The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-03-19
CHAPTER xll.-lcontlnuedl.

| his frock coal w2S excessive IN lenSlh,
the buttons he wore were a perfect
garden, and the blue tie was an out
rage on suffering beholders.
Seeing that he was observed, this
gorgeous individual gave a cock 10 his
hat, and removing the Manila from his
~capacious mouth he advanced toward
| Judith.
"Excoose me miss, | don't want ter
be presumshus, but IL | kin direct yer
anywheres / shall be 'appy ter oblige."
Thank you: l am somewhat of a
| stranger here, and--"
1T 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 confagration that took place last
| night"
"Parding, miss?"
'The ire-the one that occurred in
Hooker's 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 Alleyi" he repeated.
yes, yes. Why does the mention Of
the place cause you so much alarm?"
Alarm, missl Oh, no. miss, 1t amt
alarm-you're much mistook there;
it's amusement, miss-pure moose
ment. II 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 confiagration, as yer calls 1t,
an 'ad ter spend seventeen on this ere
rigout-which, though money is no
objec' wiz me. is Responsive fink l
can larf."
At this statement a rush of thought
flooded Judith's brain. If this mans
statement was true he must have been
in the house when the fire occurred.
Was 1. 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 | should meet
you like this! You can do me a great
service, if you will"
Miss, yer does me proud! | hes
TEEN it 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 l arsk yer ter
ave a glarss o. wine, miss?"
mo, thank you; L."
"Yer welkim, miss, money bein' no
objec' wiv me. Oh, It do amoose me
-"
81 read an account OF the fire in the
paper, and saw the name of Cooley
West mentioned. I knew a man of
chat name some years ago when | was
living abroad, and l am anxious to
find out II he is the same. II you could
take me to the hospital L"
Miss, / shall be on'y too delighted;
you al come along wiz me. miss, an
HalbertTl e yer straight. I'll take
yer ter Their 'orspital, but IL yer'll ex.
Goose me | 'ont come In, as me conster.
tuition Is delerkit an I carn't stand
Their sights"
With an exaggerated air of polite
ness Hammond handed Judith into a
cab and gave the necessary directions.
Although feeling a 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."
"Ho! 1t did amoos me, miss: I was
a-sittin' smokin' me ceegar, an 'ayin'
a little sherry wine arter me dinner.
an old mother Crotchett comes I'D the
stairs a-carryin' a lamp; then orI Of a
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 one else there besides
this Mr.. West?"
Whether MI. Hammond was sudden
ly aroused to suspicion by this cues
ton 1t is hard to say. but he looked at
his companion curiously before he an
swered.
ANY one else, miss?"
YES; you know what I mean: where
was Mary Brent?"
She drew her bow at a venture. but
one look at Hammond told her that
her bolt had gone home.
"Mary Brent! Who--who is she.
miss?"
Don't prevaricate. I know more
than you think; tell me at once"
"ThereEthere was a young woman
called. Miss; but she-she'd gorn."
ITO Birmingham"
II think so, miss; but
me. miss. ! must get out here"
Stay where you are; l have soms-
thing else to ask you got"
S~utt:asiy, miss, anything ron like
who has got It now:"
Got 1t, miss! Got wotfs
"T6o fEmniropo DroomBW