Semi-weekly herald., 1911-11-27
CHAPTER XIV.
Old Friends.

Old FRIENDS
Bruxton Sands was as genuinely as
tonished as man OF deliberateness
could be when a clerk entered the
private room of his office suite in a
Bowling Green slsyscraper and told
him LADY wished to see him. He was
about to instruct the clerk to ask for
the lady's card when. glancing over
the youths head. he glimpsed gol-
den CLEAN under big hat with sweep
ing plumes through the doorway and
IN an instant was crossing the thres-
hold with both hands extended.
My dear Dorisi" he said. This Is
really good of you. Thugs were get
ting bit dull this morning"
Mrs. Missioner smiled in that per-
vading way that~long ago had pene-
rated to the very core OF the million
aires inner consciousness. That smile
illuminated Sands somewhat gloomy
anctuary. He welcomed Mrs. Mis-
loner TO a comfortable chair beside
his broad desk. swept aside the heap
nf formidable papers with great gold
eals and fiuttering legal ribbons. and
eaned back In his chair quite content
% wait century for his visitor to
sneak agnln. provided her smile should
continue to beam upon him.
No. 1t Is not about Investments, %
said Mrs. Missioner. noting the re-
strained inquiry in her admirers eyes
L felt had to talk to somebody
ebout Ellnor; and Dorothy. you know
ia too amiably responsive to be Of any
use. BUxton, what am to do about
that girl2"
I'm sure I don't know" he said at
length, Il suppose something ought
10 be done"
Il don't care what the detective
ays!" exclaimed Mrs. Missioner, Il
am not going to let Elinor Holcomb
think any longer that her friend of
vear- ''7v"7 her 10 be a thief. II
is uubearable' The maa told ne
TINT must not interfere in the case
If 1 expected him to vindlcate my sec
retary; but | am not going to be gov
erned by anyone to that extent
am going to see Elinor to-day. am
going straight to that terrible place
and assure her thar even though 1
permit her TO be kept there, l refuse
10 entertain Tor moment the idea
that ahq has broken any law ol Cod
or mani"
Are you sure this'is wise, Doris p
inquired Sands gravely. AS he stood
beside her fl was dimcult to control
the impulse to pour out before her the
adoration he felt at sight OF her new
loyeliness. She had never seemed
more beautiful than when she was
moved by sympathy for the girl who
at that moment, doubtless, was won
dering II she had forsaken her.
Wise or not" returned the widow,
Il shall do it. Something Aells me
she is in need OF sympathy this very
day, Why, Bruxton, how do we know
what effect this dreadful incarcera-
ton might have upon her? II may
warp her entire nature; it may wreck
her health. Please do not try to dis
suade me. have made up my mind
to see her and l shall go there at
once"
II was a short dash for the auto up
Broadway, up Centre Street to the
lombs, and It was with little difficulty
that Sands obtained for Mrs. Mission
er permission to see the prisoner.
Elinor came around the corner of
the corridor with more animation in
her step than 1t had shown in many
a day. She had hardly been able TO
believe her eyes on reading Mrs Mis-
sloneTs name on the card thrust
through the grating Of her cell Long
ago she had made up her mind that
the chain OF circumstances. or perhaps
an enemy. had sown In her kind
friends mind suspicion that she was
guilty. AS the days rolled on and she re-
ceived no word from Mrs. Missioner,
the conviction grew upon her. Even
this very day she had give UP the
nope OF rehabilitating herself in the
eyes OF her employer Not that 1t was
an employer she mourned In loss of
Mrs. Missioner's confidence The
rich widow was her friend; had been
her familys friend. and had been the
first to offer her refuge In the ter
rible days following discovery of the
fact that her kindly, gentle father, aft
er lifetime Of high endeavor, had left
her without the provision she knew
he always intended to make.
Dear Mrs. Missionerl" cried Hlinor.
Fastening toward the widow as she
read affection and complete belief in
her countenRnce. You have done
many lovely things for me. but this iz
quite the dearest! 1t seems hard even
to picture you in such a place, and
the reality"
You poor child" exclaimed Mrs.
Missioner hardly controlling her
voice. What about yourself? If 1t
is distressing to me to come here. 1t
Is terrible for you TO be here. How
can you stand it?"
''one learns to stand many things, -
she answered, when fate commands; /;
yet If anyone had told me a few weeks
ago that could so much as retain my
reason in place like thisl Now that
you are here, It seems far easier. oh.
but 1t is good of you to comet"
The widow took the girls hands in
her own and patted them softly as
she whispered words of encourage
ment. She could not trust her voice
to speak for the frat few mo-
ments. As she looked at Elinor's slen.