El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-26
By Mrs. H. h. PenrOss
a LADY to see you sir"
AZ Leonard Southgate sighed
= Il can't receive visitors" he


/ added doggedly. I'm not at home"
What an obvious misstatement-'
cried high. clear voice. Besides. you
! see. I'm here now. so youu try to
! make me at home, won't you, MI
/ Southgate2 So very sorry to disturb
you but it's business, pure business,
which has to go before pleasure, as
] the copy books tell US
She passed the matd-of- aIt-Work ana
I found her way into the middle Of the
room, chattering all the time. Her
manner was jaunty, almost imperu-
, nent, but her face was very white, ana
Z her hand shook as she laid 1t on the
And /" he said. with gruff hesita-
ton. May / ask the nature Of your
business
certainly" she answered. i've come
to interview you for the Weekly Lion
Hunter"
what have L done that I should be
interviewed" he demanded sternly.
Done2 Why you've written the
book Of the season. Isn't that enough
to account for it, Everyone is talk
ing about The House OF shadows and
the Lion Hunter has commissioned me
TO beg for a little conversation and
your photograph"
He glanced round the shabby. half
furnished room, lifted an arm, and eX-
amined his frayed cuff and threadbare
coat sleeve.
7 look like a celebrity. don't To- he
said
The girl held up a protesting hand.
Please be serious" she entreated. 4
have only half an hour to spare Talk
about your work
Excuse ne" he said. If your time
is precious don't let me waste It
must make IL plain at once that
don't intend to be inter Viewed.
She gave little cry, and the cor
ners OF her mouth dropped
"Oh, please don't say thati You don't
know how dreadfully I want to do It."
He looked at her in surprise, motto
ing for the first time how delicate and
pretty she was
why are you so anxious?' he in
quired.
7 viii tell you" she said, "if you
viii promise to give me the interview
I can't promise in the dark. Tell
me the reason Of your anxiety and let
me judge whether it is a sufficient
one"
She looked at him doubtfully for a
moment then resolved to risk every
thing on a confidence. Desperation
drove her.
This is my first commission from
the Lion-Hunter, she blurted out,
and if II is a failure, perhaps 1 shall
never get another. 1 have been strug-
Cling up the hill OF journalism for
long time, and this is my first really
good chance. Don't rob me of it."
rs It really important to yOu2" he
asked. He had been looking at her
clothes, and noticing that IN spite OF
their neatness they were nearly as
worn and old as his own.
1T is everything, she asserted
eagerly; and, with little gasp, fell
back in her chair.
He dashed into a wall cupboard, and
emerged with a nearly empty brandy
bottle in one hand and glass in the
other.
Don't faintl Hold on for just
will pull you round"
She held the glass to her lips. and
she drank about half teaspoOnful OF
the raw spirit.
Finish It. for goodness sake" he
cried, "or you'll be going off again. Do.
like-like a good child
She laughed, and Strengthened her
self Another teaspOOnful would have
gone to her head, because she had
eaten no breakfast, but she do vol sE-
plain this.
but I often get a little faint when /
am rather tired I am all right, now.
You walked here?' he asked.
why? Why on earth did you DO
She put her hand into her pocket
and drew out two pennies.
ing them to him. Now, do you see
sufficient reason for granting me an
interview"
know" he said huskily.
She asked few questions, took
notes, and chose photograph not more
than five years old. he possessed no
recent likeness Of himself.
Il shall be so proud If this inter
view helps your sales" she said.
But it won't affect me-" LeOnard's
tone was somewhat hopeless. Il sold
the copyright Of the Wretched thing
for 20 pounds. If it reaches a Both
edition I shan't be penny the better /
OH" she cried. I'm 50 sorry-so
awfully sorry" Then, with quaint
dry smile she added, Evidently there's
a pair Of JUS"
Leonards eyes twinkled.
Yes" he said, there's a pair Of US
but I'm better off than you are I have
$40 left and on the strength OF that
YOU must dine with me. There's a
decent little restaurant around the
corner"
She flushed and fixed him with in
5Do you take me for beggar?" she
asked hotly-
'Don't be silly" he said. in the 1
quieJest manner imaginable. why is !
il that men and women viii persist in I
making fools Of themselves about such /
trifles? What do such things natter I
Anyway seeing no abatement in the I
Indignation Of her look
I'm not making such a demand on l
your Kindness as to ask you to take /
anything from me III show you the /
bill. You can return me half as soon as 4
you are paid for the interview. Are
you satisfied"
She burst into tears because. being
weak from hunger, she found IL i'm
possible TO control herself
Il know you mean to be kind she /
sObbed. And even II you didn't-evCn /
If YOU meant to insult me. I should /
deserve it. I suppose you thought that /
braZen. pushing manner was natural to /
me 1t isn't I only put II on because /
I'm in agOnies of awkwardness when I
ever I have to tackle strangers, and II I
wouldn't do to let them see it. The /
swagger covers up the awkward aess ;
and helped me in business. but it's ]
horrid-oh, don't think 1 don't know Il. !