Los Angeles herald., 1910-04-24


talk, tell you!"
SO Mr.. Conway Elton suffered himself to be dragged
Truth to tell after those furtive at the
roaring, rafting trains and at the dark river, he
rather liked the sensation of being dragged along un-
tremendously like this and of feeling the girl
close to him. He made protests, when in her
hurry the umbrella almost knocked his hat OFF, and
let little tricke of raindrops down his back he
did not mind what happened And at last in the
unceremonious fashion, she literally pushed him
against the door of restaurant, and followed herself
Now, in great hurry, and in her desire to feed
a she believed to be forlorn and desperate and
starving Norah had not been careful In her choice of
a restaurant. Not that there anything against
this particular one in the sense that 1t
of those places that had long given all hope
of ever making fortune for its proprietor and had
retired into the backwaters and was very much o
its last legs. 1t stood in little side street, which
all against it; and 1t had certain antiquated no
tions and methods which also against it.
Conway Elton faced round in the dimy lighted
little place spoke the girl in urgent whisper
Look here. you know can't stand this" he said.
II haven't penny in my pockets. and can't have
you paying for my dinner The IDEAS absurd"
II insist" she exclaimed, with a little barely per-
ceptible stamp of foot. You're cold and and
hungry; it's my duty to feed you. Besides If IL
to that, I've had dinner myself. and I'm
hungry too. Please sit down; everybody will be
staring at us"
There isn't anybody to stare" he retorted looking
round at the empty tables
That literally true. Now and then a chance
dropped into the place and trusted his di
gestion to cook who felt he had been born to high
things; but tonight at least-this night of rain
and wind-there was no one else in the place Elton
took off his overcoat and hung Ii up and hung up his
hat with it, and seated himself opposite the girl at
table. Norah was calmly peeling off her gloves.
you know-you really mustn't do 1T, Norah," he
protested again feebly.
what mustn't do?" she asked, mischievously:
and now. as she smiled, he thought her eyes were
very kind.
You mustn't pay for my dinner" he burted out.
great deal to me. Won't you let me slip away?-
you'll easily forget all about me-
"Do you suggest that you leave to dine in this
place alone?" she asked, severely. II hungry
you are-and want my dinner I'm in charge of
you tonight, and I'm going to that you are fed
Where's the waiter wonder?'
verify believe that the waiter had been asleep in
a of little back where the plates and knives
that he came out rubbing his and evidently
much surprised at beholding two customers in the
place. He came forward briskly enough. hickng
imaginary crumbs off the tables with his napkin; he
stood expectantly before them.
He really the incest waiter could wish to
and whatever misfortune had landed him in that
dismal restaurant misfortune that had been
obviously undeserved. He stood at just the
attitude, with his old head bent and his kindly
face beaming upon them though he quite under
stood the situation and prepared to do his best
under the circumstances.
We've want dinner, please" said Norah,
glancng up at him.
Dinner. miss? Certainly, miss" exclaimed the old
man. with such a gleeful expression that he might
have been waiting there all day with the hope
that they would come in and allow him to minister
to their wants.
what can you give us? asked Norah.
The old waiter pulled at his side whskers thought
fully and pursed up his lips II can give you a very
good dinner MISS only. we're a bit slack just now
miss-fault of the weather I'm afraid miss-I 'avent
taken the trouble to write out the cards. If you'll
leave it to me. miss"-ths very eagerly and expec-
tantly-I think give you dinner you'll be
proud to eat and l shall be proud to I'll lay
myself out on it, miss, do you"
Very well; only please be quick" exclaimed Norah
with glance at her companion, though she feared
he might die at any moment from sheer lack of food