Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-26
CHAPTER XVIII.


Good evening, Mrs O'Brien."
Good evenin, Mister Crawford she
answered.
Timid embarrassed and In evident dis
tress. she stood near the door.
Come in Won't you take a seat?" he
asked.
Mrs OBrien seated herself dif1dently
on the edge of the chair nearest to her.
The assurance that the ancient Paisley
shawl and black silk dress had impaired
| to her had entirely abandoned her.
Thank YOU sor. OF hope yell pardon
the intrusion" she said, her voice Quaver-
ing.
Intrusion! Oh. it's no intrusion. L as
sure YOU" he said. encourag1ngly. He
felt that this time his task of getting rid
of his caller would be an easy one.
"Of'm in great trouble, Mister Craw-
ford" she informed him. 3
."Yes?" he answered, interrogatively.
"Oive had a tirrible freight l can't
foind trace av me girls. We came up
from Maple Grove intindin' to surproise
them. an they amt there"
Dear me! How's that. I wonder!
"Oi doant know, an OF doant know
phwat to do"
Can l be of any assistance to you?"
"Yfs. That is. Owe somethin' to ask
| offinse at an old woman. sor."
''Of course I'll not take offense. Go
! ahead
He seated himself to listen.
DO yeZ know ought of me Nora?
Crawford looked puzzled.
II don't understand" he said.
Mallory was here just now, wasn't
| he?"
Yer was here whin O'Brien till
| phoned?"
Yes. He said you didn't recognize
your daughters on the stage"
They wasn't there. OF was so skeered OF
couldn't wait for Danny. so O'Brien an
| me found our way to the back door OF
the theater. thinkn' they might be In
| their dressin' rooms.
And weren't they?"
"The man there wouldn't let us in. but
Oh raised SIGH shindy that they had to
| take notice av us. Somebody sent down
an iligant lady. Miss Simpson She said
they didn't know where Patsy was. but
| that maybe Nora had gone toto Craw-
ford's. She gave me the address. First
we whit to the place where they live.
| There was no one there. Thin O.Brien
was for comm here with me. but he's
| hasty. an OF thought he moght offend
you. so OF told him to walt at the theater
| for Danny"
We'll" said Crawford. rising to signify
| that the interview was at an end. I'm
sorry l am unable to give you any assist
| ance. but if you can think of any way
| in which l can be of service to you,
| why. l shall be very glad to do what
| can. Mrs. OBrien Good evening"
| The old woman, who had also risen.
| hesitated.
How comes my Nora's name to be
linked with yours?" she questioned. fall
teringly.
"Oh. that's merely chorus girls gossip.
! I've tried to be nice to both OF your
daughters because of my friendship to
you and O'Brien. and suppose that set
| the others talking. You mustn't take any
| notice of such things"
IT'S meant koindly. sir. Ofm sure.
| but 1t has done harm. for phwat that
| young lady told me made me ashamed
| for me darlin'. She said-she said-oh.
gone off to a spree supper with her lover
an is wurrukin' him for tips or dia-
| monds.'
The old woman redeemed with shame
| and confusion.
Crawfords worst suspicious of Nora
were confirmed beyond question by this
remark Of the Simpson woman.
I'm very sorry. Mrs. O'Brien. he said.
| reddenng also, but with annoyance. Il
meant no harm. and it's pretty tough
thing when a gentleman can't even be
polite to a girl without such things being
| sad.''
1T is, indade," she agreed AN it's
relieved OF am to foind she isn't here.
She an Patsy's off somewhere together
most loikely."
"Quite probably" he agreed. II think
you said they didn't expect you?"
''Yis. We wanted to surproise thin.
Danny sent in word at the theater. but
OF misdoubt they got IT.. ORR just be
goin' along. Thank We, Mister Crawford.
| for yir Kindness.
He shook hands with her and was es-
corting her out when the valet appeared
and annouced that Mallory was at the
door. Even as he spoke the trainer
\ anti he
room There was wrath in his eye and
an ugly expression of determination on
his face.
Il followed you. mother" he explained
| addressing Mrs. O'Brien. in loud tones
"O'Brien told me you'd come here to
| fetch Nora
"Shes not here. Danny. praise the
Lord" the old woman announced.
"Phwat dye mean. Danny?" she asked
Yes. I'd like to know what you
mean by such an intimation," said Craw-
ford, with rising choler. He did not like
his partners attitude at all.
Miss Simpson was very positive that
Nora had come to see you. and she said
things about your carryin' on with her
that if thought was true I'd"
You'd what? Miss Simpson had no
right to make any such assertions. and
If she was positive that the girl had
come here. I'm just as positive that she
has not"
| This was SdlQ WIN SuCn emphasis anu
apparent sincerity that Mallory cooled
down. but he was not satisfied.
! Then who was the woman In that
room when 1 was here before?" he de-
manded.
Crawford was astounded. How could
| Mallory have known that anybody was
in there?'
what woman" he asked. ..
1.-The woman you hid when 1 was an
nounced-the woman who. thinkin l was
gone, came out of that room while you
, were at the telephone-the woman who
skunk back again when she saw l was
still here. l saw her hand closin' the
door,
Are yez decaivin me. Mr.. Crawford?'
demanded Mrs. O'Brien. pitifully. For
the love av God don't tell me me Nora 8
there!"
II have already told you, Mrs O'Brien.
that know nothing about your daught er
that Nora's not here. Mr.. Mallory 8
talking nonsense" Crawford assured her.
Besides, If l did have a lady In there.
it's none of his business
Sure Danny. Mr.. Crawford's given you
his wurrud." she said. once more relieved.
Come away, bhoy."
Mallory, however. was man who
when once aroused could not be easily
appeased and hesitated at nothing. What
the Simpson woman had told him had
stirred him to fierce anger. and he was
determined to get at the truth regardless
of consequences. He argued that II such
things were said there must be some