The Washington times., 1911-01-04
CHAPTER II.


a dusty snapshot photograph. Hands
and eyes were arrested; Morton sank
from his mind. Four persons sat in a
little sailboat; their faces wore ounKing
sun smiles; about and beyond them was
the broad, white blaze of the SouRd
The four were Miss Chambers and her
mother, Morton and himself.
The day of the photograph ran Its
course again, hour by hour, in DAVID S
mind, and slowly rose other pictures OF
his acquaintance with Helen Chambers
of their first meeting, three years be
fore, at dinner at st. Christopher
Mission; of later meetings at SI. Chris
topher'S, where she had club, and
where he was a frequent visitor; OF the
spring passed at st. Christopher S Two
years before, during the early part OF
which he, in MortOn'S stead, had aided
her in selecting furnishings for a sum-
mer house given by her father for the
mission children; Of two weeks at the
end of that summer which he and Nor
ton had spent at Mrytle Hill, the Cham
bers' country home on the Sound.
In moments when his courage had
been high and his fancy had run riot
ously free, he had dared to dream wild
dreams of her: but now, as he gaZed
at the photograph, he sighed. In place
and fortune she was on the level OF the
highest; he was far below-still only a
stTuggIer; obscure, barely keeping him
self alive
nodded as his mind repeated the SEN
tence. Now and then his manuscripts
were accepted-but only now and then:
His English was admirable; this he had
been often told. But there was some
thing lacking in almost all he wrote;
and this, too, he had often been told.
David had tried to write of the big
things, the real thingS-and OF such d
man cannot write convincingly TIL he
has thought deeply or Travelled in person
through the deep places. DaVld,s trou-
BILE was that he did not know lne-but
no one had told him this. So in his ig-
norance of the real difficulty he had
thought to conquer his unsuCcess by put
ting forth a greater effort. He had gone
out less and less often; he had sat
longer and longer at his writing table;
his English had become finer and finer.
And his people had grown more hypo-
thetical, more unreal. The faster he
ran, the farther away was the goal.
He sighed again. Then his square jaw
frightened, his eyes narrowed to grim
crescents, his clenched fist lightly
bounded the desk; and to a phalanx of
Imaginary editors he announced with
slow defiance:
Some Of these days you'll all be
camping on my doorstep. You just
watt"
He was returning to the sitting of the
letters when the bell of the apartment
rang. He answered the ring himself
as Mrs. Pumphrey was out for the az
II.
shabby, gray-haired man with beery,
cunning smile. His manner suggested
that he had been there before.
els Mr.. Morton at home" the caller
No" David answered shortly, not
caring to vouchsafe the information
that Morton was two days buried. But
I represent him"
Then l guess III walt.
The man hesitated, than a dirty hand
drew an envelope from torn pocket:
81 was to give it only to him but
guess it'll be all right to leave 1t with
David closed the door, ripped open
the envelope, glanced at the note,
turned abruptly, and re-entered Nor
You paid no attention to the warning
I sent you last Friday. This is the
last time I shall write. If I don't get
the money today, the letters will be
given out. l.. ID.
He was clutched with a vague fear
Who was "I, D.?" And how could
money be thus demanded of Morton ::
His mind was racing away into Wild
guesses, when he observed there was no
street or number on the note. In the
same instant IT flashed upon him that
the strange message must be investi-
gated, and that the address of its write
was walking away in the person or tie
old messenger.
He caught his hat, rushed down the
stairs. and came upon the old man just
outside the clubhouse entrance.
at want to see the writer of that
note" he said. "Give me the address"
"Do beter'n that I'll go with you.
I'm the janitor there"
David was too agitated to refuse the
offer. They walked in silence for seV-
eral PAGES; then the old man said, jerk
ing his head toward the clubhous and
winking knowingly:
Lucky they don't know where you're
goin'. But I'm safe. Safe as a cian:
He reassured David with his beery
smile; but the vague dread increased
What do you mean
''Innocent front! Oh, you're a wise
one, see. But you can trust me. I'm
David, was silent for several PAGES.
''Who is this man i. D.
This man. he cackled- This man!
David looked away In disgust; the old
satyr made him think of the garbage or
destination. During their ffteen-mlnute
ride on a street car, his indfnite fear
changed from one dreadful shape to
another. After a short walk the old
man led the way into a small apart
ment house. and up the stairs.
He paused before a door. Here's
voI1r man." he said, nudging David and
giving his dry. throaty little laugh.
Thanks" said David.
But the guide did not leave. "Ain't
for the rest O. your coin?"
David handed him 10 cents. Safe as
a clamr he whispered, and went down
the stairs with cackle about the
man."
David hesitated awhile, with high
beating heart, then knocked at the door.
II was opened by a colored maid.
''Who lives here?' he asked.
Miss Lillian Drew"
David stepped inside. please tell her
ia like to see her"
The maid ushered him into the par
Ior and went out The room was show
ily furnished with gilt, upholstery, vivid
hanRinEs, painted bric-a-brac-all with
stiff shop newness that suggested re-
Gently acquired funds. David had no
more than seated himself upon a sur
face of blue chrysanthemums and taken
this impression, when the portieres part
ed and between them appeared a tall,
slender woman in a trained housegown
of Powered silk, with pearls in her ears
and a handful of rings on her fingers
She looked thirty-five and had a hard,
finely wrinkled beauty.
David rose. "Is this Miss Drew?'
You are from Phil Morton?' she
asked in a voice that had a strain of
ccarseness.
He shivered at the familiarity with
Morton. fI ann
She crossed to a chair, and. as she
SEATED herself, spread her train fan
wise to its full display. ''Why didn't he
ouick, brilliant eyes directly upon Da-
vid.
IT was as her note ,indicated-she