The Washington herald., 1913-03-23

asked.
i Afraid of what?" adroitly.
Il was right in waiting for you." SIM
ply.
Maybe; that remained to be seen.
We crossed under the Sixth Avenue
'I," and the roar of q passing train
silenced us for q time. Who was I. any
way? Where were We going? Why didn't
she call me by some first name? So Tar
she hadn't given me a clew to anything.
An idea came to me.
Are you wise in taking me there to-
night?' asked. This was very cunning
of me.
She coughed slightly and peered from
the window. '"Ten blocks more. Oh. II
only We dared go faster. faster. and have
it all over WITH
"A policeman would delay US no incon-
siderable time" cautioned. And think
of its being reported in the papers! That
wouldn't help matters. They are bad
enough as they are" Doubtless they
! were,
Courage, courage!" I said: "all will
end we'll" At least sincerely hoped 1t
would end well. reached over and
| touched her hand. She withdrew that
member of an exquisite anatomy as sud
denly as IL my touch had stung her. Once
more I found myself in a maze. Evil
IDENTIFY, whoever I was. I did not stand
on such terms with her as to be allowed
the happiness Of holding her hand. And
had almost kissed her!
| Then a horrible thought scorched me.
had more than a thousand dollars in
my wallet. I snuggled over to my side
| Of the carriage. The newspapers were
teeming with stories of new bunko games
and this might be one of the classics Of
getting rich quick on other peoples
money. I slyly buttoned up my coat.
Anyhow. it was chilly.
On. on We rolled: light after light
flashed into the window. gloom followed
gloom.
More than thousand dollars was a
| large sum for an author to be carrying
| about: and If the exploit turned out to
| be a police affair / might be seriously
questioned as to how an author come by
SO large a sum. Yet, as / thought OF her
necklace felt my cheeks grow red
! beautiful young woman! Still, the jew
| elry might not be real. Had she really
mistaken me? Ha, 1 had it. l would
find out who she was.
l leaned over quickly and kissed
her cheek. There was not a sound.
only I felt her shudder. She wiped
with her handkerchief the spot my lips
When she did speak her tones were even
and low
Il did not quite believe that of you"
Il could not help il" I declared,
ready to confess that ] was an i'm
poster; and as / look back / know
that l told the truth when / said /
could not help it. l didn't care where
the carriage went nor what the end
would be.
And l trusted you" The reproach
was genuine.
had nothing to say. My edifce
of suspicious had suddenly tumbled
about my ears.
Il am sorry; I acted like a cad. I am
one, / said finally
Il was helpless. One after another
the men we trust fail u.s. she an
swered despondently.
Madam, / am a wretch. I am not
the gentleman you have taken me for.
have had the misfortune to resem-
BILE another gentleman"
Il never saw you before in all my
life. nor any person that resembles
you"
1 gasped This was what the old
dramatists called a thunderbolt from
heaven. 1 felt for my wallet: 1t was
still in my pocket. Inconsistently.
grew angry.
Then. what the devil"
DO not add profanity to i'll man
ners," she interposed. Perhaps l
have no right to complain. There is
the door, sir: you have but to press
the button. stop the driver. and get
out / am in a terribly embarrassing
position tonight. one which my own
folly had brought me to. 1t was abso-
lutely necessary that gentleman
should accompany me in this carriage
to my destination. When you came
,l,, rI,a an1r C1N
the exact location of which I am IA
miliar with-you appeared to be gen.
tleman. one 1 could trust to accompany
me. To attract your attention. and at
the same time arouse your curiosity,
I had to resort to equivocal methods.
It is an adventure, sir. VIII you see
it to the end, or shall I press the but
TOM" She semed really in earnest.
Permit me to ask question or
twoy" 1 was nightly confused at the
turn of things.
Perfect confidence in me, or I shall
open the door
In any other city but New York"
Yes or no!''-imperiously.
Hang it. madam
Her hand went toward the electric
button.
ITO the end of the world. and no aues-
tions asked"
Her hand dropped. Thank you."-
gently.
Curiosity Is something We can't help:
otherwise I should not be here, ass that
am, Chivalry isn't all dead. If you
are in trouble depend upon me; only I
must be back in New York by tomorrow
night
":You will not leave the city. You have
no fear?"
II should not be here else
"Oh, but you must be imagining all
sorts of terrible things" =
II am doing some thinking, I'll admit.
How easily a woman can make fool Of
nam"
Sometimes"
81 am a shining example. How you
must have laughed at me! A pretty
woman has more power over a mans
destiny than all the signs of the Zodiac
put together. And it's perfectly natural
that he should want to kiss her. isn't it?'
II am not a man."
"a saint would have tripped. Put your
self in my place
Thank you; am perfectly satisfied"
"A beautiful woman asks me to enter
her carriage"
And. thinking that had mistaken you
for some one 1 knew, you kissed mel
derisively.
'T wished to learn where I stood in
your affections"
"A very interesting method of pro-
cedure!'
And when touched your hand you |
acted as IL mine had stung you"
1T did,
signedly. Shall tell you frankly what. |
fr,- sr-k Nrrvr ffnnH t, h