The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-06
The Lady In the Park.
lCopyright. ~. by Harry Heron.l

ing by her appearance that she as well
as himself was an American, he no
ticed her as he passed. then turned and
walked back. She looked him IN the |
face and continued TO do so until he
stood before her. Then as he doffed
his hat and bowed she smilinglv and
sweetly said:
L knew that you were an American
and would come back. viii you sit
DOWN.
Mr.. Clancy sat down after excusing
himself. The nursegirls in the vicin-
fly giggled, and a policeman passing
along winked at him IN solemn man
ner, but he refused to be perturbed In
a few minutes he discovered that he
had made no mistake. The good look
Ing lady was not only an American,
but a resident OF Chicago when at
home. She was also a widow of two
years standing. She had come over to
London, chaperoned by her mother and
escorted by her lawyer, to see about
some property. Her mother had been
taken i'll and was then unable to leave
her bed in the lodgings the lawyer had
secured for them. She herself had got
out that day for the first time in
week to get a breath Of fresh air. The
story up to this point did not call for
any great amount of sympathy, but
there was more to it. The lawyer had
suddenly and mysteriously disappear
ed. For a week nothing had been
heard of him. He hadn't played any
shyster trick on them, but had proba-
bly, been murdered. She and her moth
er had discussed the matter in all its
bearings and could come to no other
conclusion.
The good looking lady had not gone
to the police, nor had she notified the
American minister. She was feeling
| helpless in the matter and wishing she
had the advice Of a compatriot In her
troubles. Harold Clancy was willing
and anxious to advise He convinced
her almost at once, but it was an hour
| later when she asked him to convince
her mother. The poor convalescent
was worrying her heart out and would
probably have a relapse unless she were
convinced that the lawyer had been
abducted and held for ransom instead
Of being robbed and hung over the en-
bankment to float around In the mud
i Il a., DHI.a -I,1
dare she-ask Mr.. Clancy to call at her
house and cheer and comfort her
mother?
Mr.. Clancy promptly replied that she
could. He would go with her at once
right away. His motto was, Moth
ers comforted and cheered while you
wait" There were tears of gratitude
in the lady's eyes, but his promptness
was a little too prompt. She must for
several reasons, some of which she
mentioned and some she didn't, ask
him to defer his call until evening.
When this point had been settled they
rose and separated. The nursegirls
giggled again, and the policeman came
back with his solemn wink, but the
good looking lady pretended not to see
or hear, and Mr.. Clancy scowled at
the nurses and clinched his fist at the
guardian OF the peace and vowed that
he would lick him If he ever caught
the fellow in America.
There were four hours to wait. Mr..
Clancy went to his hotel to think and
dine The lady without the adjective
this time) had not lisped the remotest
hint that money was needed. On the
contrary, she had carried the opposite
idea Mr.. Clancy was an astute man,
however. He could see through a
square hole in round grindstone. He
had often been heard to say that the
want of money caused nine-tenths of
the troubles in this world. BE had
money in the hotel safe. He drew II
out and showed it down a hind pocket
and felt himself heeled He would adj
wise and comfort and cheer the mother
with words, but not with words alone
When the proper moment came be
would spring his "wad" and beg moth
er and daughter to accept few hun
dreds as a loan. AS he thought OF
their tears and sobs Of gratitude be
had to use his own handkerchief tc
chase away the yelling tears. The
waiter half expected TO be asked II
there was any eyewater on the bin oil
fare.
The hour arrived. So did Mr.. Clan
cy. 1t was a walk Of only a quarter
of a mile, and he stepped out briskly
His ring at the bell was answered By
young girl who might have beer
dressed and who might have had hel
hair combed and her shoes tied, bu
fr. Clancy didn't dwell on trifes. HI
was told that he was expected and t
walk upstairs and knock at the frs
door to the right. He followed In
structions, and the door was opened
but he had scarcely set foot inside tn,
room when he received blow from
sand bag and knew no more for hours
t When he regained consciousness a DC