The Washington herald., 1912-06-09

"If you won't let me have the FIVE
pounds" she answered, "all right.
Good-byP
She turned abruptly away, and before
his astonished eyes plunged into the
stream of traffic, making for the other
side of the street. He followed her as
soon as he saw a safe opening. and
found her on the point of entering
small restaurant
any dear Ruby he exclaimed sharp
| ly you are mad How dared you
| leave me like that"
She shrugged her shoulders. = have
been mad, she answered, TO live that
awful life down at Rakney for these
last few years I've had enough OF II,
uncle. / am here, and / am gong to
stay here. If / can't succeed in what
am going to undertake. / shall try and
find some work"
Mr.. Sarsby gzsped. 1t was a wholly
unexpected revolt.
you mean to say that you don't want
to come back to Ralmeyg
Never, If / can help II |" the girl an
swered. Il hate the place. ! hate the
| life. / am tired, sick to death of II all =
she cried passionately, "and ! would as
soon come up here and live for week
OF two, and then throw myself into the
| Thames, as go on with It any longer.
II YOU won't let me have the hve
pounds" she continued, Il have enough
| jewelry with me to fetch about that
The money would only mean a week
or two longer"
But where would you live?" he ex-
claimed. ''What would you do!"
THAT is my affair" she answered
simply. First of all, though. | should
go to Mr.. Deane, and should ask him
to help me- Any man of common sense
would agree with me at once in believ-
ing that my uncle was robbed"
But your aunt?" Mr.. Sarsby ex-
claimed weakly.
My aunt can get on very well with
out me" the girl declared.
Mr.. Sarsby felt that a situation had
arisen with which he was unable 10
cope. The only thing that occurred to
him to do was to temporize. You VIII
have to come back to the hotel" he
said, TO get your luggage. We will
talk il over on the way there"
lust as you please" the girl answer
ed carelessly, "only so far as ! am con-
cerned, there is nothing to talk over"
Mr. Sarsby hailed bus which de-
posted them presently within few
yards of the semi-private hotel IN Mon
tague Street at which they were stay
| ing. II was one of these establishments
which, from being a small boarding
house, had blossomed out into hotel,
with all the outward signs of its more
prosperous rivals. There was an en-
trance hall, a reception Office, and two
long-limbed giants in light blue livery,
who spoke every language except their
own. The people who frequented II
were either Americans or people from
the isolated country places, such aS Mr..
Sarsby and his niece.
81 am not going to talk anything over
until / have had some lunch" the girl
declared I'VE need not go out. 1t is
only eighteenpence each here. You can
afford that, especially as you are prob
ably going to be rid of me forever"
Mr.. Sarsby frowned. "We will lunch
here if you prefer it," he said. Il am
not aware that l have hesitated at any
thing on the score of expense"
The girl laughed. There was note
in her mirth which was strange to Mr..
Sarsby He relinquished his well-worn
silk hat to a boy in buttons, straight
ened his old-fashioned tie before a pas
sing mirror, and led the girl into the
dining-room. The size of the apartment,
the number of the walters, the Indehn-
able sense of being in a great city, which
had oppressed him since the train had
rolled into the terminus on his arrival,
once more had its effect upon him He
felt sure that his niece understood moth
ing of what she was talking about He
drank bottled beer with his lunch, and
soon summoned up courage to reopen
the matter.
1T was a very good idea of yours,
my dear Ruby" he said, ito lunch here.
l am sure that for the money II is a
most excellent meal"
She gave vent to little interjection
which might have meant anything. II
he had not been so sure that she was
unused to such magni6cence, he would
have believed that it was intended to
indicate certain amount of contempt
at her entertainment
"And now" Mr.. Sarsby continued, "let
me speak to you seriously"
!. The suggestion that there had been
anything of mirth from which Mr. Sars-
by desired to lead the way appealed to
parted, and the sullen discomfort of her
| face was for a moment lightened.
"Very WELL" she said, 'let US be seri-
Gus. Go on. Tell me what you have
to say" ....
What want to put before you is
briefly this" he declared you do not
understand the impossibility of a young
girl barely twenty years .old, with
your"-he coughed a little-"personal
attractions, being left alone in London.
OF course, it is difficult for me to ex-
plain to you exactly what ! mean"
"You needn't" the girl interrupted
contemptuously DO you think I am
fool? l know all about those risks
which people speak of with bated breath,
and l should like you to know that I
am quite able to take care of myself.
| am not afraid, so / do not now why
anyone need be afraid for me"
/ Mr.. Sarsby looked at her and won
dered where amongst the wastes and
wind-swept places of his lonely home
had the girl acquired the knowledge
which she alluded to so scornfully-
had she learned, too, he reflected, to
carry herself, as she had done since
their their arrival, with an ease and as
surance which he had tried in vain to
emulate. He realized at that moment
that all further argument would be
wasted Nevertheless, he continued to
ease his conscience.
"You may know a good DEAL" he
said. 'or think you do-girls nowadays