Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-16

come was not unkindly, and as Leonie sank
into the big leather chair she began to regain
confidence and to feel that after all her mid
night visit might not have been a mistake.
But it had been long walk from the theater
to the brokers' house far up the avenue, and
the light that hung above the desk was very
strong, and so for a moment she closed her
eyes and at the time rubbed her palms slowly
over her tired knees.
Its getting rather late Page said.
May | ask why you came to see me at this
hour?"
The fat little man had resumed his seat
and had begun to arrange some official look
ing papers into a neat pile on the desk.
Leonie glanced up at the smooth round
face, the shining forehead with its fringe of
white hair the kindly blinking eyes. and the
heavy strong jaw-the only feature to &C
count for the mans success in his own world
of finance.
Leonie pulled herself up to the edge of the
big chair. {" 1t was about your son" she
said.
The old man nodded, and with gesture
of impotence pushed the little pile of papers
to one side. Il suppose so. Have you seen
him since-I mean have you seen him to-
Eyes, l just left him little while ago at
the theater. He told me about his trouble"
Captain Jim smiled grimly up at the over
hanging lamp. Really" he said, The
doesn't seem to have lost much time. You
must be a particular friend of my sons, that
he should have looked you up so soon to tell
you about this. You are an actress. pre-
sumo, as you saw him at the theater?"
Leonie' lips broke into the semblance of
smile. "Yes, I'm a sort of actress"
And yet" Page said, Il don't see why
you should have come here to intercede for
him at this time of night. presume that is
why you camel"
Leonie nodded. "Yes." she said. that's
why came
Even supposing that you are personally
interested in the facts that have cut him
off and that he will probably have to go away
to earn his living somewhere else. think you
might have waited to tell me your story un-
til morning. Anyhow, hope that you came
here of your own accord and that he didn't
send you
Leonie looked straight into the old mans
eyes. mo-" she said, "he didn't send me.
He didn't know was coming-you can take
my word for that"
Page again glared at the lamp and folded
his arms across his broad shirt front. I'm
glad of that. anyhow. l shouldn't want to
think that a son of mine would ask woman
of your class"
With quick movement the girl half rose
from her chair and stared at Captain Jim
with wide open eyes. "a girl of my class!"
she whispered.
Eyes" he said. 1--WE might as we'll be
quite frank with each other. Even if am
old. I'm not altogether ignorant of the ways
of the young men of to-day. Heaven knows
my sons troubles have kept me pretty we'll
acquainted with them! 1t may distress you;
but. believe me, you are not the first of his
women friends that has honored me by
visit. l don't want to be unnecessarily
harsh; but let's get down to business. Just
what can | do for your"
FOR some moments the big clock on the
mantel alone disturbed the silence of the
little room. Leonie rested her elbows on her
knees, her chin between her palms. her eyes
glancing slowly about the room and then
back to those of Captain Jim across the desk.
women of my class" she began. and her
voice had become more steady than before;
indeed, her whole manner now was authori-
tative and without any fear whatever,-
women of my class" she repeated. "are
not always wholly bad. Sometimes their
motives are really of the best. and without a
thought to their own advantage. 1t seemed
to me when-when Bobby told me about the
row tonight that it might be one of those