The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-06
CHAPTER Xxx.


= RAffAM in the flush of enthusiasm
" aroused by Hilda's appeal would
have started upon his campaign at once.
That is, he would have set Hiida to
work hunting up ammunition Ia the way
of citations and references; for ne him
self had a more urgent affair on hand
at the moment. he must see Gladys
without delay and seek better UNI
derstanding of her maccountable at
Therefore, hurriedIy penciIing
memorandum upon a sheet of paper
ne handed it over to the girl.
Just brief out that point for me
this afternoon, viii you, Hllda? And
if am not back by the time you have
finished you can lay it on my desk. /
am going out now but, even II
don't get back before closing time, l
shall come down this evening and
can look over it then
But Hilda quietly demurred. SIX
c1se me, Mr.. Graham" she said, but
cant Edgar attend to that? / was just
about to ask you II couldn't get on
for the rest of the afternoon
Robert frowned: the request was
/ certainly most inopportune. Stil, he
couldn't very well object it was SO
! seldom she asked TO be. let of, ana
/ land knows how many times she had
remained overtime 20 help him out
"Oh, very WeN,' he therefore said,
not altogether grac1ously. NO, / shall
pOr-ant to trust TO anybody else in
| the office except yourself. II you
really must go Enls afternoon, why
( il viii simply have 10 AIT until
Win that he threw, the paper down
upon his desk, caught up his nat and
coat, and with curt good-by. bang
HilGa stood gazing after him a
minute with peculiar smile upon
her lips-a smile at once amused and
yet tenderly Wisttul, almost the smile
with which a mother would nave
given her sul6y, headstrong boy
Then her face became grave with
purpose, and turning with sign, she
straIghtened out his desk and her
own. put on her hat and jacket. and
! likewise left the office.
With the purpose still evident upon
her face. she hurried across city hall
and took car for Twenty-thtrd street
Merely a shopping expedition on her
Fart one might have supposed II tneh,
the purpose she showed being nothing
more than a feminine determination not
/ to be late in examining an advertised
/ bargain at one of the big department
( Sui at Twenty-second street she
| glanced at the clock in front OF the old
/ Fifth Avenue Hotel and hastened
! northward on the avenue.
2 Meanwhile, Graham, having taken the
/ Third avenue L" uptown. was already
at the COrletts.
/ door that Miss Gladys was out, but,
| being a wise butler IN mis- generation
! and mindful Of Grahams extremely I'D
/ eral views in regard TO tips, had &C
] COMMANDED the information with the sot-
/ to voce remark that she might De found
I in the library
/ There. accordingly, Robert found her
/ cl.rled up in a big leather chair, very
distressed and disconsolate looking
/ heroine. dabbing at her eyes vita a
/ snail. wet bah OF a handkerchief.
/ she gave a startled exclamation as
! he cared, and would have ned In q
panic from the room, but ne causht
I and held her fast. 80
/ There there he struggled with her.
! did YOU think I was going 10 ne kept
/ out OF The house on such q nimsy e&-
I cuse. or that If you had been reall !
j ont I wouldn't have camped here until
I 7 saw YOU, no matter If II kept n 7
, until next week.
( He drew her Ilasterfully down on q
sofa beside him. NOW tell me what ali
mis- Is about2'' ne demanded.
But the only answer ne got was :
fresh outburst of sobs and persistent
effort TO wrench herself free from ms
restraining hand ~,
! Graham tried a new tack. w nat dld
Warwick say to you last niSht!' ne
She gave q slight sralt, and glanced
II up al him. her dark eyes widening ap-
Iprehensively-
"Oh. I know that he vas here. all
right Now. want 10 learn what the
sneakiag cur had TO say that mas go'
Won So upset and unlike yourself"
There was no answer. though. she