Evening star., 1909-04-11

II which had increased ste
uAA AAs-3 in violence since oC
His hat was hang ring Oh
back of his head and his overcoat collar was tt
up about his ears Keen. quick and clear Gu
features showed handsomely in profile. He
the popular member Of the firm among his att
clientele
Looks like a blizzard, said the clerk, runlm
in pasteboard letter holder
Sure. The midnight train is sure to be {
stalled or delayed and can go Saturday ~
we'll don't care to sit up for hours IN a snowb;
Then he turned suddenly to the clerk. Say
anybody from Selvigs been in to-day. he ask
You mean about the Dreimont will case!
Yes By the way young Drelmont spoke Y
day, rather expect he's getting ready to cor
mise He's fool if he doesn't; and bigger f
expect me to show him the will, too
Nobody been in, said the clerk laconlca
Van Asten went out and plowed his way TIN
rising drifts to the subway station. BY six Q clio
was at the Gavel Club, and by eight had fnishe
dinner. Several games of pool, long talk W
visiting Englishman, peruSal of the French
papers, and convlvlal gossip with late comers
the theaters full Of tales of the storm, kept him
and cheerful till midnight Then, as the clock ST
he put on his things and went out.
There were few abroad at this hour, and not
riage or an automobile in sight. The street car
had given up trying to keep the tracks clear. a
came across one darkened car abandoned III the
He had to fight his way home struggling
through drifts waist high 1t was daathly
quiet except for the sound of the wind.
HE reached his apartment house at last,
A. and stamping and shaking himself,
climbed four flights OF stairs, the elevator
being out of order At his door he stopped,
surprised Under the door there was thin
streak of light.
Van Asten's firm was still too Young to
enable him to live in the style he had been
used to before going into business. His
+aJr r,f II, f1,,r
large, L-shaped studio, bedroom, and,
off the entrance hall on one side bath
room, and the other kitchenet. A
woman came In every morning 10 clean
up the place; except for that he was alone.
He distinctly remembered that no light
had been left burning, as he had left the
place at ten o'clock that morning. What,
then could the light mean? No one save
the jantor had key to the place His
thought went naturally to burglars. He
heSitated for some moments, wondering
what to do. 1t was late to summon the
ianitor for assistance and he would appear
foolish if nothing serious had happened.
He determined to investigate alone, and,
prepared for an immediate struggle, he put
his key quietly into the door and turned the
latch. The door opened without noise, and
he could see through the one opposite into
the long studio.
There a woman in chinchla furs stood
with her back to him, beside the great table
She was bending over, as II taking some
thing from bag.
The tension of suspense that had knotted
Van Asten's muscles and nerves gave way to
alittle laugh The romance of the encounter
amused him vaguely, though his curiosity
was doubly alert. He took step forward.
At the sound of his footsteps the woman
looked round quickly, and for minute
stood staring at him with an expression of
alarm. Her hand went to her heart. She
was a beautiful woman of twenty-three.
dressed with elegance. She was vivid
blonde, with masses of heavy yellow hair,
blue eyes, and slender hands. For single
moment she stood there. immobile; then,
to Van Astens amazement, she ran for
ward and threw her arms about his neck
and pressed her lips to his cheek.
oh, Paul I'm SO glad you've come
l didn't know what to do! | afraid