The Democratic advocate., 1908-11-27

son." observed Maurer calmly. 'Une
day she looks like the real thing, and
then ar~in she looks utterly common
place. Funny you can only rave about
her on one of her unintsresting days
I suppose that from now on you'll be
drawing brunette dwarfs, no matter
what sort Of heroines the author likes.
You'll lose your pull with the publish
ers If you keep that sort of thing up.
Better see a doctor about it."
you'd better see an Oculist yourself
if your eyes are so dull to real lowell
ness" retorted Ned. "When you have
finished your breakfast let me know,
and I'll come and get mine. The lease
here runs out at the end Of this month
guess won't renew my share, Maui
rer. Better get some one else"
think I'll move, too," assented
Maurer. II don't want to stay here
with a female freak like that living
across the way. I'll stop at the Office
on the way out and tell them to look
for another tenant"
He went out to a lonely breakfast,
and when he had gone Bellington
came out to play with the cold chops
and the lukewarm coffee. He did not
20 to the drawing board in spite of
the splendid inspiration of the girl
across the way.
He was tremendously fond Of Maui
rer, and this abrupt termination OF
their friendship, coming as it had, un-
settled him for work. He could only
puff at his pipe and wonder what 1t
would be like to set up housekeeping
alone in a smaller apartment. He
would take an apartment in the same
house to be near the girl, but he would
need only one room.
Maurer paid the larger share OF the
Joint rental. He was making more
money and insisted that he would pay
as much were he alone. Ned had ap-
preciated his kindness, and when he
did not look at the girl he reproached
himself for his new ingratitude.
But when he saw the little brown
head and the delicate profile through
the window opposite he told himself
that an unseeing brute like Maurer did
not deserve sympathy.
The luncheon came up and was sent
back untasted, and the afternoon shad-
ows grew into dusk, and still Ned sat
and smoked and thought.
The girl was gone now, but he could
still fancy that she was there, and he
was so absorbed with his thoughts
that he did not hear the key turn in
the lock, and not until Maurer burst
In with q whoop that ratified the
shades on the electric globes did he
rouse himself.
"We're both right, old man." shouted
Maurer as he dragged Ned from his
chair and forced him to participate in
an impromptu war dance about the
tiny parlor. ''The prettiest girl in the
world lives across the way, but your
prettiest girl is not my prettiest girl,
thank heaven! There are two of 'em,
old man, yours and mine-at least
they're going to be yours and mine, /
hope"
He sank into a chair.
'T'm taking care of GOrdon's clients
while he's in Europe, and a Mrs. Fos-
ter sent for me today to consult about
some real estate deal. That's where
my prettiest girl went! They're twins,
Alice and Phoebe Bayard, and they're
Mrs. Fosters nieces She's an invalid.
and they take turns living with her.
She says it's too much of strain to
have them both there at once and to
try to tell which is which. That's why
sometimes it was my prettiest girl
and sometimes it was the one you
liked. We made the mistake Of think
ing that there was only one. The old
lady's going to Europe with a trained
nurse for keeps It's good thing that
we gave up this apartment Well
need two, and they won't be in bache-
lor halls either"
Ned grasped his friends hand in his
own. "There's only one prettiest girl"
he declar, l. "but yours isn't common
place" And with that concession Mau-
rer was content