Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-10-28

swiftly and silently came within an
ace Of ending her not over-happy life.
AS it was, she lay for moment
stunned and faint, and crowd gath
cred round in the miraculous manner
usual to Londoners.
1t was common accident, and the
crowd faded away when it was seen
that the girl, though bruised and
shaken, was not seriously hurt. A
policeman busy with his notebook
stood beside her, and presently the
crowd melted away, leaving Fonly
Hugh Belton looking curiously at the
girl. There was something familiar
to him in her face. apd, seeing her
look round her dazediy. he ventured
to speak to her.
II hope you are feeling none the
| worse" he said; IF you would allow
me to cnll you a cab"
You are very kind" she said,
family, but think I can walk"
But the lie was given to her words
minute later, for she swayed for
ward, and Hugh was only just in
time to catch her as she fell.
And a few minutes later Crystal
found herself in a cab, with Belton
beside her.
Don't try to move or speak," he
,, said, kindly. II will see you home
If you can give me your address pres
emily, but for the moment-rest.
You've had a nastly shock"
Crystal glanced at the man beside
her and liked his clean-sharen, earn
est face, his well-cut lips and pleas
ant eyes. Here was, at least, man
to be trusted. In few minutes she
sat up, and her hands went to her
rufied hair.
81 don't know why you are so kind
to me-" she said, but I am sure
could walk now"
"And am as sure you could not, :"
! he said. will you give me your ad-
dress, and I'll tell the cabby where
to go?"
She gave him the name of the
grimy little street where she lived in
one room, and he leant out and gave
the necessary order, then sat back
again and turned to her.
II ought to have introduced my
SELF" he said, "but there was no
time. My name is Hugh Belton, and
my trade is journalism"
"My name is Crystal Vernon, and
I'm looking for something to do"
said the girl, quite simply.
vermont" he said, slowly, "I Won
der-but, after all, everyone with the
same name is not related. I was just
wondering whether you were any kin
to-to Ambrose Vernon, who was
killed in a motor accident some
months ago?"
"He was my half-brother, and the
only friend I had," she said. And
Hugh saw again the strong arm Of
coincidence at work in his life.
your falf-brother!" he repeated.
"Yes-did you know him?"
Hugh was silent for a minute or
two. In that space of time hundred
thoughts flashed through his mind.
Ambrose Vernon's sister-in obvious
ly poor, circumstances-the only rel
ative left-the real owner of the book
which was to pour wealth into his
Golfers!
81 saw him once" he said, eyasive-
ly, "and-but tell me, Miss Vernon.
what you mean by looking for some
thing to do. Surely you are not
Obliged to do that2"
Put am" she said, with rather
a dreary little laugh. II was left
practically penniless when my step
brother died. He had always pro-
yided for me. but EMs income small
enough-died with him, and although
he had worked hard to leave me suf-
ticient in case of his death, he was
taken away before he had completed
his work. He wrote, you know, and
he had often told me OF a book on
which he was working which he con-
fldently expected would bring him not
only good deal Of money, but fame
as WE'LL
Hugh WINGED. Every word had
stabbed him. Oh, he was justly pun
ished-he had lost the hope of his
was lost to him forever,
and now here was Crystal Vernon.
penniless, friend1ess, ut the mercy
Of a hard world-all his fault!
One thing was certain--he must
make restitution of some sort to the
innocent girl who had been wronged
by his act.
It turned him faint when he dis
covered, before he left her in the
grimy lodgings which had sheltered
her since she found herself thrown
on the worlds mercy, that she had
literally not enough to afford herself
a cab or decent meal. With vague
promise of secretarial work for her
he left; but not before he had inter-
viewed the landlady, and, represent
ing himself as friend of Miss Ver-
mons family, given that good woman
to understand that Miss Vernon must
want for nothing, and that her bills.
would be literally paid.
There ensued then time of woD-
derful peace for Crystal Vernon. A
secretarial post in an editorial Office
was offered to her-through Hugh's
kind offices-and the girl learnt to
look upon the man who had be-
friended her as her best and truest