The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-30

next two years, when she noticed n man
watching her rather attcntively. She
could not see his face very we'll in tho
scmi-darkness, but no seemed to be fol-
| lowing her as II he thought he knew her.
She stopped In front OF shop window
TO let him pass on. but he waited for her,
and then came up and broke to her. It
was only a remark about something in
the window, lust an excuse to begin n
conversation. He was n fine looking man.
with peculiarly mclodious voice. which
she felt certain she had heard before
somewhere.
Where have met your" he asked
suddenly.
Il dom; know. I thought I'd seen you
somewhere. but l guess I'm mistaken"
May ask your name?"
She thought for n moment. Should she
give her right name or not? Why not7
She had nothing 70 conceal. and she was
curious to know who lie was.
katie Mccormack"
It was evident that the name was dis
appointment to him.
81 can't place you" she said. perhaps
because ] can't see you very we'll. but
! your voice sounds like I've heard 1t be-
fore. Your names not Johnson?"
mol" 1t was his turn to think about
giving his right name now. mo. My
| names Mclln. Yours Is a face that n
| man docs not forget in n hurry. but
don't know where have seen 1t before"
Funny name. Never heard II before.
] guess don't know you. so I'll say
goodnight"
why In such hurry?'' he said quick
ly. ~ have nothing particular to do with
myself this evening. Perhaps II we go
| and have n little supper together we
might talk things over and find our
where We have met before"
| No, she would not listen to II: but she
did not object very strongly when he still
walked on with her. II she did not
want anything to cat. perhaps he could
! buy, her a little present OF some sort
No. she did not want any presents.
| Perfectly contentcd. Don't want any
| thing In the world, chr
| YES" she said slowly; there is one
thing | want very much"
And whnt is that. pray?"
Two hundred dollars"
Tho man laughed out loud Sure You
could not get along with hundred and
| ffiy?.' he said in a Joking sort of way.
! mo. Two hundred or nothing
| well. you arc an interesting specl-
men at least he said. looking at her
rather quizzlcally. Now. l suppose I
may not ask how 1t comes you want two
hundred dollars and don't want anything
| else on enrth.'
! 1t wus darker on tho street now. and
4 they were going across q long bridge over
the railroad. She tried again to get a
good look at his face, but while she
might have seen 1t before. she could no..
say where. The voice she was sure she
knew. but she could not tell to whom
it had belonged. She stopped and looked
down at the trains. She was thinking
\ IL II was worth while to invent story
/ that would account for her wanting two
hundred dollars. He looked like n man
of means and influence. and perhaps. IL
the story was plausible enough. he might
| put her in the way of earning that
amount. He was leaning on the rail be-
side her: no one else was on the bridge
| 81 tell you. do you think You could
I help me earn the money!"
Help you earn 1t? Well, what are
you; typewriter and shorthand. dress
maker. or what?'
crs."
We'll. this Is interesting. suppose
you want to buy wax while tho price Is
down" He was laughing again now. hut
the girl was not. She had started to
| tell him tho truth and his reception OF
1t chilled her. She looked him straight
In the eye with one OF those peculiar
| searching looks that will make any man
stop laughing and think.
| Pardon me- he said quite suddenly;
81 was only Joking"
You didn't answer my question. Do
T. you think you could put me in the way
OF earning enough TO save two hundred in
1 a year,"
I'm year?" The man looked at her
in establishment; then he looked at the
trains and then he looked at her again.
! He seemed to be turning over something
! In his mind
Look here! I'll take a chance on you.
| Ii you Will tell me what you want It for,
and it's n good reason Shaping his
open palm on the railing. bless mo.
iii give you two hundred. even II 1
am fool for doing IT,"
| You are no fool she said very
quietly. "and there Is something about
YOU that rings true for all your chaff. al
| though don't cutie believe your names
Meiln."
She began by making UP story about
wanting the money for very dear friend
who was in deep trouble. 1t was not
/ good story, and, after he had listened
| to 1t nttcntiyely for n minute, he began
TO question her with peculiar skill that
soon involved her in contradictions which
she tried In vain to straighten out.
Finally he interrupted her.
| II don't think tOry-telling is one OF
your accomplishments | should not like
to think that you we're deliberately try
| ing to deceive me, but you are evidently
not telling mo the whole truth II you
cannot trust me, say SO candidly. have
| taken n fancy to you somehow, and am
rather pleased to find you are not de-
ceitful by nature. You are evidently
in trouble Of some Kind, and you say you
want two hundred dollars. | have prom
ised to give 1t to you IL you Will tell
mo why you want It, II the reason is
such that you cannot disclose IT,. say so
frankly II you cannot trust me. why
should l trust your"
II dare not tell" sho said slowly. 81
| should be afraid to trust friend; and
| d stranger
UNLESS I am much mistaken. you are
not the kind of woman to be easily de-
ceivcd by a man. leave It to, you to
decide whether you can trust me or not"
| Should shn trust him? Providence Seem