Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-22
CHAPTER v.

were lighted when Drake re-entered the
lodging house. and after moments hest
tation made his way into the little sit
ting room at the rear. The girl was sit
ting there. with a pack Of cards spread
out on the table before her. She looked
up as he entered and the frown upon her
dark. Sullen face grew deeper.
Where have You been all day long,
Ambrose" she asked. why have you
left me here aloneo''
1T was wet" lie answered. quickly;
too wet for you to go out. l sold
matches this morning Since then l have
had the piano out Chicot and l. We did
not do 40 badly
She looked disdainfully at the handful
of coppers which he laid upon the table.
'Faugh"' she exclaimed. 1T disgusts
me, this cheap. dirty money
We live by it," he answered. grimly.
1T has stopped raining" she said 4
shall go out now for little time.
have on my thick boots"
As you will he answered. a little
YEARLY. The piano is still outside
And Chicot?" she asked.
He brought into evidence the canvas
bag hung over his shoulder Chicots
little black head peered out. The girl
rose and pinned on her hat before the
cracked looking glass Not even the
careless Indifference Of her movements.
or her shabby clothes could altogether
conceal the elegant lines of her slim
young figure.
They descended to the street together.
Drake lifted the handles of the barrow
a little YEARLY. For two hours he had
been grinding out his Wretched music and
he was weary.
Which way?" he asked. turning east
ward. II think this will be better
The girl shook her head. She pointed
across the river. to where the lowering
skies were already catching the reflections
from the tiaring signs and hotels ablaze
with light.
NO" she said, firmly: 1T is there
that we must go. 1t is there that we go
all the time. You forget. Ambrose. that
it is not for our miserable pennies that
walk these wretched streets. 1t is Tor
the search, still for the search.
He obeyed her.. but with reluctance.
You forget last night" he said. We
may be seen He may have informed the
police"
She shook her head. You did not hurt
him." she said What. can he do? He
cannot make us speak ] can be dumb
! and SO can you. Come
They crossed the bridge The girl
walked apart and unseeing, her eyes
fixed steadily upon the deepening glow
in the skies. Drake groaned a little to
himself as he pushed the barrow. He
had eaten little. and his limbs were stiff
with cold and wet. Now and then ne
looked wistfully toward the girl. but
never once did she turn her head. At the
corner of the Embankment she paused.
Here first she said.
Silently he arranged the seat. sat down
and struck the crazy notes OF his little
instrument The girl folded her hands
and sang. The monkey. with outstretched
tray. collected the pennies. Then police
man moved them on. 1t was always IKE
that.
The girl walked close to the stone wall,
looking down to the river Drake, whose
breath was coming in little gasps pushed
his barrow along close to the curbstone.
to avoid the heavy mud. They passed
the side streets which led up into the
Strand and turned into Northumberland
avenue. Once more they paused and re-
peated their little program. There We're
fewer people and fewer pennies this time.
The evening was raw and every one was
hurrying- When the girl had finished
singing there were very few for Chicot
to visit with his little tray.
Let us go back" Drake said. 1T isl
a bad night. There are few people out
Of doors. We have enough for dinner.
did we'll with the matches this morn
ing
The girl shook her head No" she
said. Il am going on on that way.
She pointed across Trafalgar Square,
westward. If you are tired. go back
you and Chicot.
She walked on. as though needless
whether they followed or not. Drake set
weary pilgrimage. The wheels OF his
barrow were stiff and the traffic around
him grew thicker. still. somehow or
other. he managed to keep his eyes upon
the girl ahead. Once or twice. when the
crowd was thick. he grew anxious. We
shall lose her, Chicot. he muttered.
NO. there she is! Courage, little one.
We must push on
few inches. A motor car, whizzing by.
spashed him all over with mud. Still he
kept her in sight along Pail Mall up
Regent street once more to the left, al
moments to look into shop. He caught
up with her there and called TO her
weakly.
christine" he said.
She turned away and approached the
edge of the pavement.
"christine." he gasped, Il am tired.
The roads are heavy and I have not
eaten much today. Let us rest for a lit
tie time
Rest" she answered. bitterly, there
is no place here to rest.
He sat upon the handle Of his barrow.
Let go home he said, more slowly.
NO one will stop to listen to us tonight.
If we sing here the police will only move
on.
go home II you like she answered.
Il am going farther. Somehow I feel
that here in London we are near the end
of it,
The end?" he gasped
1.-The search" she answered. You
know what l mean There is something
which seems to draw me across that
bridge up here. / tell you that 1t Is not
who comes. 1t is somthing which tells
me that here, not far away, ! shall find
him."
She paused. For the first time a shadow
Of something which might have been
sympathy crossed her face. "As for you."
she said, you are not strong enough for
this You are tired. I can see that you
are very tired. Listen. / will wait here
and hold Chicot. You shall go over there
and take something to drink, something
hot
He hesitated. Even then he would not
have gone but for the feeling of faint
ness against which he had been strug-
Cling for the last half hour You will
not move from here?" he asked.
She shook her head
Then think ! will 60" he said. 1T
is foolish. but there is pain
He plunged into the traffic and crossed
the street TO the bar opposite. They
looked at him strangely as he drank his
the counter was little basket of bread
left over from luncheon time. He took
a piece and ate 1T ravenously. He re-
membered suddenly that he had not eaten
since that early breakfast. Then he
turned once more into the street and
crossed it. His heart gave a sudden
jump. The piano was there. Chicot. in
deed. had collected small crowd, for
he had escaped from his bag and was
sitting on the top saluting the passers-by
with profuse wavings of his little hat.
The piano was there and Chicot, but the
girl was gone!
Drake stood upon the curbstone. gaz-
ing wildly up and down the great thor
l tntI