He watched there that night in
spite of the girls protests and against
the old mans wishes, when at last the
weak eyelids fiuttered open and faint
voice insisted that nothing was needed
except an hours rest, and in the morn
ing, while the girl dozed uneasily in
her chair, he slipped back into the tiny
kitchen and got breakfast for them.
| At the table, which was small
! stand drawn up beside the bed, he
| whimsically assumed the double role
Of host and guest and before the meal
was ended had them both laughing.
When finally he left, with declara-
ton that he would be back in an hour,
the girl accompanied him to the door.
The last vestige of wondering resent
ment was gone from her face and in
it's place were gratitude and confidence
II really do not think there will be
any further need for your help, Mr..
Duncan" she said. Father Is much
better now, and can look after him
all right. He has had such turns be-
fore when under high nervous strain,
and-and the strain this time has been
greater than ever before. We are both
very grateful to you for your kind
| ness"
Duncan smiled deprecatingly.
ut was the least could do-after,"
he began; then added quickly: "But !
beg your pardon. I will not allude to
that any more. Whatever l may have
felt yesterday, this morning must in
sist on regarding both of you as among
my pleasantest acquaintances, and any
thing may have done has been real
pleasure. Your father has talked very
little, but what he has said convinces
me that he must have been a wonder
full man when himself. And there Ia
another thing" as flush of pride man
tied her face, may not ask you to
tell me your manner want to think Of
you as real friends, with personality,
and only know one of you as 'Estelle'
and the other as father from the way
you addressed each other.'
Her face showed surprise.
"Do you really mean that you do not
know who my father isl" she ques-
| toned.
"Only that he is an indefatigable in
ventor and that he was at work upon
something for which an appropriation
was asked. I learned that much from