Smyrna times., 1913-06-25


quite casually. when he had finished
his selections.
Ola Tucker glanced sidelong from
the book ne was enjoying. He never
lntruded commercial tactics on anv
providers around his shelves. II was
part OF the unwritten code Of courtesy
IN the queer little shop that hid itself
under the long balusrade on Lexing-
ton avenue, his assumption on Tuck
er part that nobody would take the
trouble to descend those three stems
into his burrow unless they held the
mutual right with himself of being a
lover of books. And a lover of books
was fuckers hOnOred guest.
THAT one. Mr.. Creston?" he ask
ed, sitting up. suddenly.
1.-The little book Of Rossetti's Sc
lectiOns"
mot for SALE returned Tucker.
relapsing into his chair with prohibit
tive air Of secrecy.
II WAS on this shelf.
Leave it there. -
Creston felt his fighting boOd beat
ing up to a scrap. He felt that the
book wanted to go into his pocket and
waken in the tender shadows of his
den over on Gramercy Park. And he
had overcome few Of fuckers scru-
Piles in the past.
1t isn't a question of price. you
understand. F"
''The book does not belong to me. ."
said Tucker.
CrestOn looked at the inner blank
leaf. II bore a name. Wanda Phil
lips" Il sang in his brain as he
went out.
Every time he came to the shop he
found the little book in its place on
top Of Nuremberg etehings ard old
Munich studies. One day he noticed
dust clinging to its soft binding, and
he bushed it of surreptitiously on his
coat sleeve. And each time he held
it he would look at the name and turn
the pages over with a curious thrill
Of expectancy. II had been years
since he read Rossetti.
The little intimate touches stirred
him like the reading Of old love let
ters. After a verse Of Loves Noe
tune" he would lift the book to his
nOstrils, inhale a deep breath OF its
fragrance. and almost chuckle behind
old fuckers back at the discovery Of
his own sentiment.
How long will you wait for her
70 come back?" he asked one day.
Tucker glanced up sharply as if
some one had broken a lock on a pri-
vate drawer in his life. Then he
caught Creston's eye and perhaps read
a little Of their intent.
''She may come any day" he told
him, gruffly. "It stays there until
she does,
ga regular customer, Tueker?
''More or less. ="
~ will be willing to return it tC
her If y9G know where she lives. "
Tucker considered the request,
stroking his white beard thoughtfully.
81 might say that you had sent
me. - suggested Creston. ''Perhap.
she does not know where she lost il,
and Is fretting about it
Suddenly the old fellow tilted his
head to one side and ehucklec.
''she left in a tiG. Mr.. Creston,
She has been dropping in here off ant
on for a year. picking up book aftel
another. One day found a volume
Of Rossetsi and it seemed to belong
to her. It's a first edition, reboun'
by some student who probably would
have given his hearts blood TO hav'
drifted into the old circle at kelmscot
So / gave it TO her. The day sh'
left. she came TO sell me back two O.
three books, and would not TAX
them.
"Yos didn't offer her money!
81 offered tod asked the privi
lege. Mar, she was white from ,aeh
ing Of a good square meal. And sh'
walked ont with the books, leavini
that one where you found il.
Creston stared at the old man
There was moisture behind his eye
glasses. but Creston did not spar
him.
"You' We wasted time waiting 10
| her 70 come back. Tell me where 81
| lives and I will take the book BACK
| Lit me take the book with me now
Take it. = said Tucker slowly
aaw her enee 20 into the old stud