The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-02-02


MANDED.
looked into the sweetest, most refined
old face she had ever seen, but, oh, so
wan and patient and hopeless.
No nothing was wanted. the old wo-
man said She had only lost coutrol Of
herself Tor a moment; that was ali. and
she smiled with pitiful cheerfulness as
she closed the door
But Jenny had seen enough. That
face ana one brief glimpse into the
room beyond sent her hurrying down
stairs after her own bowl of soup and
bit OF bread and butter And in spite of
the old wOman's protests and entreaties
she had literally forced her to eat
laughing, but unyielding and firm. And
with the first spoonful of soup there
had come light into the woman's eyes
which made Jenny turn abruptly and
walk to the one small window. choking
back something in her throat. 1t was
as she had suspected, only worse. The
old woman had been literally starving
Since then they had been good
friends, Jenny. tender and imperious,
bringing her own oil stove and provi-
sions to the fourth floor room, so that
there should be no more question of
hunger, and the old woman deprecato-
~, but yielding 1t meant less for the
Woodworking mother on the farm and
less for herself, but Jenny scarcely
thought of these things. Her mother
would have it so, she knew. The old
woman was in greater need than they
and should be looked after first.
And now had come a promotion, and
with it she would have to leave the
apartment house and board in the fam
lily of her employer. But the old wom-
an should have the oil stove and the
small supply Of provisions on hand,
and-yes, she should have the bit Of
carpet she had bought. 1t would be
warm for the poor old feet.
So when she went up to the fourth
bit Of carpet and teapot and some
books she thought the old woman might
like to read. An hour was spent in
talking and planning, and then she
turned to leave, the old woman follow
ing her to the door.
II will not try to thank you, dear"
she said softly. "Words are so made
quate. But you know"-she removed
a quantity wrought circlet of gold from
her finger and Slipped it on one of Jen-
ny's-"I want you to wear this to re-
member me by. 1t is not valuable eX-
cept for association and tradition. Ny
father brought It from India and gave
it to me long, long ago, when | was
little girl. He said the tiny setting
was n luck stone and that the ring
would be a talsman to good fortune"
She smiled wistfully and added, 81
hope the fortune will be better for you
than it has been for me, dear"
An hour later Jenny was in a street
car on the way to the new boarding
place. Opposite her sat man who
bttlilctt 70 NC lpbhlIlS lulUuSl lllc w III
dow at her back, but from time TO
time. when her gaze rose suddenly. she
found him looking straight at her. He
had been on the sidewalk when she left
the apartment house and had boarded
the same car and changed at the same
transfer, but OF that she would not
have thought for such condolences
could easily happen in a city. Only
when she again alighted and the man
Stepped beside her to the sidewalk she
suddenly turned to him, her eyes flash
ing.
Are you following me?" she de-
handed
The man smiled assentingly.
why, yes; | may as well acknowl-
edge l have BEEN" he replied. 81
wanted to be perfectly sure first, but
it's all right. You must come along
with me-to the police station, you
know" at the incredulity and horror
IN her face. II am detective"
But what for?" Indignantly.
"Oh just for the ring on your fin
GER" easily, though of course you