Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1912-04-04
CHAPTER v.
The oIrl from .RadeIIne.


his voice. Say, old chap, you remem-
Der you said you wouldn't mind put
ting up the kid overnight on the way
home from college. Remember? Wants
to rest over and come up the river on !
the day line"
Yes, remembered, and said so.
"All right, then! It's tonight Be
there about nine from Boston. Don't |
go to any trouble, now, nor alter any
plans. The kid will probably be dead
tired and off to bed before you get
home from your dinner"
That's all right, old chap; jenkins
will look after the young one
l heard Billings chuckle--I remem-
bered that chuckle afterward.
Not much of the young one there.
Eighteen, you know. Never off to
school, though, until last year-and by
George, it was time! Between my
mother and my sister the kid was be-
ing absolutely rMned-petted, molycod-
died, and was getting soft and silly
oh, something to make you sick Well,
so much obliged, Dicky. You know
what these hotels are. Good-by."
explained to Jenkins. "All right,
sir" he said. II won't go out until
after nine. It'll be time enough"
And SO went on. returned early,
about ten, and sat reading. Jenkins
was still away, and the door OF my
guest room YVES OPEN.
Good EVENING""
The voice behind me was soft, mu-
steal. delicious.
/ whirled about, and there, within
the door. leaning against the frame.
was the most beautiful creature !
ever saw in all my life.
A girl! But oh, by Jove, such q
girl! A lovely, rosy blonde, dash It!
Goiden-haired angel-long. droopy
kind Of lashes. don't you know-eyes
like dreamy sapphire seas-oh. that
sort OF thing--a peach!
| The leap that brought me to my
feet sent my chair thudding back
| ward
| "Why-er-good evening" man.
\ aged to stnmmer. Just managed, you
know. for. give you my word. I never
4 wan so bowled over in my life
i neyerl And On the instant guessed
what It meant. The KID that Bill
ings referred 10 wasn't kid brother
ut all, but q kid sistsr-Girl. by Jove!
"ArO you busyt' saw tho lash Of
hef perfect little tssth az her lips
parted IN o smile. III not. may / talk
to you whilef''
| mumblsd something designed to
Be pleasant dash me II know what
land managed 70 summon sense
ssncugh to Lift toward her q wicker
Il Armchair. Then I dashed into my
BEDROOM to chuck tie smoking Jacket
and get into . coat And all the white
was thinking harder than ever had
Thought It possible. IS,
Just the thing to have expected Of
an ass like Billings fellow with no
sense Of the proprietissi HIS kind Of
mind had never. got any further than
the fact that had d gusst-room and
b quiet apartment Tia further fact
that II was IN bachelor apartment
house and I o bacheior--and NOT YET
out OF my twehties, dash it-wouid
. never have presented itself to chung
like Billings as having any bearing or
the matter.
"Of course, must get right over to
the club and leave her in possession
! It's the only thing left to do" This
, was my thought as I slipped into my
coat and gave my hair touch-jusi
q touch, don't you know. The thing
: to do was to carry It on as naturally
as possible for few minutes. and
, then slip away. Probably she hadnr
: counted upon my being in town at al
. had taken It for granted 1t wal
some sort OF family apartment--witi
!. housekeeper. servant maids. all thai
8 sort OF thing.
/. Now, Just a few minutes of con
Y yersation TO put her at her ease"
2 reflected. "and then I'm on. I'll &c
the janitor's wife to come up ant
+ stay near her"
{ And / dashed back. murmuring some
!, Jolly rubbish OF apology. And then
Just brought up speechless--almos
I fell over backward. For as she BtooC
i there under the light. saw that whs
had taken for dress OF black sil
8 was not q dress at all, but . suit q
Q pajamas black. flmy psjamaR, who's
loose elegance concealed but ooui
Z. not wholly deny the goddess-like u
y ure within.
. "rd have known you anywhere. NJ
Lightnut." And then found that W
al were shaking hands. my niger
/. crushed In q grasp never could hay
1 thought possible from that tiny ham
). From hearing Jack talk. your nam