The Washington herald., 1908-08-13

me just how you like it.
what's the surprise? III bet trs
cat"
Better than that and not half the
trouble. she declared
There's my train being called. It's a
shame they viii not let YOU pass the gate
Kiss me again. dear: and do be careful OF
yourself"
Ned Semple kissed her. not once. but
half a dozen times. He worshlped this
dainty little woman who had lifted him
out Of bachelordom and boa rdlng-hoUses
and had made home bit Of paradise on
earth he hated 20 give her UP for a
whole six weeks but he could not get
away from town himself, and she needed
the rest and change
He waited un<H the train pulled out of
the station and went back 20 the hot and
stuffy Office. Il was no hardship 70 work
when he worked for her. and there were
certain deals that could not be neglected.
II these deals went through. they would
both go TO Europe next year. and the oc-
casionaI problem Of where the money for
bills was 70 be found would be solved
He remained al the Office later than
usual 10 make up for the tine he had
lost over their last lunch together The
occasional charwonan only made the des-
olation Of the huge Office building seem
more. pronounced. The elevators stopped
at S. and Il was after g when he descended
intermiuabIe fights o. steps. and the sense
OF depression grew upon him
In the street the open cars whizzed past
crowded with tired workers. who found
IN the speeding troIleys the breeze that
could not be coaxed into their stutfy
rooms Whole families filed some OF the
cross benches. and SeupIe thought regret
fully Of how only two nights before he
aid Aida had taken rtde n the cool Of
the evening. going clear 20 the end Of the
run. and stopping al the restaurant FOR a
bite to eat
He did not feel hungry ton 'ght. though
he had had no dinner. Re left tae car al
his corner and crepr Up the stairs 20 his
apartment
BY this tine he was th1roughIy blue.
and the darkness OF the place crowned
his misery As he opened the han door
he seemed 70 hear her voice call CHEEKY
Good evening. dear hope you had an
easy day Did you2''
Could Z be possible. he asked himself.
that Aida had come back2 She might be
hiding in one Of the closets He ugnteds
the gas IN every room. but he could md
no trace OF her save in The orderly neat
ness which worked all for his comfort.
He went back 20 the parlor and pleed
thoughtiul,v at his pipe. IN his low.
nervous state but one explanation OF the
phenomenon was suggested Aida was
dead. and. ir her love. she had come 70
greet him 50 thoroughly wrought zap did
ne become that he teiephoued the railroad
company % ask Il the train had been
wrecked
The response I'D not seem e 2-s.he his
rufied feelings. II Il did TeassI-e his anX-
iety. and at last he went 10 bed. only 10
toss recklessly- Sleep did not come until
absolute physical exhaustion closed his
eyes
Il seemed scarcely FIVE minutes before
the alarm clock rang and he dragged
himself out Of bed Aida had Izft coffee
and crackers and condensed MIX ta the
house. and he sipped A cup # coffee
while he searched the morning payer for
news Of a wreck
He could ind nothing Of n and
at last he started for the of4-e- IS he
opened the door AHda's voice rang in his
ears again 'Cood-by. dear, hope you
have luck to-day"
II was what she always said. and al
though Il did not sound exactly like her
voice. there was no uistakInE certain
tricks of speech He hastily closed the
door and hurried down the steps There
was a telegraph Office at the corner. and
he sent a telegram asking her 20 wire
her safe arrival In the Office building
was the booth OF another company, and
he sent a second dispatch She was not
due at her destination for a fun two
hours yet. and he could not hope 10 re-
ceive message before noon. but he
paced the Office inpatientIy. unable TO
concentrate his attention upon anything
except the tagging hands Of the clock
At last the blue uniformed boy appeared
with a yellow envelope and departed rich
e. by a half-d0IIar tip. He was back in
an hour with another message that ran
Both teleg-ams received Telegraphed
upon arrival OF course nothing is the
matter"
The assurance brought contentment
and that afternoon Semple put through
an important deal. In his elation he
dined al their favorite restaurant. and It
was late when he reached home. The
same ghostly voice greeted him and
dashed his pleasure. He mOodily smoked
his pipe until late. and the unusual al
lOwarce Of tobacco wrought further
havoc upon his tired nerves.
The natural result was a dream IN
WHICH ne NlFl1lN saw ANA, SWaIned n
bandages. alternately calling TO him and
begging the attendants not TO let him
know her peril lest il interfere with the
consUmmation Of his plans.
It was clear that in her longing for him
her spirit projected itself through space
and that same self-deniaI which had led
her 20 keep back the news Of her danger
led her 70 give the old familiar greeting
and farewell Her spirit must be in the
room
On the way TO the Office he telegraphed
her that he knew something must be
wrong. and that unless he received def
mite information at once he would leave
or the next train.
The answer was n dual one In addi-
ton 10 = long telegram, his Chum, Ben
Bradley. put IN an appearance Bradley
fenced fer a while with small talk. but
at last he came 10 the point
DO you feel all right. old man7'' he
asked, anxiously. I had a wire from
your wife She seemed TO think some
thing was wrong
7 am an right" said Semple YEARLY
I've been nervous and displrited. and
I got imagining things, guess
He could not tell even Bradley what he
feared, but he was az last convinced that
all was well with Aida, and he was con-
tent
Bradley turned up after Office hours
that evening and carried him of to din
ner. Mrs. Bradley is visiting friends il
the country to-day" he explained. anu
need company. III come around to
your apartments afterward and well