Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-04-05
CHAPTER XIV.
THE MEETING.

There" he said to himself: as he
passed downstairs, Il am just as big
a fool AS she Is. She followed me to
make q clean breast OF everything,
and send her back with a request TO
keep her lips sealed Yet am angry
with her for the risk she is taking"
He reached the hall and was about
to cross the foyer when he caught
the words. Gentleman thrown ont
or cab" uttered by a handsome
girl, cheaply but gaudily attired,
who was making some inquiry at the
bureau.
He stopped and searched for
match. Then became Interested in
the latest news. pinneein strips on
the baize-covered board Of
ticker"
The girl explained to an of1cial
that she had witnessed an accident
that evening She was told that
gentleman who lived In the hotel was
hurt. Was he seriously injured?
! The hotel man. from long practice,
was enabled TO sum up such inquir-
ers rapidly.
DO you know the gentleman"
he inquired
"No-that is. slightly"
well. madam, II you give me
your card ! will send 1t 10 his
friends. They will give you all ne
cessary information"
She became confused She was not
accustomed TO the quiet elegance OF
a great hotel. The men in evening
dress, the sorgeously attired ladies
passing to elevator or drawing room,
seemed to he listening to her Why
did the bureau keeper speak so loud
ly? Then the assurance of the Cock
ney came to her aid
II don't see why there should be
such fuss about nothing" she said.
II don't know his people I saw the
gentleman pitched out of a cab and
was sorry for him, so Just called to
ask how he was
She angrily tossed her head. and
stared insolently at nm old lady who
came TO inquire II there were any
letters for the Countess OF Sherry
and Ness
NO letters, your ladyshtp," said
the man And YOU. miss, must
either send personal message or
see the manager"
The young woman bounced out In
a fury, and Brett followed her, ST.
lently thanking tho favoring planets
which had sent him down the stairs
at the very moment when the girl
was proffering her request to the
clerk
Fortunately the weather was bet
ter now. There was a clear sky over
head. and the streets looked quite
cheerful after the steady downpour,
/ London's myriad lamps being re-
| fected In gistening ,iszsgs across
the wet pavement
The girl did not head towards the
busy Strand. but walked direct Ia
Charing Cross station on the Dis
trict Railway.
The barrister thought she intend
ed TO go somewhere by train He
/ quickened his pace in order TO be
able to rapidly obtain ticket and
thus keep up with her Herein he
was lucky. To his surprise. she
passed out Of the station on the en-
bankment side.
He followed, and nowhere could
he see her. Then he remembered the
steps leading to the footpath along
the Hungerford Bridge. Running up
/ these steps he soon caught sight of
the young woman who was walking
! rapidly towards Waterloo
man Of the artisan class stared
at her as she passed. and said some
thing to her. She turned fercely.
do you want swipe on the
| Jaw" she demanded
No. he did not. What had de done,
he would like to know
| you mind your own business" she
/ said. Where am 7 goin'. indeed
What's II got to do with you?"
The episode was valuable to the
| listening barrister. 1t classified the
anxious inquirer after Hume's
health.
Her abashed admirer hung back,
and the girl resumed her onward
progress The man was conscious
, that the gentleman behind him must
have heard what passed He en-
| deavored to Justify himself
She's pretty O. T, she is" he
grinned.
DO you know herr" said Brett.
Il know her by sight. Seen her in
the York now an then"
She can evidently take care of
herself"
Rather, Don't you so much as
look at her, mister. or of goes your
topper into the river. She's in bad
temper tonight"
Brett laughed and walked ahead.
On reaching the Surrey side the girl
made for the Waterloo Road. There
she mounted on top OF bus. The
barrister went inside. He thought
OF the man with black, snaky eyes"
who took penn 'orths" al the way
from the Elephant to Whitehall
And now he, Brett. took penn
'orth to the Elephant. The bus
reached that famous center OF hu-
manity. passing thence through New
ington Butts to the Remington Park
Road.
In the latter thoroughfaro the girl
skipped down from the root, and dis
daining the conductors Offer to
stop swung herself lightly to the
ground The barrtster followed, and
soon found himself tracking her