The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-17
when you give me back my duster. Thop ha was gone

when you give me back my duster." Then she was gone.
 He moved with the capering merry makers up to Long Acre square, where he learned of the defeat of his candi- date for governor, then went home The duster he carried with him. ana handling 1t tenderly. hoped 1t might prove a means to dispel the crushing loneliness which he had felt ever since he had left his native town. He often wondered what the letters M. M. on the handle stood for.
 His days went about as usual. He paid his lost election bet to the other young lawyer at the office fThe win ner's not treating seemed strange. At | home they always did-but in New York everything was SO different. He began ao get on at the office. and once | Judge Metcalf. his chief. mentioned taking him home to dine. but the mat | ter ever went any further. The night of the presidential cleo tion found him once more mingling tn the swarming pandemonium that ragged around Herald square. He had the duster inside his coat. and was no longer either lonely or listless. for he was hunting for M. M. to give her back the duster.
 He wandered up and down. reading the conflicting bulletins. but always l who had sat like a queen in his heart for two years. The great searchlight at the Times building swung due north, to indicate a Republican land slide. while the "Journals' bulletin announced an overwhelming victory for the Democrats. Farther downtown the Herald" proclaimed small but safe majority for the Republicans while according to a white sheet a, Thirty-first street. the same thing had | befallen the other party
 He wrenched a yard-long horn from an impertinent Italian boy. was tickieo by a lady in an ermine coat ana re- | ceiyed a shower of confetti from Ger man housewife-all in a space Of aoou' ten minutes. He no longer looked ask ance at the mixed merry-makers-i' was New York and 1t all went"
 In front of the New Grand his atten- tion was attracted by a gorgeous mo- tor car On the front seat sat his lady of the feather duster. There could DC no doubt. it was she.
 He felt cold and scared. but he pull led himself together and, stepping tt her side, gave her the duster. handle first, and said. NOW, VIII you tell Ws who you are"
 She opened her eyes very wide, re- cognized him and the duster. and star ted to speak. when a smashing blow from the man beside her sent hin spinning, to fall with his head agajns' an iron grating. His next sensation was the flying through space Then { thousand bells rang, lights danced
 voices buzzed, and he opened his eyes on a strange room It was handsomel than his own, and beside him sat ( nurse, looking out of the window.
 There was a calender on the table giving the date as November Is. I must be a mistake, he thought-thi' was November z, election night ant yet there was the calender. He pu out his hand to draw it to him. wher
 the nurse turned and he recog ized tn, girl in the automobile His head achet and his hands shook, but he was goot grit, and when he met her bright gaz' he said You never did tell me wht you are" She laughed squarely at him saying:
 My brother seemed to think his an
 swer quite sufficient He knocked vol
 over before I had a chance to say any
 thing. You ought to know who I am
 anyway My picture has been on fath CTS desk ever since the day after 1 me
 you in Thirty seventh street. and tn | boys told me who you were It oc
 cured to me then that he ought L
 have one, but you never saw it. an
 Marjory Metcalf. your chiefs onl
 udnSl
 Tom didn't know you when yo
 brought me my duster, and before
 could speak he knocked you down. w
 brought you home, and have had ter
 rible time saving your life. The nurs
 is asleep and I stole into her unl1orn
 I guess I'll have to go now, or sn might not like it.
 He caught her dmpled hand an
 persuaded her that the nurse reaii needed rest, which she must perforc take so long as she was without an uniform.
 They had a lovely afternoon gig gling over the imprisoned nurse. cal ) ing bonbons, forgetting his medicln
 and being as happy as one can De !, the spring time of life.
 l At 5 Mrs. Metcalf came in ana tol t them that the nurse had departed. @ high dudgeon. They did not get an one in her place. Marjory and Tom ar e Mrs. Metcalf taking care of him then e selves
 e The night before he was to lea, r Marjory came up with the maid WI |, brought his dinner. She was so re