New-York tribune., 1909-06-06

crate faith IN my luck but more from Ihe way
he looked at her
How did he look at her:
This way
But Valeska, seeing too well what was in his
eyes turned away her own Well, I'll read
the book" She remarked. leaving.
And I'll read the letters again.
THERE were VaIcska found, three gra-
Giles % one imp, and Two uuanCcS IN
Askcrson's novel. In connection with their
recurrence IN the letters. the Culuottcucc might
mean anything or nothing hat was more
important was to pct Il sample ot Askcr-pu
tvpewriting, and To- this end Nalc~sa IN the
guise Of a stcnographcr N search 81 "'TN-
visited him
She found Askcrson to b., the tarthc-t re-
moved from her prccouceived lica ut @ novelist
He was a short round and chubby ~crapHi,
looking Young man, with hight curly har anu
the mIcn of a prcfcrnatuTaAE solemn eaiIi
His carncStuess seemed absurd mlrI IurTtIiilS
in this juvenile guI-c. but once that neon
sistcucv was forgotten. under the spell oI hl0
mental power she found him "a most interesting
man lie was IN the midst uf ms work dressed
m a pink silk shirt and white duck trousers. ms
hair a mass of light wavy locks over ms eyes,
smoking "a brJcr p'pe
He assured her that though hc would Ike 20
employ a secretary DEE could not afford 70. he
sides, he was engaged m dramarz'ne he
Gucrdou. and had To- work II put hrfusei ON
ms machine inch bv inch Tie had o. refuse
her request but seemed willing 90 talk
NaIcska had prepared for the interview by
reading everything Of Askcr5pn~ that she
could find Among other books She had dis
covered a slim book OF poems. privately printed
during his college days As a last resort She
used tins. hoping 20 play upon the vanity OF the
poet IN h.m
u heard a girl once rccitc one of your poems.
Sea Magic. ! think It was called DO YOU
know where / could get a copy Of II
He seemed pleased " didu' . know anyone
remembered that verse. he saIi. Its one ri
my tavortc, II vou u wait / II see II | can re-
member 70. I'll typcwrIte n for YOU. Il YOU
like He sat down 90 his machine. pucSered
ms hrows. and began 10 write He paused once
IN awhile IN search OF phrase which he usually
found by a hard glare At the ceiling. and finally
finished it and presented her with the sheet
"Whl YOU mind signing IT" She asked TIM
rdIv
fIc put his name and a flourish at the bottom
She could scarcely wait till she was in the car
10 examine the printing. The small O's regis
tered a little below the lines. but the capital
N's true
Astro shrugged his shoulders when he saw it.
and pointed silently with the stem of his mar
Chile to the word gracie IN the last stanza
TWO days after that a hasty summons came
from Stellcry over the telephone. at four IN
the afternoon II wished Astro to come I'M
mediatcv 10 the house. but did not care To tell.
over the wire. why he needed
Astrp took taNlCab and went up town m
mcdiatev He found the broker IN his den,
writing at big table covered with sheets Of
paper On smaller table stood his typewriter,
4 sheet. half written, sticking from the roller
Steery looked up with a worried expression
" Take a seat" he said. Il want your advice.
or, rather, your help Things have come TO
crisis Brush those papers on the floor any
where.
AS AStro sat down he noticed a waste paper
basket behind him. little to the left. As he
seated himself he pushed his chair back a foot
or So, so that the basket was within easy reach.
Stelery took a letter from his pocket and
passed it over. Here what came Yesterday
he said
Astro opened It and read
." simply can't wait any longer | must see
youl You must know, by this time, how madlv
am in love with you. | don't dare speak 10
you face to face unless receive some encour-
agement But | want 10 end this suspense I'M
mediatcly and know my fate Will YOU meet
me tomorrow afternoon. at SIX o'clock At the
prescription counter of the Times Square drug
store, If YOU be there and VIII let me speak
20 you for only five minutes, please leave a can
die lighted in the window Of your room tonight
between ten and eleven O'Clock
Well, did she light the signal2' said Astro.
handing back the letter
I'll. v,..slr 4 4 L..