Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-01

he stood glazing helplessly into the re-
ceiver. "You came out of your club and
drove south in a cab. 1t was about 4
o'clock"
Just about that" said Billy with ,
miserable laugh. Where were you?"
Crossing the avenue nalf a block above"
"Will you be there tomorrow at the same
hour?"
Sne gave the negative he expected: you
know | can't
II know you won't" he said. bitterly.
Their interviews had of late lost the more
impersonal tone that had existed in the be-
ginning. There had been time when the
theaters. current events and even the
weather had furnished topic for CONVERSE
ton. Billy put such subjects aside now
with angry impatience He argued holly
for his rights, and at times there was some
thing that sounded like tears in the voice
at the other end of the wire. Then the af-
fair came to crisis suddo My one day In
early winter. almost a year after that first
his unknown guest.
She had laughingly reproached him for
not recognizing her in passing.
1T was on Broadway, she said. The
girl was very pretty
What girl?"
1.-The girl with whom you were walking"
MY cousin said Lilly. bluntly.
"She was too pretty for cousin. I
rang a little hard.
II hate her, too-at times. hate every
BODY these days because tney re every
where and you're nowhere"
"Of course: because Pm nobody-Nobody
Of Nowhere"
win you ever be Somebody of Some
where?"
mo. never"
DO you mean that?" he asked earnestly.
every letter of 1t, so please don't
argue"
unreasonable and illogical"
I'm not trying to be logical. I'm follow
ing my own instincts I'll try to explain
those, but you won't understand. because
you're a man. Five years ago. when you
were in college. 1 saw You for the first
time. Some told me your name and
and things about you. After that l saw
you a number of times, in different places.
I wanted to know you. but couldn't think
of any way until one night this wicked old
telephone tempted me. l was afraid at
first and 1 thought and thought, and con-
sidered just what chance there was OF my
ever meeting you in the natural course OF
events. 1 decided that there was about
one chance in hundred. SO rang up your
phone number and forfeited that chance.
But ringing you up was an admission and
l can't deny what 1t implied. Oh. Billy.
can't you understand? I've made advances
which only a man can make with any de-
cency, and considering everything 1 shall
never, never meet you face to face and
say: This Is l.
''You will" said Billy suddenly. You'll
meet me tomorrow at Dawson's Art Gal
leries.'
mot tomorrow or ever.
IT have something to tell you
"You must tell me everything over the
wire. I can't meet you"
VERY we'll. Are you listening?"
Yes"
Then it's just this: You'll have to con-
slider me some in this affair. Perhaps you
never anticipated the present situation. You
saw me; and You cared enough for what
you saw to make advances which. as you
saw no girl should make. Wei, I've only
heard YOU; but l care enough now to be
ready, as soon you will let me, to make
the most serious advances a man can make.
Do you understand?'
II don't know.
"ThenrIll put it palmer. I've seen hum
dreds of girls. but | never wished to marry
them. It's only since I've talked to you
that I've cared to think what marriage
where you are or what you are, but I'm
stalking everything on what l believe you
to be. Now will you meet me tomorrow"
Il can't" said the voice, family.
Tomorrow" repeated Billy.
Il can't can't"
You must" he cried, striking the phone
passonately.
Dear Billy, no, no, no, no." There was
something that sounded like a sob and then
silence Billy dashed the receiver a the in
strument in helpless rage.
Curse the foul fiend that ever invented
this thing" he choked. I'll break 1t to
pieces. III have it taken out I-I-here, get
out of there and he turned suddenly and
kicked the bowling Fritz into the led room.
Blly's nerves were. for the moment. be-
yond his control He pu.-ed himself to-
gether with an effort. put on his coat and
hat and went out into the street. But at