Smyrna times., 1907-08-07

people down there are too busy mind
ing their own affairs to interfere with
mine"
A few moments later, swathed i'll a |
long dark coat that fitted closely and |
hid tue folds of her dinner gown, Miss |
GraysOn hailed a crOsstown car. 1t |
was a cloudy evening that threatened |
rain, and before she reached her des-
tinatiOn the storm broke wildly, the
great drops falling in gusts against the
ear windows. The corner at which
Miss Grayson alighted was utterly de-
serted. Pale CLEANS from half opened
tenement shutters and the dim, murky
yellow of the street lamps were reflect
ed in the streaming cutters and the
sidewalks miniature pools. Miss Gray
son splashed briskly ahead looking
neither to the right nor to the left,
till she neared her. own abode and
turned her head to glance in the win
dOws. The partition of what had once
been Il narrow hall had been removed,
and the whole was turned into a spa
cious sitting room. The embers of a
half spent CRATE fire threw a sOftened
color over books and pictures, and the
dark, thin face of little Tessa, who
was seated on the hearth rug.
''Well, Tessa," called Miss GraysOn,
opening the door and pausing a mo-
ment to wrest the key from the reluc-
tant lock, Did you sit up for me?
And where's Miss Elliston?'
But Tessa's slow, sweet voice was
checked midway in reply, for of a
| sudden Miss GraysOn was thrust vio-
| lently into the room, and the half
| opened door was closed behind her.
Against it leaned the threatening fig
ure of Grinaldo his lips in an ugly line.
"What do you mean by breaking in
like this?" demanded Miss Grayson,
sternly quiet though a pulse beat hur-
riedly in her throat.
Grinaldo fixed his narrow eyes on
her. Angry red surged under the
brownish pallor of his skin. She had
taken his daughter. he said. his daugh-
ter who earned for him. Now he had
come to fetch Tessa away. She would
not be found second time.
Tessa was staring at window at
the other end of the room as if she
did not hear Grinaldo's words, but
| Miss GraysOn'S eyes were on the thin
keer knife that f1ickered in his hand.
IF the lady screama or calla the
police, strika nOw." said GrinaldC
softly. with a threatening gesture.
"Oh. no you dOn't!' cried BrantoI
Ridgcly, crashing in the window will
his walking stick and vaulting Ovel
the sill with the jump that had wol
him a medal at college. Beyond wer,
the amberlike lamps of his waitin.
hanson, the cabman whistling shrill.
for the police Miss GraysOn saw a
through a maze the things that fol
lowed. Ridgely's arm striking out an,
Grinaldo sprawlng. She heard Tes
sa's cry of relief the startled voice o
Miss Elliston, who. panic stricken, wa
descending the stairs. Lastly came tn
police. 1t was Ridgely who told ther
| the necessary details; it was Ridgel
: who calmed the excited Miss Ellisto
and half hysterical Tessa; it wa
, Ridgely who came to Miss Grayso
when it was all over with a ferver
!. ''Thank heaven, was in time"
e 'How did you know
h "Why. after you were gone 1 felt
l premOnitiOn, so / took a cab and 70
lowed"
Miss EllistOn had discreetly turne
: her back. Miss Grayson lifted a bunC
of viOlets from a bowl on the tab
S and held them out to him.
"Instead of laurels." she began trer
ulOusly.
Il Couldn't can't-yOu see-that is
o - stammered Ridgely, coloring to IL
Il roots of his hair.
3 Their eyes met.
V ooh" cried Miss Grayson. with
n deep breath. "then it was you who Sc
a them! And the money too"
d "But the initials?' she questione
it perplexedly after a moments silence.
stand for Earnest Triher,'" he sa
lightly. 81 thought I'd like to hel
but I'm pretty much of a thick head
O. blunderbuss and didn't quite knO
- how You see, a trifer wouldn't stal
- much of a chance with you, would
Iy Miss GraysOnT"
n can earnest trifer would" she a
Ie swered. looking down at the viole
10 she still held in her hand.
IL Really" cried Ridgely, with a
IS. fight half boyish in its impetuOsity.
er "Yes, really" said Miss Elean
Mt Grayson in a tone that made Ridgel.