The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-23
CHAPTER XIV.

IA where her father lay in most
I precarious condition Of health.
Il n Shirley B1oodgood and her
mother had gone to care for the strick=-
en man. The life In the open and I'M
der comparatively unconventional sur
roundings was much In the nature OF
a revelation to the New York society
woman, and the novelty of 1t all made
vivid impression on her.
1t was many months after the last
described interview between Broder-
lex and Murgatroyd that Shirley ar
rived back in her beloved New York
once more
At the station exit she hesitated as
to where she would go. as she had not
Z notified any of her friends Of her re-
/ turn. Finally she concluded to so to
F the Bellerophon, an aristocratic and
! conservative hotel. where her family
were known, and she asked the head
station porter TO summon her cab
At sight OF the unpretentious hostel
( ny, which rejoiced In the distinction OF
possessing such resounding name,
+ Shirley was conscious or variety OF
/ emotions. For Il time in the old days
it had been the fashion 10 patronize
the Bellerophon. and MurSatroyd had
been the FIRST to take her there.
/ They showed her TO her room. won
derfuliy old fashioned room without
particle of brass or glitter IN it. Even
( the bedstead was of wood. a good. sol
ii invitation TO homelike rest and
slumber.
Shirley picked up one of the papers
lying on the table. She started and
laughed guilty. name had caught
her eye-Murgatroyd. Paper after pa
per she now scanned. and ali mention
ed his name, and With Ii Invariably
was coupled another name-Thorne.
/ The Pillar the most conservative even
ing paper In the city. was holding up
its hands in reyerential hero worship.
In two column article 1t reviewed
Afurgatroyd's record from its invari-
ably impartial viewpoint. "Murgatroyd
had been clean" il said. His repu-.
tation was unsullied." 1t even re-
ferred TO the Challoner incident as
pitiful piece of falsehood which had
strengthened Murgatroyd In his posi-
ton. Shirley cried out ''Oh. what
hypocrite he is..''
/ 1t was after o'clock when Shirley
was reminded OF a sudden that she
was desperately hungry. Once In tbs
dining room. she directed her steps to
small aleove Shirley threw a glance
around the room. Palms screened her
table. making 1t impossible for her to
be seen. although 1t was perfectly easy
for her to see every one In the room.
The air of the city was full Of life
and body. 1t gave her an appetite
She enjoyed her dinner thoroughly.
and yet her thoughts wandered
III only Billy had been different
Suddenly the palms were parted. and
a fat man approached her table. On
seeing ii occupied he mumbled his sur
prise and backed out again. But while
pushing his way through the palms he
extended short arm and said:
THAT table over there, then"
The remark was made to compan-
ion. whom Shirley could not see. An
answer of appointment. however.
came In O mans voice. And the fat
man--his face was strangely familiar.
Shirley was sure.
Broderick that was the mantle
funny. vulgar politician who had been
pointed out TO her at the Chailoner
trial. Shirley wondered what man
of his stump was doing In the Beifero-
phon. Somehow he did not seem to
belong there. She noted how broad.
how terribly broad. was his back.
A But power In politics-the real
thing" she murrnured. 1t was not
surprising. she told herself. that men
Of refinement hesitated long before
going into politics II this were type
of the men they had to compete with.
Her thoughts running on IN this strain.
she determined out Of curiosity to get
glimpse Of Brodcricks companion.
The man sat facing her.
At the first giaee Shirley was star
tied. No; 1t can't be possible that
At that instant the stranger looked up
and dispeled her doubts. She was race
to face with the man who had oiled
her thoughts for the last two hours.
And 80 that Is Billy Murgatroyd"
she gasped He was different from
the man shc had pictured. And she
would have gone on indefinitely criti-
! cising his looks. but she was suddenly
interrupted by the sound Of voices. 1t
was Broderick talking. his big voice
filling the room. Shirley listened at
tentively.
Blamed good place to get away
} from the gang" he was saying. and
/ thar, r.a. n eaffsf3ad look ry, his face
as La @larcad a.ni-t I'd" rnnso.
(To Be Co-tn1ed.1