Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-19
CHAPTER XII.

On receipt of Rogers telephone mes
sage Crawford left the club at once and,
hailing a motor cab. instructed the chauf-
feur to drive him to the West End avenue
house as rapidly as possible. He Won
dered who his visitor could possibly be.
Rogers had said that she was young and
pretty and that she was dressed for din
ner or the opera. This puzzled him. That
woman both young and pretty should call
upon him was not remarkable. He knew
many who answered to this description.
but that one should arrive hatless and in
full evening dress was. to say the least.
not usual. 1t was an opera night, to be
sure. but he had made no engagement to
take anybody there.
When he reached home he let himself
into his apartments noiselessly. hung up
his hat and overcoat in the hall and went
into his den in his evening Dress and
with a gardenia that he had picked up
from the dinner table ornamenting the
lapel of his coat. Nora had just con-
Guided her impromptu toilet operation and
thrust the wet rag into the pocket of the
cloak. The hard rubbing had set her
cheeks aglow, and her eyes were spar
king with excitement. She looked very
pretty.
When he opened the door Crawford
started with establishment at seeing who
his visitor was.
"Well. we'll! This is a pleasant sur
prise, Nora. You have said no so often
that had long ago given up hope of see
ing you here" he exclaimed, advancing
toward her with both hands outheld. I'm
thnkingly she extended her own, and he
saw that her arms were bare. Her action
also parted the cloak sufficiently to reveal
that she was in deep decollete.
How beautiful you look!' he added,
with genuine enthusiasm.
Nora, in great confusion. hastily with
drew her hands and pulled the cloak
lit was awfully good of you to come"
he continued. How did you manage to
get away so early?'
II didn't go on tonight. IL wanted to
see you,' she replied.
Not half so much as I wanted to see
you, I am sure. Come. sit down and
make yourself comfortable" he urged.
reaching for a cushion on the sofa and
placing it against the back of the easy
chair in which she had sat before. Il
want you to feel that you are at home
whenever you do me the honor to pay me
visit. And now that you have come
once I hope you will come often. Let me
take your cloak"
"Oh. no. thank you. Mr.. Crawford. she
refused. Il can't stay really. I've got to
get back to the theater right away"
right" he said. reassuringly "They won't
make any trouble. I stand pretty we'll at
the Long Acre. and I'll square it for
YOU"
at isn't the theater. its The fact
is I'm in great trouble" she explained.
"In great trouble? Dear me! What's
the matter?"
II must have that note tonight"
What note?"
THE note I-I-signed-the note for
$500. Father and mother are in front.
l dare not see them unless l have 1t. AS
soon as I learned they were there / was
so frightened. SO upset. that I came away
without stopping minute, Just as l was.
to get it."
Crawford looked grave.
do they know about it?' he asked,
anxiously.
"Oh. no." she answered. She was on
the point of telling him that she had con-
fessed everything to Patsy, but she
thought better of 1t and refrained.
His geniality returned Immediately. He
asked:
Then If nobody knows anything about
1t what is there to be afraid Off"
I'm afraid of everything. I'm a forger!
Why did you make me a forger? I didn't
know. Oh. I'm horribly afraid
"Whew!' he Whistled. "A forger!
That's hard word. 1 wouldn't take such
q tragic view OF it If I were you
She sank into the chair and covered her
face with her hands They were pretty
hands. despite her apprenticeship at