Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-08

CHAPTER XXVI.-Continued.
He reused at that to feeble interest. Il
oh, of course not. If you still care to
have me. IL was wondering about-the
man who just went out. Stuart. you say!
told his landlady tonight that he
wouldn't need the room again | hope
she hasn't rented 1t to somebody else
We cheered him as best we could, and
/ suggested that we go to Baltimore the
next day and try to find the real Sulli-
van through his wife. He left some time
after midnight. and Richey and l We're
alone.
He drew a chair near the lamp and
lighted a cigarette. and for time we
were silent. l was in the shadow, and
l sat back and watched him. 1t was not
surprising. l thought that she cared for
him: women had always loved him. per-
haps because he always loved them.
There was no disloyalty In the thought;
1t was the lads nature to give and crave
never really cred about girl before,
and my life had been singularly loveless.
l had fought a lonely battle always:
Once before, in college. we had both laid
ourselves and our callow devotlons at the
feet of the same girl. Her name We
Dorothy-I had forgotten the r~st-but
remembered the sequel. In spirit OF
quixotic youth 1 had relinquis..ed my
claim In favor OF Richey and had gone
cheerfully on my way, elevated by my
martyrdom. AS Is often the case, Nc
knights first words showed our parallel
lines of thought.
II say, Lolie." he asked, do you re-
member Dorothy Browne?" Browne. that
was It.
Dorothy Browne I repeated oh
Nothing he said. Il was thinking
about her. That's all. You remember
yon were crazy about her. and dropped
back because she preferred me?''
Il got OUT 1 said. with dignity. be
cause you declared you would snoot your
self II she didn't so with you TO some
thing or other
licked. He tossed his cigarette in the gen.
eral direction of the hearth and got up.
We were both little conscious. and he
stood with his back to me. lingering
japanese vase on the mAntei.
the vase around, that If you feel pretty
well again, and-and ready to take hold.
that l should like to go aw y for week
or So Things are fairly we'll cleaned up
at the Office
DO you mean-you are going to Rich
mond?" l asked. after scarcely percep-
tibie p use. He turned and faced me. with
mis- hands thrust In his pockets.
NO. Th4t's off. Lollie. The Se1berts
are going for weeks cruise along the
coast. 1.-The hot weather has played hob
with me and the cruise means seven days
breeze and bridge
/ lighted a cigarette and offered him
the box but he refused. He was looking
hagg~rd and suddenly tired. l could not
think of anything to say. and neither
could he, evidently. The matter between
US lay too deep for speech.
.How's Candida? he asked.
Martin says month and she will be
He picked up his hat, but he hid some
thing more to say. File blurted 1t out,
finally. half way to the door.
Tine Seiberts are not going for cou-
pie Of days. he said. land If you want
a day or SO off to go down to Richmond
yourself
Perhaps | SHALL l returned. as indif-
ferently as could. mot going yet, are
you?''
yes. 1t is late" He drew in his
say but the impulse passed We'll, good
night" he said from the doorway.
Good night, old man.
The next mOmenl the outer door Slam
med and | heard the engine of the Can
nonball tlrobbing in the street. Then
the quiet settled down around ME az in.
and there in the lamplight l dreamed
dreams | was going to see her.
Suddenly the idea of beng shut away.
even temporarily, from so great and Won
derful a world became intolerabie. The
possibility of arrest before | could get to
Richmond was hideous, the night with
out end
made my escape the next morning
and then. by devious dark and winding
ways, to the Office. There. after con-
ference with BlObs. whose features fairy
jerked with excitement. l double-locked
the door of my private office and finished
off some imperative work. BY I'D o'clock
l W free. and for tie TWEEN ,ieth time
consulted my train schedule. At five min
utes after 10. with Mcknight not yet in
sight, Blobs knocked at the door, the
double rap we had agreed upon. and on
being admit ed shipped in and quietly
closed the door behind him. His eyes
were glistening with excitement. and a
purple dab OF typewriter ink gave him
a peculiarly villalnous Ind stealthy ex-
preston.
They're here" he said. two OF em.
and that crazy Stuart wasn't on. and SAID
you were son.ewhe. e in the building"
A door slammed outside. followed by
steps on the uncarpeted outer office.
This way said Blobs, in q husky I'M
dertone. nd. darting into a lavatory,
threw open a door that I had always sup
posed locked. Thence into a back nall
piled high with boxes and past the presses
of bookbindery 10 the freight elevator
Greatly ~ Blobs disappointment Their =
was no pursuit. I was eXhil lrated but
out OF breath when we emerged into an
alleyway. and tie sharp daylight shone
on Blobs' excited face.
Great sport, isn't it," l painted. drop
ping a dollar into his palm. linked to COR
respond with his face. Regular walk
away in the hundred-yard DASH
Gimme two dollars more and I'll drop
'em down the elevator shaft he sug-
gested, ferociousIy. l left him there with
his bloodthrsty schemes and started for
che station. I had a. tendency to look
behind NE now and then. but / reached
the station unnoticed. The afternoon
was hot, the train rolled slowly along,
stopping to pant at sweltering stations,