Evening star., 1912-07-15

terriers. Shall put him out Of his mis-
| ery-ask him over?
eve will miss our boat
whats that compared with the ad-
| vantage Of setting his inventive brain TO
work on your behalf? Besides, we can
! as easily-more, in fact. from this place
go back by trolley.
| You don't mind?
! Not In the least" Crittenden sum-
| moned the waiter-who required no de-
scription more ~pecifc than that man
in red before he trotted off.
"You must make allowances Critten-
den advised her hastily. Hes an odd
fish, doubt if ever you met his like
Il understand" she murmured.
In another moment the inventor OF oc-
equations was heaving. his huge bulk inn
patiently down the long aisle between
ia bles.
"A pillar of fire by night. observed
Crittenden irrepressibly rising.
'Evenin', Mr. Crittenden." The Red
Man halted, perfunctorily Selling and
dropping the others hand. His blue eyes
bobbed his bullet shaped head uncertainty
in her direction.
Miss Grayce. this is Mr.. Rhode"
please t meet you." said Mr.. Rhode,
enveoping Cynthias in a moist. warm
grasp.
/ AS she acknowledged the introduction
she was shaken by q mad desire to do
something to mitigate the awful serious
ness of that wide, red countenance. Fea-
| lures hewn out of red mari would have
conveyed an effect Of no more immuta BILE
| immobiity. Cynthia discovered another
| nickname for him presently-the Man
Without a Smile. Surely in the hour Of
his birth the minds Of men and the pre-
terhuman sentence of the spheres as
well must all have been concentrated
upon the inconceivable concept Of eter-
nifty.
A waiter brought chair. Mr.. Rhode
took it from the man with an air OF
forestalling a practical joke--he was not
| to be fooled into permitting that chair to
be withdrawn from under him at any
critical moment-planted 1t firmly at the
uIoccupied side of the table. between
| sat down. His stony blue eyes shifted
from face to face suspiciously.
Didn't know you two knew each
| other" he observed, with fine direct
ness
'Indeed?' answered Crittenden. suavely
I'VE didn't" Cynthia interposed, frank
ly, until this afternoon
Here the inventor of occupations inter-
jected an "oh." as inexpensive as his
face.
Il happened to see your card" Cynthia
continued, with winning directness, her
voice calm above the tumult of her emo
tions: somehow to her the instant seemed
crucial. as though she were venturing
she felt this to be last resort, this ap-
peal to a fortune as inscrutable as it's
cardinal envoy. And l asked to meet
you. Your business must be a fascinat-
ing one. Mr. Rhode
The Red Man shifted his cigar thought.
fully, from corner to corner OF his mouth.
We'll. yes. it is.'' he assented. grudging-
ly. He no longer took account Of Crit
tenden: his cold. blue stare was all for
Cynthia.
Il understand you have found1nvent-
ed an occupation for Mr.. Crittenden.''
Rhode removed the cigar from his
mouth. What's he been tellin' you
about it?'' he demanded. in a breath.
''Sin>ply that" said Cynthia.
Crittenden shrugged and laughed quiet
ly. Rhode received the assertion with an
unintelligible grunt.
little timidly. invent occupations?"
You might call it that" rumbled the
Red Man. II just put that line on my
card to fix peoples attention. as YOU
might say Anyway, 1 do find some
folks work. Why? You want a job?'
II ." faltered Cynthia, confused.
Thought So Funny, us neetin this
way. l was goin' to look you up t'night.''
Rhode reinserted the cigar and mumbled
1t through long moment. Then, all of
sudden. something Immediate turns up
this evenin', and I'm sort OF wishin' I
could lay my hand on you, and I'm COM
In down here in my car to look for
feller-and here you are putin 1t to me.
Now, l call that funny" he concluded.
But 1t seemed doubtful II he had ever
thought anything really amusing.
(To be continued tomorrow)