The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-03-20
CHAPTER Xli.-(Continued).

garden, and the blue tie vas an out
rage on suffering beholders.
Seeing that he was observed, this
gorgeous individual gave a cock to his
hat, and removing the Manila from his
capacious mouth he advanced toward
Judith.
"Excoose me. miss, l don't want ter
be presumshus, but if I kin direct yer
~anywheres shall be 'appy ter oblige.'
Thank you; l am somewhat OF a
stranger here, and--'
at do amoose me, miss, ter stand
an watch Their strangers as arrives
ere; most amoosin', | hassure yer.
But wot is it yer 'onts ter know,
miss?"
Il am anxious to get to the scene of
the conf1agration that took place last
night"
"Parding. MISS"
1.-The fire-the n that occurred in
Rockers Alley"
"Hooker's Alley"
Nosey Hammond. for the resplend-
ent individual was none other that
that ubiquitous gentleman, stepped
back a pace or two and surveyed Ju
dith Balara in open-mouthed astonish.
ment.
"Hooker's Alley" he repeated.
Yes, yes. Why does the mention of
the place cause you so much alarm"
Alarm, miss! Oh, no. miss. it amt
alarm-you're much mistook there;
it's amusement, miss-pure amoose
ment. 1t Almost makes me larf ter
ear yer tork about Hooker's Alley"
Where does the humor come in?"
Seem as 'ow | lorst all me clothes
in Their conflagration, as yer calls it,
an 'ad ter spend seventeen on this ere
rig-out-which, though money is no
objec' wiz me, is hegspensive-I fink !
can larf."
At this statement a rush Of thought
flooded Judith's brain. II this mans
statement was true he must have been
in the house when the fire occurred
Was it possible that he was connected
with the mystery surrounding Mary
Brent and Godfrey West? In a mo.
ment she had decided to tolerate the
mans insolence and find out as much
as possible.
How strange that l should meet
you like this! You can do me a great
service. If you will"
Miss, yer does me proud l hes
TEEN 1t a honor. On'y name it, miss"
Il am Judith Balara, and"
Call me Halbert, miss. Vandybilt's
my other name, but all my friends
calls me Halbert. Can I arsk yer ter
ave a glarss O. wine, miss?"
"No, thank you; l."
Yer welkim, miss, money bein' nc
objec' wiz me-. oh. 1t do amoose me
81 read an account OF the fire in the
paper, and I saw the name of Cooley
West mentioned. l. knew a man OF
that name some years ago when I was
living abroad, and am anxious t1
find out II he is the same. II you could
take me to the hospital /"
Miss. I shall be on'y too delighted:
you a come along wiz me. miss, an
Halbert'll see yer straight. I'll take
yer ter Their 'orspital, but II yer'll ex
Goose me l 'ont come in. az me conster
tuition is delerkit an I carn't stand
Their sights"
With an exaggerated air of polite
ness Hammond handed Judith into q
cab and gave the necessary directions
Although feeling q vague alarm that
his companion should manifest an in
terest in Hooker's Alley and Godfrey
West, he was so delighted at driving
through the streets with a beautiful
woman at his side that his vanity over.
came his discretion.
Tell me about the fire."
Tho! it did amoose me, miss; I was
a-sittin' smokin' me ceegar, an 'avin'
q little sherry wine arter me dinner,
an old mother Crotchett comes up the
stairs a-carryin' a lamp; then orl Of q
student over she goes, lamp an all,
an in two ticks the 'ole place was
ablaze."
"You must have had a narrow escape.
Was there any M else there besides
this MI. West?"
Whether Mr.. Hammond was sudden
" aroused to suspicion by this ques-
ton it is hard to say but he looked at
his companion %curiously before he an.
swered.
"Any one else, miss?"
Eyes; you know what I mean: where
was Mary Brent?"
She drew her bow at q venture, but
one look at Hammond told her that
her bolt had gone home.
MARY Brent! Who-who is she.
miss?"
Don't p~revaricate; I know more
than you think; tell me at once"
~'There-there was q young woman
called. Miss; but she-she'd gorn."
ITO Birmingham"
I'll think SO. miss; but excoose
me. miss, l must get out here"
"stay where you are; l have soms.
thing else to ask you yet"
"Suttingly, miss: anything you like"
who has got It now:"
"Cot It, miss! Got wot?"
The Empires Dream"