The Washington herald., 1908-03-15
CHAPTER XIX.
rhe Mnn Who Lored.

Ine wan " nO
A few nights later Max Barclay was
seated In the stalls Of the Empire Thea
ter with Marion.
They never went TO the legitimate thea
ter. because she had no evening dress.
Even TO be seen in one would have caused
comment among her fellow-employes at
| Cunnington-s. The girls were never very
charitable TO each other for in the per-
nicious system of living in" there is no
privacy or home life. no sense of re-
sponsibIlity or of freedom.
The average London shop girl has but
little leisure and little rest ChronicaIly
overtired. she cares little 10 go out OF
an evening after the long shop hours.
and looks forward 10 Sunday as the day
twhen she can read in bed till noon II she
| chooses, snooZe again IN the afternoon.
! and perhaps go to a cafe in the evening.
IL was so with Marion The sales were
on. and there were '-spIfrs" or premiums,
placed by Mr.. Warner upon some out-of-
date goods which ii was every girls OBJ
ject 10 sell and thus earn the commits
sion. SO she was yyOrking very hard.
and already held quite a respectable num-
Der of tickets representing Splits"
In a dark blue skirt white silk blouse,
/ and black hat. she looked extremely pref
~ and modest as she sat beside her
lover in the second row Of stalls watch
! ing the ballet with its tuneful music,
! clever groupings. and phantasmagoria
OF color. She glanced at the watch upon
her wrist. and saw that It was nearly 10
O'Clock. In half an hour she would have
TO be in"
The bondage of his well-beloved CALLED
Max, yet he could say nothing Her life
was the same as that Of a hundred thou
! sand cir IN, I Id
| she not far better OF than those poor
girls who came up from their country
homes to serve a year or two's drudgery
without payment in order to learn the
! art and mystery OF serving a customer"
girls who were orphans and without
funds. and who very soon found the
actual necessity of having a little pocket
money for dress and for something with
which 10 relish the stale bread and but
ter dOled out 20 them.
The public have never yet adequately
realized the hardships and tyranny Of
| shop life. where man is but mere ma
chine. liable 10 get the sack az mo-
ment's notice. and where woman Is but
an in-fed overworked drudge liable AZ
any moment 10 be thrown out penniless
upon the great world Of London
Some day ere long the revelation viii
come There are certain big houses in
London with pious shareholders and go
tO-meeting directors which will earn the
opprobrium of the whole British public
when the naked truth regarding their
female assistants is exposed In the
trade 1t is known. and one day there will
arise a man bolder and more fearless
than the rest, who will speak the truth.
and, moreover, prove Il.
II In the meantime you want to know
the truth concerning shop-life. ask the
director OF any OF the numerous rescue
societies in London What you WI be
told will. I assure you. open your eyes.
The couple of hours Max had spent with
Marion proved delightful ones. as they
always we're PTOmenading in the lounge
above We're many men-about-town whom
| he knew, and who. seeing him with the
understanding girl, smiled knowingly.
They never guessed the truth-that he
loved her and intended TO make her his
wife.
Charlie IS back from Glasgow" she
was saying He came to the shop this
afternoon to ask II I had seen you. and
70 explain how the other night he. by a
most fortunate circumstance, missed the
Continental train, for next morning Mr..
Statham wanted him to do some very
| important business, and was delighted 20
md that he had not left Another man
has gone out TO the East"
IF be wanted to know yny movements
he might have called at Dover street"
Max remarked thOughtfuIly the recoIIec-
ton Of that night in Cromwell road aris-
ing within him.
He seemed very busy. and said he had
not a moment to spare. He was prob
ably going north again. They have. he
told me, some big order from Italy at the
locomotive works
|
out him." remarked Max Nowadays,
however, he seems always travelling"
He's awfully kind to me-gave me a
s5 note this afternoon"
What did ne say about me?" inquired
Max
'Oh. nothing very much He asked me.
among other things, whether I knew
where you were on the night OF the dis
appearance Of the doctor and his daugh-
ter"
Max started
And what did you reply?"
That hadn't the slightest idea.
never saw you that evening" was the
girls frank response.
Her lover nodded thoughtfully It was
plain that Charlie suspected that he had
detected him leaving the house. and was
lendeavOring 10 either confirm his sus-
piciOn or dismiss it.
did he tell you to-day where he was
going?''
Back to Glasgow, I beHeve-but only
for two days"
Max was seated at the end of the sec
ond row of stalls. and beyond Marion
were three or four vacant seats. At this
juncture their conversation was inter-
rupted by a man in well-cut evening
dress, his crush hat beneath his arms.
advancing down the gangway and putting
his hand out heartily to Max. excaiming:
My dear Barclay. Excuse me. but 1
want very much a few words with you
tonight, on a matter of great impor-
tance- Then, glancing at Marion. he
added: Il trust that Mademoiselle will
forgive this intrusion?"
The girl glanced at the newcomer, while
her lover taking the mans hand, said:
My dear Adam. l. too. wanted 10 see
I you, and intended to call tomorrow.
You are not intruding in the least Here's
a seat. Allow me to introduce Miss
Rolfe-Mr- Jean Adam"
The man OF double personality bowed
again, and passing Marion and her lover.
seated himself al her side. commencing
to chat merrily. and explaining that he
had recognized Max from the circle above
He had. it appeared. been to Dover street
an hour before and Maxs man had told
him where his master was spending the
evening.
Marion rather liked him Max had
already told her OF this Frenchman who
spoke English so well. and with whom he
was doing business. In his speech he had
the air and polish OF the true cosrno
politan. and he also possessed a keen
sense Of humor
! Presently Marion oIancine AGAIN a. 10,