Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-02

they need your attention before YOU so to
lunch" pulling out his watch and glaucing
at a. Then. turning to the young woman
whose appearance seemed 60 make
marked improvement I'm his manner, as
soon as he got good look at her face,
he said politely: "I trust you will pardon
this intrusion but Mr. Hartleys instruc-
tions were to give these papers to his son
the moment they were ready
AS she rose from her chair, Mcbride
stepped back. but the older man stood
there transfxed ION my word" he was
saying to himself "but Johnsons right;
she Is a sumner
She was half way out Of the door before
Mcbride recovered himself and rushed for
word to hold It open for her. Then he fol-
lowed her into the outer office, and opened
that door for her. From there he followed
her into the corridor, and saw her safely
into the elevator. Then he accompanied her
downstairs In the elevator. without his hat,
and all the way he was chattering. he did
not know what about lie had but one
idea in his head to get permission TO call
on her and TO take her what news he could
about Mr.. Maxwell.
Helen could not disguise the fact that she
was pleased at McBride's marked atten-
tion. She was aware that she had made
a very decided impression. And then he
was so nice about 1t when he insisted on
bringing the coveted information to her
personally. IL she would be good enough
to allow him to do so. There might be so
much more to say than Il would be con-
venient to write. etc. SO finally she gave
him her address, and smiled her sweetest
smile as he held the outer door open for
her to pass into the street.
When the young man and Hartley were
face to face again a minute later, they
looked at each other in silence for see
ond. Hartley expected that he would have
to make some unpleasant explanations or
tell some more lies. Mcbride was the first
TO speak,
Isn't that a peach? BY the great horn
spoon he cried. slapplng his leg with his
right hand and smiling broadly. His eyes
snapped with pleasure as he saw that
Hartley evidently agreed.
shes a sumner. ." assented the older
man. what did you say her name was?'
He picked up her card from the des;
Miss Ohlstrom, eh?' Hartley threw the
card down again. and waited for his con
fidential man to ask for information about
Maxwell, Strange to say, Mcbride seemed
TO have entirely forgotten that part of the
conversation with his visitor. He could do
nothing but talk about the girl. 1t soon
became evident to Hartley that James was
badly smitten. In order to get away him
self, he suggested TO Mcbride that it was
time for him to go to his luncheon.
Mcbride took his hat and coat and went
out, saying he would return in an hour.
A janitor who was hopping up one end of
the corridor looked up in establishment
at seeing the young man doing a two-step
4r,t4 oil b,sb ,{vr,
the Washington Post March and holding
the tails of his overcoat in his finger tips
the while
Going down In the elevator, Mcbride took
her card out of his pocket and jotted down
her address upon IT, A friend met him on
the street. and asked him to go to lunch
with him. He declined rather abruptly
He wanted to be alone with his thoughts
of Miss Ohlstrom. 1t was not until he was
seated at a table that the smile suddenly
left his face. How about having given her
a false name? He felt a sudden sense Of
dizziness as he put his hand to his head
and bit his lip II told that girl more lies
in half an hour than 1 have told since
last Christmas" he said to himself. THAT
was a bad beginning, giving her wrong
, name"
All the afternoon he could thing OF moth
out. He felt ashamed of himself; and he
realized that 1t would place him in n very
bad light with her. Moreover, Miss OIL
strom probably would be chagrined to find
that he was nothing but clerk. Dash
it ALI" he said to himself. "Why didn t
l call in Hartley at once, instead OF getting
myself into this mess? The finest girl l
! ever met in my life. and this is the way 1
b start out with her! Dash itl'
1t was nearly o'clock when Hartley
= took his hat and gloves, and announced
that he was going home. He observed that
Mcbride had been very much preoccupied
o all the afternoon, and had quite lost his
e gay spirits of the morning. AS Hartley
{ pulled on his glove, he stopped a moment
and looked at his clerk, IL expecting
some question.
Anything more today, James?'
Nothing, sir Thank you"
/ AS Hartley was about to close the door
4 behind him, he said quietly: by the way
L James, / don't know any such person as
Mr. Maxwell. Never heard the name even
That things all a mistake. Must be som,
other Hartley's she's looking for. Good
day"
When he got out into the corridor ht
= smiled. Il did not say 1 didn't know May
l. nard, but he will think / meant 1 didn'
know either OF them" he assured himself
;, Now, II that girl gets confidential will
q Doremus and tells him that she called OF
me, and describes my son to him, all tina
II lying will be wasted. But / am following
g advice of counsel l told the truth abou
F. one thing, anyway. l don't know any sucl
name as Maxwell
i CHAPTER NNu.
Is