Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-17
LAM HAY,
AUTHOR OF 1.-THE RIGHT STUFF"

| d
should never judge even mottle-faced
| bartender by his appearance. reluctantly
| abandoned his half-projected scheme Oh
hurting Noddy Kinahan into the arms OF
his two sinister supporters and then
knocking their collective heads together
and turned to the small door behind him
Suddenly he caught sight of the piano
girl. He paused and surveyed hel
ithoughtfully
You'd better come with me- he said
Without word the girl rose and pre-
coded him to the door. Hughie opened il
for her. and they both passed through
and hurried down narrow passage
which gave direct into the alley at the
back of the establishment.
| Once outside Hughe took the girls
arm and fairly ran, never pausing till
they reached the brightly lighted sea
front. He had an idea that a cheerful
and crowded thoroughfare would prove
more salubrious than deserted and ill-lit
byways.
! Once clear of their late surroundings
the two slackened pace, and Hughie sur.
Veyed his charge with comical perpleXity
Now what am / to do with you?' he
inquired.
Take me home said the girl, sobbing
! Her pluck and fortitude, having brought
her dry eyed through the worst of the
conflict had now taken their usual leave
properly in a few Teactionary and COM
forting tears.
Where do you live?" asked Hughie.
| "Brooklyn.''
That's a matter for a trolley car.
Come along"
He took her arm again, rather diffident-
| ly this time-his old masculine self-con-
seriousness was returning-and hurried of
to what the Coney Islanders call q
'deepo. Here they ensconced themselves
| started on their twenty-mile run, via
Sheepshead Bay and other delectable
spots. to Brooklyn bridge.
AS soon as the car started Hughie
turned to his companion.
Look here" he said. bIuntly. Il know
lady when meet one. What were you
doing in that place at all? You are
English. too"
Yes: 1 can't blame you for wondering.
IN tell you. I come from London. Ny
father was small schoolmaster in Syden-
NAM He-he was unfortunate, and died
three years ago, and I was left alone in
the world, with hardly two sixpences to
rub together. Just as things were looking
none too promising for me I met and
married"-she flushed prohdly-.'one of
Maclear He is an electrical engineer.
We came out here together to make our
fortunes and settled in New York. We
| were beginning to do fairly well after a
crushed HIS left arm and leg in cog
wheel arrangement OF some kind, and
for three months he has not been able
even to get out Of bed without help. Bad
luck. wasn't it? He Is getting better
| slowly. and some day, the doctor says,
| he will be able to get about again. But
we'll. savings don't last forever, you
know; so /"
II see." said Hughie; 'the upkeep OF
the. establishment has devoWed on you
in the meanwhile?"
Yes. Piano playing is about the only
| accomplishment L possess. A girl friend
of mine told me she was giving up her
billet at old Bercottis, and asked II ]
would like it. She wouldn't recommend
| 1t to most girls, she said, but perhaps ii
would suit me all right, being married.
| took 1t; but. as You saw, my being mar
ried wasn't sufficient protection after ALL
| She shuddered.. for she was very young
and badly shaken; but presently she
| smiled bravely
What did you get?" asked Hughie.
| Dollar night"
| IT'S not much.''
| IT'S better than starvation" said prac-
| teal little Mrs Maclear.
| And what are You going to do next?'
I'm not going back to old Bercottis
again-that's fiat
Can you get another berth?"
well. if there happens to be anybody
in this simple and conffding country who
Is willing to take on as acconlpanist OF
teacher yoAng woman of shabby-gentee
| appearance, who is unable to mention 8
single soul as a reference. and has nc
character to show from her former EN-
Iployer--it ought to be easyi" said the girl
| Hughie regarded her ref1ectively
You take it well. admire your pluck >
! he said.
"A married woman with a husband tc
keep has no time to worry about pluck
freplied Mrs. Maclear: ''she just has to dc
things. Besides. all the pluck in the worlc
can't save a woman when Noddy Kinahar
is about IT it hadn't been for you-by
the way. would you mind telling me your
name? You know mine"
! fTo be continued tomorrow