Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1909-03-04


Ing their own affairs to interfere with
mine"
A few moments later, swathed in a
long dark coat that fitted closely and
hid the folds of her dinner gown, Miss
Grayson hailed crosstown car. 1t
was a cloudy evening that threatened
rain, and before she reached her des-
tination the storm broke wildly, the
great drops falling in gusts against the
car windows. The corner at which
Miss Grayson alighted was utterly de-
serted. Pale CLEANS from half opened
tenement shutters and the dim, nurky
yellow of the street lamps were reflect
ed in the streaming cutters and the
sidewalks miniature pools. Miss Gray
son splashed briskly ahead. looking
neither to the right nor to the left,
till she neared her own abode and
turned her head to glance in the win
dows. The partition of what had once
been narrow hall had been removed,
and the whole was turned into a spa
cious sitting room. The embers of
half spent CRATE fire threw softened
color over books and pictures, and the
dark, thin face of little Tessa, who
was seated on the hearth rug.
"Well, Tessa," called Miss Grayson,
opening the door and pausing mo-
ment to wrest the key from the reluc-
tant lock, did you sit up for me?
And where's Miss Elliston?'
But Tessa's slow, sweet voice was
checked midway in reply, for of a
sudden Miss Grayson was thrust vio-
lently into the room, and the half
opened door was closed behind her.
Against it leaned the threatening fig
ure of Grinaldo, his lips in an ugly line.
"What. do you mean by breaking in
like this y demanded Miss Grayson,
sternly quiet, though pulse beat hur-
riedly in her throat.
Grinaldo fixed his narrow eyes on
her. Angry red surged under the
brownish pallor of his skin. She had
taken his daughter, he said, his daugh-
ter who earned for him. Now he had
come to fetch Tessa away She would
not be found a second time.
Tessa was staring at window at
the other end of the room as If she
did not hear Grinaldo's words, but
Miss Grayson's eyes were on the thin,
keen knife that 1ickered in his hand.
IF the lady screama or Gala the
police, I strika now" said Grinaldo
softly, with threatening gesture.
"Oh, no you don'tv' cried Branton
Ridgely, crashing in the window with
his walking stick and vaulting over
the sill with the jump that had won
him a medal at college. Beyond We're
the amberlike lamps of his waiting
hanson, the cabman whistling shrilly
for the police. Miss Grayson saw as
through a maze the things that fol-
lowed, Ridgely's arm striking out and
Grinaldo sprawling. She heard Tes-
sa's cry of relief, the startled voice of
Miss Elliston, who. panic stricken, was
descending the stairs. Lastly came the
police. 1t was Ridgely who told them
the necessary details; it was Ridgely
who Gained the excited Miss Elliston
and half hysterieal Tessa; it was
Ridgely who came to Miss Grayson
when 1t was all over with a fervent
Thank heaven, was in time"
How did you know
s'Why, after you were gone felt
premonition, so I took cab and fol-
lowed"
Miss Elliston had discraetly turned
her back. Miss Grayson lifted bunch
of violets from a bowl on the table
and held them out to him.
INSTEAD of laurels," she began trem-
ulously.
81 couldn't-I can't-you see-that isl
= stammered Ridgely, coloring to the
roots of his hair.
Their eyes met.
"Oh," cried Miss Grayson, with a
deep breath, ''then it was you who sent
them! And the money too"
"But the initials?'' she questioned,
perplexedly after moments silence.
"Stand for Earnest Trifer,'" he said
lightly 81 thought I'd like to help,
but I'm pretty much of thick headed
blunderbuss and didn't quite know
how. You see, a trifier wouldn't stand
much of chance with you, would he,
Miss Grayson"
Gan earnest trifier would" she an
swered, looking down at the violets
she still held in her hand.
"Really?" cried Ridgely, with de-
light. half boyish in its impetuosity.
Eyes, really" said Miss Eleanor
Grayson in tone that made Ridgely's
heart skip at least three beats.