Evening star., 1909-06-06

any other. yet, perhaps because | have invet-
crate faith in my luck, but more from the way
he looked at her y
How did he look at herr"
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, Valeska found, three "gra-
Giles one 'jimp, and two nuances' in
Askersons novel. In connection with their
recurrence in the letters, the coincidence might
mean anything nothing What was more
important to get a sample of ASkersons
typewritng. and to this end Valeska in the
guise of stenographer in search of work,
visited him.
She found Askerson to be the farthest re-
moved from her preconceived idea of a novelist
He a short. round. and chubby seraphlc
looking young man. with light curly hair and
the mien of a preternaturally solemn child
HIS earnestness seemed absurd masquerading
in this juvenile guise, but. once that incon-
sIStency was forgotten. under the spell OF his
mental power she found him most interesting
man He was in the midst of his work dressed
in pink silk shirt and white duck trousers his
hair mass of light wavy locks over his eyes.
smoking brier pipe
He assured her that though he would like to
employ a secretary he could not afford it Be-
sides. he engaged in dramatizing The
Guerdon.' and had to work it out himself on
his mac hine inch by inch He had to refuse
her request. but seemed willing to talk
Valeska had prepared for the interview by
could and Among other books, she had dis
covered slim book of poems. privately printed
during his college days As last resort, she
used this. hoping to play upon the vanity of the
poet IN him.
Sea Magic I think it called Do you
know where could get copy of it,"
He seemed pleased Il didn't know anyone
remembered that verse" he said Its one of
my favorites. If you'll wait, III see if l can re-
member it. I'll typewrite it for you, if you
like " He sat down to his machine, puckered
his brows. and began to write He paused once
in awhile in search Of phrase. which he usually
found by hard glare at the ceiling. and finally
finished it and presented her with the sheet
Will you mind signing it, ;" she asked tim
IDLY
He put his name and flourish at the bottom
of the page
She could scarcely wait till she was in the car
to examine the printing The small O's regis
tered little below the lines but the capital
Ms were true.
Astro shrugged his shoulders when he saw it.
and pointed silently with the stem of his mar
CHILE to the word "gracile" in the last stanza
from Stellery the telephone, at four in
the afternoon. He wished Astro to come i'm
mediately to the house but did not care to tell,
over the wire. why he was needed
Astro took taxicab and went up town inn
mediatey He found the broker in his den.
writing at big table covered with sheets of
paper On smaller table stood his typewriter.
sheet. half written. sticking from the roller
Stellery looked up with a worried expression
Take seat" he said. :" | want your advice:
or rather your help. Things have come to
crisis Brush those papers 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 foot
or SO, SO that the basket was within easy reach.
Stellery took a letter from his pocket and
passed it over Here's what came Yesterday.
he said
Astro opened it and read
Il simply can't wait any longeri must see
you You must know, by this time, how madlv
am in love with YOU don't dare speak to
YOU face to face unless | receive some encour-
agement But | want to end this suspense i'm
mediately 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'll be there and will let me speak
to YOU for only five minutes please leave a
die lighted in the window of your room tonight
between ten and eleven o'clock "
Well. did she light the signal?" said Astro.
handing back the letter
Stellery frowned and nodded See here,
you can imagine how must feel to have this
sort of thing going on" he said. And it's