The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-21
FIBRE RUGS

my suggestion that he came here to work as gardener for few days"
 Was l cad enough to dsbelieve her?
 Great minds run in the same channel. Miss Middleton" said l. T don't understand, Mr.-"
 dener myself"
 obviously" She looked more mysti- fled than hattered.
 "It was your fathers fault too. IIo put such insurmountable difficulties in the way of our meeting T don't understand"
 "Of my meeting you" explained, that l was obliged to take up gardening in order to cultivate your acquaintance The first time 1 saw you was at the opera-l sat opposite you in Edgar Morton's box Do you know Edgar Morton?'
 We are bosom friends. It was he who told me who you were When l saw you l l abandoned civil engineering and
 "Cvility," she drowned, trying hard , to appear dispeased. I feel more than recompensed for the sacrifice. I would have become a kitchen maid-I mean sculiion-for your"
 "fhe floor is dry" she interrupted with an assumed haughtiness that ! knew she was far from feeling. "I fear l may be 1 detaning you in your work"
 T didn't come here to work"
 "Then l shall ask papa to hire" "Another civil engineer in my place."
 "Indeed not" she smiled despite her self. When papa wants civil engineer he will advertise"
 For me- l hope, l will work without q salary"
 1T could not-could not consent to the sacrifice" she stammered. crunching the pebbles on the walk out side "I must go," she said excitedly, hurrledly. T have a great favor to ask. There was the sound of a heavy step know I can rely on you; l did not even need the evidence of Edgar Mortons friendship a proof of your gentility. l beg of you to search for my brother you will probably fnfd him in town. | Give him this letter."
 "!Gven, Miss Middleton, If l have to climb a mountain, leap over a." | Tie door closed and she disappeared. | After breakfast I trumped up an ex- cuse for short absence, and a half hour later l was in town, where I found Flaw ] kins, or Washburne, seated on the porch of d shabby little hotel. smoking his pipe and airing himself. Literally speaking, he loked a bit cut up; there was a hole in his coat, a lump under one eye. Hello, Washburne." I called 1 oh, it's youl" he shouted Jumping up Where did you learn my name?' Prom the rogues' gallery in the jail | over there Why did you quit?" "I met with accident last night l he iustered 'I tried to vault the gar 1 den wall and l fell and nearly broke my neck. Some fellow came along in a bug | gy and picked up my unconscious body | and hauled me here" What! With the M;ddleton's house so near!"
 "Oh. I told him not to disturb any bodyw
 l "You said you were unconscious?" 1 "I came too after minute" he ex- claimed. ! You must have studied logic at Har- /, yard. Are you coming back to work, | or"
 Not muchi" he put in. I've had all of the gardeners life I want I'm going | to take the next train for New York"
 Take this with you for light literature
 to read on the way" I said, drawing Miss 1 Clara's missiye out of my pocket.
 He tore open the envelope and read Its
 contents in a glance. She's an angel
 God bless her." he murmured. T don't
 want even you to believe that she would | stoop to anything clandestine She's my
 step-sister. Mir. Middleton Is an awful
 crank in many ways, and"