The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-06-16

dell's maid had just emerged from the
opposite room. He drew quick
breath. She was more beautiful than
be had imagined. Her hair was dark
and her eyes were dark, and there
was white spray of something in her
hair, and her eyes sparkled. Arthur
noted these interesting facts as he
gave her quick glance and he noted
too that her afternoon gown was
something soft and shimmery and al
together becoming, although he could
not have told its color-and then she
smilingly nodded and they went down
the broad stairway together.
There were many people below a"d
a large number seemed to know the
girl. She piloted Arthur through the
throng until they reached the hostess,
a stout woman with nervously effu-
| sive manner.
why, Althea," she said, this is
dear of you!"
Mrs. Abingdon" said the girl,
| ''let me present Arthur Gordon, OF
LOHuOU.
Charmed" said the hostess with
her most cordial smile. you are
Emily Telfer's cousin. She asked me
to look for you and make you ac-
quainted with somebody congenial.
But l see you are in the best of hands.
You are very fortunate to know Al
thea, Mr.. Gordon. / suppose you met
at the legation in London"
Arthur and the girl passed along
and presently found themselves lit
tie apart from the others.
81 don't know what all this MEANS"
said Arthur hopeessly. You seem to
have the advantage of me at every
point. You know my name, my busi-
ness, my intentions. All / know OF
you is that you run an electric stan
hope skillfully, that your name is AL
thea, and that you are very"
Here comes your cousin, Mr.. Cor
DON"
Emily futtered forward.
why, Arthur, thought you were
either strayed or stolenl Mamma told
Anna Truesdells man that you had
gone. How do you do, Miss Ames?"
Miss Ames!" murmured Arthur.
"Your cousin wasn't stolen, Miss
Telfer," said the girl at Arthur's side.
Although 1t amounts to the same
thing. He was Kidnapped-by me-"
Emily locked back at Arthur
"It's lovely to think you know Miss
Ames, Arthur. Why didn't you tell
me you had met abroad? 1t must be
his English blood that makes him so
reticent. But there, l want to speak
to Mrs. Abingdon
And she hurried away.
'The mystery is clearing, isn't it?"
said the girl Il am Althea Ames,
daughter of the managing director of
the Columbia Bridge Co. My father
met you in London last month and en-
gagged your services. When he came
home he told us good deal about
you. I'll admit that he aroused our
curiosity. Father knew that you
reached New York yesterday and that
you would go to your aunts home.
Business called him out of town early
this morning, but he asked me to
carry a message and an invitation to
you. If agreeable, you are to meet
him at the Sompany's Office at 10
o'clock tomorrow morning and dine
with us in the evening. When you
plunged so unceremoniously into my
stanhope, | realized there was some
mistake, but l felt sure you were the
right man as soon as you spoke. I'm
an American girl, you remember, and
admit that | enjoyed the mystification
which. after all, was very simple
one. You don't see any harm in it,
do you, Mr.. Gordon?"
He looked at the glowing face, the
dainty figure.
''Harm!" he echoed, TITS the luck
lest and finest thing tnat ever hap
pened!"