The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-27
HER CRY FOR HELP

or mysterious enough to be the writer
OF the letter.
The second day the answer for
which he had been beating IA path
between the newspaper offices came,
II was written on thick. creamy note
paper. in hand Identical with the
fragment of letter he had found. lie
devoured IL eagerly.
&c. H." il read. IF you have found
a shee, of paper like this with writ
Ing like this. please return To SOS
t1tty-tfth street" There was no
signature.
&c. H." went home at o'cock
that afternoon. ignoring the Nulgarity
facetious remark of his partner that
the real estate firm of Hsrr!ck &
Holman now consisted OF ''one work
ingman and one gent, and know
who the workingman Is"
George had an cary and fragment
AIRY and tasteless dinner. Then he
spent two hours in oillng and loading
his long unused revolver: putting on
and taking off three suits of clothes.
aud tying and untying some eleven
neckties.
The house at Sss Forthwith street
was roomy. two-storied residence
with an ambitious flower garden un-
der the bay window. and a deep old
fashioned porch. A girl opened the
doorat his uncertain knock,
90. H.?" she asked, with little
smile
YES. Otherwise, George Herrick.
Herrick's heart thumped at sight
OF her She was inst the sort of girl
a husky chap would takes delight in
protecting. She was small and pretty
and appealing, with a demure little
scarlet mouth, and "A nose that just
fitted such face. and big shadowy
eyes which seemed to hide humor
and q ready tenderness and keen In
telligeBce in their depths,
But she looked pale and fragile.
like mis- that has been crushed.
Why. she seemed positively i'll. A
mighty wrath against the villain who
would frighten her made George
swell and glover His hand sought
the handle of the revolver which was
bulging uncomfortably on his hip.
This is yours. helieve?" He
handed over the letter She took it
to the light. Herrick stood in silence.
She read, and then suddenly turned
away Her whole body shook in a
sort of paroxysm. Herrick shifted
uncomfortably from one foot to the
other. The paroxysm continued.
He started forward impulsively.
! w nO-~WUo IN inc SCOuIlUTeI lIlAt IN
annoying you ?" he asked hoarsely.
Tell me. and I'll stop him IL have
to kin HIM"
''You--ryou don't understand" she
said in a mufffed voice. her face still
averted. Then--she giggied.
George backed up as If som ething
had stung him. < The girl turned a
flushed face to him. There were
tears in her eyes, but they were tears
| of mirth. She was laughing help
| 1essly.
"iIe's--he's. oh. it's too funny" she
/ gasped- Hes a neighbos's great
Dane puppy
| George went red with mortlfica
| ton. "But-bur." he stsmmered,
| ''you--he-you say in that letter hes
kept you in for four weeks"
| NO. no. | said I hadn't been out
| in four weeks, And It's true. I've
| been sick for a month. The letter
was to my cousin, and l had ex'
planned that on previous page wher
the wind--I gra bbcd for 1t, but wa.
too late. l saw it strike you In the
face.
''rhe puppy isn't mean or ugly
just playful. But | was weak ant
| nervous: 1t was the first time II
/ been out. He's tied up now" sht
finished irrelevantly.
Herriek felt foolish, appallinEl,
foolish, red as to face, and big as Il
hands and feet He put the hands
hastily behind him. not only to con
ceal them, but to cover that revolver
which felt like a cannon. He woult
back out. SO she couldn't see and in
terpret the bulge.
A woman opened the door. a mild
faced, motherly sort of woman, TN
going down to the corner for a glas
OF ice cream soda, June. It's such 1
fine night"
Mother" interrupted the girl. Ant
then she turned to George, wipinl
her eyes. mr.. Herrick, this is IN,
mother, Mrs Rowley."
Pleased to know You. Mr.. Her
rick. Nice weather for April, ism
4 IL? Til be right back, June"
"Just a moment. Mrs RowleA'
j George had recovered his wits ant
some of his natural audacity. Mis-
Miss June and I will go with you.
He looked hopefully at the girl.
"All right" beamed the mother
TN get a scarf, June. The little
walk Will do you, good. And tina
miserable puppy is tied up. SO HI
can't bother YOU. What did You
say?"
Nothing. mother" replied June
demurely, Then she looked a
George.