Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-29
CHAPTER XIII.

together. and she was dropping him at
his club. on the way to her dressmaker's.
Suddenly he felt her fingers grasp his
arm. She shrank back into the farther
corner Of the cab.
"Sit as you are" she said, quickly.
Don't look. 1t is Ambrose. He must
not see me-
Despite her entreaty, his eyes wandered
up the narrow turning. guided thereto by
the Jingle of the cracked piano. 1t was
indeed Ambrose who sat there playing.
Chicot with him. but no one else. There
were no listeners. nor was there sign OF
any. Ambrose played with bent head.
looking neither to the left nor to the
right. Chicot looked everywhere. waving
his little hat In his hand. but there was
no one to whom to offer 1t.
ibid he see us do you Think she
| gasped. when the cab was safely by.
II should imagine not he answered.
| HE seemed to be looking down at his in
strument all the time
| She drew little breath Of relief. His
face. however, remained grave. .
Your late partner" he remarked,
seems to have fallen upon evil times.
| He looks half starved
She shrugged her shoulders. He earns
enough for himself" she answered. He
| eats nothing. He only smokes"
II suppose he said, after a moments
neS1CatlON, uOeSn occur TO you u
| send him money? He was your partner
once. wasn't hep
"If he knew where it was FROM she
answered. carelessly, "he would not take
1t. He can look after himself quite we'll. +"
Hannaway was suddenly serious. 1t
| was not the first time that he had no.
ticed in her this marvellous selhshness.
which seemed to take no account what
ever of the feelings sufferings OF
others.
.ue IonLc oldar he rav,orkod aY s,,s
pect he misses you"
YES" she answered. HE would miss
me very much. l am sure Of that"
'Have you written him at ALL" Han
| naway asked, ''since you Disappeared"
She shook her head. What would be
the use? 1t would only unsettle him. He
would not approve Of what 1 have done,
and whatever he said would make no
difference. Tell me, do you think he saw
me-"
Hannaway shook his head. NO" he
answered. II was watching him all the
| time. He did not even look up. l don't
think you need be afraid"
She was unconscious of the slight note
of sarcasm which quivered underneath
| his words. She was apparently too much
wrapped up in her own thoughts and
| fears. The cab pulled up suddenly at the
| door of his club.
Don't go in she said, pleadingly.
| Drive home with me. I will give you
| some tea presently. 1 don't want to go
to my dressmaker. I am tired of
| clothes"
He shook his head, treating her words
| lightly. What a heresy!' he declared.
II am sorry but although you may not
| believe it. I really have some business
! to attend to this afternoon. You are
| dining with me tomorrow evening. you
know"
| She hesitated. 81 am not sure that
can she said. slowly.
He looked at her quickly. 1t was the
| first time she had hesitated to accept an
| Invitation from him.
Tomorrow night" she said, Il believe
| that I am engaged
| He waited for a moment. believing
rightly that she would tell him more.
81 think that ! am dining with Lord
| dillingham; she said HE comes home
| tonight from abroad
Hannaway lifted his hat gravely. Il
| had forgotten he said. 'Good-bye: /
| shall see you again soon. Of course.
Where shall tell the cabman?'
Sixteen Hanover street." she answered.
without looking at him.
Hannaway watched the cab drive off, but
he did not at once enter his club. In
back along the way by which they had
driven. Soon he came to the corner
where Ambrose had been playing. He
was still there. still alone. He had closed
the piano, as though in the act of moving
off. Hannaway slowly approached him.
"You see,' he remarked. my skull was
too thick to crack.
Ambrose looked at him quickly. His
face darkened, his eyes narrowed with
anger. Il am sorry" he answered. II
wish that you had never moved again
from the place where you fell
Hannaway laughed softly. What
have done?' he asked
Ambrose's fingers suddenly caught the
arm of his coat. ut was you.' he said,
who sent her that note. Tell me the
truth 1t was you who sent her to Vic
toria station that morning."
What of it," HannaWay answered.
You must remember that l am not alto
gether a stranger. 1t was not difficult
for me to guess whom you were seek
ing when l saw you in London. How
could L tell that I was not doing you
both a good turn?''
IF my curses can repay YOU for It,
Ambrose said, you have them, never
fear. morning and night"
'She went Them Hannaway asked.
"She went" Ambrose answered. land
I have not seen her since. Tell me-" he
of voice. Perhaps you have seen her.
Perhaps you know where she is. Tell
me-" he persisted. do you know?"
IF 1 did," Hannaway answered, why
should I tell you? What do you want
with herr
What do I want with her?' the dwarf
repeated, looking away. MY God! What
do l want with her? Yes, l suppose that
Is how 1t must seem 10 you. want 10
see her If she is happy, / want to see
that she is happy. If she is well cared
for. / want to see her we'll cared for
What you really want. l suppose"
Hannaway remarked, a little brutally.
lis to share In her good fortune, II she
has found it,
If look could have killed him Han
naway would have been struck dead on
the spot. The eyes which shone beneath
those bushy eyebrows were red with fire.
Ambrose took up the handles of his bar
row and turned away without a word.
Hannaway felt not altogether satisfied
with himself.
Listen" he said. Il didn't mean to
say anything offensive. 1t certainly was
wretched life for her, tramping the
streets with you. You can't be sorry If
she has found something better
HAS she found anything better? Am
brose demanded. Tell me. Tell me
where she Is. If I believed you know"
he muttered, Il would drag the words
out of your throat
Hannaway shook his head. IF she had
wished YOU to know he said. 'she could
have found you out, I suppose"
Ambrose shook his head sadly. She
was always he said "a little thought
less about others. She was only young,
and she was not used to such hardships
as we had to face. And yet j did my
best for her. She never really knew
what 1t was to be hungry. I managed
that somehow l did my best. She had
the little things she liked whenever /
could get them for her. Chicot and l
starved often, but we were strong, We
could bear it,
'Tell me-" Hannaway asked, "how do