The Press., 1909-07-28
WHEN HE
 HUSTLED.
By Abbse F. Ransom.

She stood by the window watching the retreating figure of the young man, too much absorbed to notice the en- trance of her father until Ae was by her side. Without speaking she leaned her arm upon his shoulder and thus they watched until the young man was no longer in sight. Then her father | spoke:
 "It won't do, Elsie. You've got to tell him said so. He isn't the one."
 The hand which had been caressing his hair was thrown out with lndig- nant protest and the girl faced him, pained surprise in every curve of the dainty lips.
 'Whats wrong, fatherP' she de- manded. Why haven't you said that before P'
 The gray eyes gazing into her own held far more kindness than his words. They were full of stern decision.
 Because I haven't been sure. Now I am. Fred Denton can never support a wife, He isn't able to now, and he never will be. You've got to call 1t | off,
 But father" she began.
 ''Ttss no use, Elsie," he interrupted. ''It isn't in him. A young man to sue ceed nowadays must get out and hus- tie, and that's something Fred Denton will never do. He spends his time in his office reading, reading, reading, and that never brought patient to a doctor yet.
 "Why, the other night there was an accident at Cedar Glens. Kensett was mixed up in 1t. Had drunken chauf feur, and the whole car came precious near going over the cliff. Would have gone if 1t hadn't been for a young med, who understood sprinting and who saved 1t in the nick of time.
 "As 1t was. Kensett got off with a broken collar bone, friend of his came home with a smashed hand, and-well, you read 1t in the papers. That saw bones Is fixed for life just because he happened to be on the spot and knew what to do and how to do it. But it wasn't Denton. He was in his office reading up the microbes of leprosy or some other outlandiSh disease"
 Fred was just telling me-" began Elsie, when her father cut her short.
 'Then, too, he had a little money in one of the banks. Where's that? He wasn't content to let 1t stay where 1t was. He asked me what 1 thought about Aurora stocks, and I told him they weren't worth the matches to burn 'em, but he invested in them. Where are they now? Whew! Now
 
 Father. If you would only listen"-
 'LiSten to what? The same old story of love in a fiat and your $500 a year? I've got a deal on hand and won't be home before tomorrow night. In the meantime you just give me that ring on your finger and I'll return 1t to Fred Denton, NJ. D.
 Slowly his daughter drew off the ring. a curious expression growing in her eyes, one which her father was quick to observe.
 "See here, Elsie,' he said as he took 1t from her. 'I want you to promise that if he calls you won't see him until I give you permission; that is, if I ever do.'' .-------------
 'You are very unjust, father; if you would only listen"-
 i've waited too long already" he re- sponded, starting off. "Mind your promise, Elsie; there isn't to be any more of this nonsense.''
 Perhaps there'll be more instead of less," she murmured as the door closed stairs to her room with a tread as full of decision as his tones had been.
 It didn't take long for her to reap pear dressed for the street, and fifteen minutes later she surprised a certain young man who was very busily en- gagged doing nothing at all in a pleas antly furnished office of a downtown business block.
 "He wouldn't give me a chance to say a single word," she concluded in- dignantly.
 into her flushed face. There was no trace of the Respondent lover about him.
 "We won't try to explain" he said. Suppose you take this trip to New York with me this morning? You look very bride-y," he answered. "White dress, white hat, white shoes and gloves. Really, Elsie, one would al- most believe that you had dressed pur- posely for wedding trip"
 "Fred Denton, you don't believe"- she paused, crimson to the very ears. Then she added irrelevantly:
 Father ran away with mother; I've heard him tell about it time and time again.
 Come on," Denton cried.
 Tt doesn't seem right, Fred. Father has always been the kindest, the best father in existence, and he is doing this just because he loves me.'
 That's just the reason we're doing what we are" was his ready response Come, dear, we haven't a moment to lose. You go to the Wilson avenue sta tion and take the train from there, while I'll trolley it to WoodIawn and get on board at that place. Then no one will see us together until after we leave the city and we are all o. K."
 4 ten minutes wait for the New York express Is time altogether inad- equate for repentance and home going. Besides, there was the danger of dis covery, and no one of Elsie Kingston's ever fiinched when danger was in the air.
 Then there was her ticket to buy, her seat to secure and the ten minutes had come and gone before she thought of looking for friend or foe in that crowded railway car. At Woodlawn station she saw Fred Denton swing himself upon the plat form of the smoker, but the city streets were far behind them, and the train was speeding fast through the country meadows before he joined her. When | he did, he held in his hand a little l clrclet of gold whose center held very | familiar diamond. Slipping into the | seat beside her, he said: Better put this upon your finger. | It's been away from It's place too long | . alroadvB