The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-01
THANKS TO THE METER.
By James Clesg,


 The girl from across the hall held out a tiny hand, in the palm of which were displayed three nickels and dime. Keenly conscious that there was a hole, in the elbow of his jacket, Digby held out his own hand, unclosing his fingers to display the desired coin.
 Did you know what was coming after7" she said with a laugh. Digby had never heard her laugh before. It was a low, rippling laugh. almost as attractive as her smile. He wondered how he could improve his opportunity. Ever since she had moved in he had wanted to know the Girl Across the Hall Had his mother been home, 1t would have been all simpler, but he had been keeping bachelor hall for nearly three months.
 "Did you know I wanted the quar- teri" she repeated. Digby pulled him. self together. e T am a seventh son." he declared solemly. T know that you want the quarter can see you returning to your apartment I can see you climb ing on chair and dropping the coin into the gas meter. I can see the light growing bright again. Great is the automatic meter-when you have quarter"
 "Yes, whenw she cried. 'The other day we only had a check, and no one could cash 1t"
 Say no more," he commanded tragically. T know the rest" "Pm very much obliged" she said gratefully You are sure you won't need oneT . .-1
 Not at all," he assured As though to prove him false the gas in the hall grew dim. 'I have more change, he explained, "and it's all right" hor rqrTetfullV Sno slipped back into, her own apartment He had planned many brilliant en- counters in which he would hold her enthralled by his wit and they would live happily ever after. Instead he had never been so dull and perhaps he had lost his chance.
 The gas had gone out as he closed the door and limped into the kitchen.
 He knew very well that it was useless to scare for a quarter. He had found the one he had just given up only after A search. He would have to fall back on candles. There were half a dozen in the dining room. and by lighting four he managed to read after Iashlon. But he had scarcely settled himselr to his reading when the doorbell rang again. He wondered who 1t might pc now as he made his way down the dark hall. The Girl Across the Hall stood there again.
 you fibbed.' she said reproach- fully. You said you had another quarter for yourself. You let me drop you in our meter, and we can see across the shaft that you're using candles"
 q rather like them,' he assured, but she would have none Of 1t.
 You were just going to drop the coin in your meter" she cried. That is why you 'rd 1t in your hand"
 In the face of deduction he was dumb The girl went on:
 "T know you can't go downstairs | to get change because you hurt your ankle. It wouldn't be any use, any way. It's Sunday and only the drug store is open and they are all out or quarters was down there Just before asked you for one. Mother says you must come. in to our flat ana read You may smoke all you Hke- We don't mind 1t in the least" "I am very comfortable" he pro- tested
 The opportunity he had longed for had come and he was too bashful to avail h mself of 1t. In the end the girl in her masterful little way. car
 ried her point Presently he was installed in the pleasant parlor and was telling motherly Mrs. Fallows all about his trials without his mother. | Tt must be so lonesome for you,
 she cried why didn't you come to
 us long ago?"
 rye wanted to-" he admitted frank Iv "Sometimes I've seen the llgnt and I've been so homesick We oniy
 moved here just before my grand
 roother's illness took mother West.
 and I never got acquainted with any
 one All of our friends live on the other side of town. .o eve come from the country. where
 we are used to being neighborly," sne | explained. q want you to feel that
 you are welcome here any tlme' l There was a sincerity in her tones
 that brought a genial glow to Dfgby's l heart. and the Girl Che knew now ner name was EtheD seconded her mother
 That night was but the beginning | of a new life for Digby The fol- 1 lowing evening he brought home
 box of candy as a return courtesy
 and was invited to spend the evening, | so gradually he fell into the habit of l dropping in after dinner. There were l trins to the theater little excursions 1 on Sunday and even when he had word | from his mother that she had decided
 to remain West for the summer, he 1 did not offer objection.
 ! The more he was with Ethel, the
 more deeply in love he became. He had never known any woman, and this l charming girl was the first he had ever i loved. Often he would declare to
 himself that he would propose, put
 each time his courage failed him. | Then one night came the climax l The gas began to flicker and burn
 low and Ethel left the room to drop
 in the coin that would turn on the l flow again He heard a match strike | in the kitchen, where the gas had not
 been lit,. then came an explosion and
 he rushed down the narrow hall In some fashion the meter had sprung leak and the lighted match had caused the ignition of the gas. Ethel,
 her light gown ablaZe, came staggering i blindly toward him He had his coat off before they met and threw 1t about her shoulders, forcing her to the car | net that the blaze might not be able to gain headway toward her face. The gas sn the apartment had been ex- | tinguished and he was forced to work in the dark, but he beat out the flames with his hand and then rushed into the kitchen to check the flow of gas It was easy to extinguish the flames there and shut off the gas at the inlet
 Then he opened the doors from their apartment to his and bore her in his arms to his mothers room. Mrs