The Press., 1913-04-16

' uAA cFypuaI uO 1SE sensc uA tue DeuuIILuI
 and her consideration for his feelings
 on observing the hideous sign from ev-
 cry point of view of his estate.
 After he had sealed the letter and
 sent 1t to the postoflce he felt better
 and went out to the terrace to smoke,
 and under the magic of the full moon
 he, fell to dreaming of the lovely little
 woman he had saved from death that day, and his hand unconsciOusly
 strayed to the little slipper in his pocket.
 The next evening he received a visit
 from Mir Coombs, who looked very much disnleased over something and if possible appeared paier and with white hair more upstanding than usual. Paul had him out on the terrace, where they paced to and fro as they talked.
 You've gone and done it now; Main" !" said the lawyer bitterly.
 Done what?" demanded Paul, mys- tifed. f
 "I knew you were a rich man, but I never supposed you to be screw. It never occurred to me that robbing the widow was in your hne!"
 "A screw? Robbing the widow-what widow? I don't know any widows. keep away from lem every time" he protested.
 You write letters to them" said COombs testify. ....
 Letters ?" repeated Paul vaguely, and then suddenly a light broke over him. Do you mean Mrs. Covington?" he asked lamely.
 "Yes. Man, do you know that 1t near Iy broke that woman's heart to have that signboard put up there, but she did 1t to keep body and soul together. Gov Ington died and left her pretty we'll of, but all the property was in trust, be- cause suppose he was certain she would marry again some day. A few months ago she lost some securities through a robbery in her house and has been hard pressed for money to live upon. The signboard business is mere ly a sop to the hungry wolf until she can find some means of earning ltv- ing for herself. She talks of taking boarders, because she has a we'll equip ped house here in FairIlale."
 ''She has been to you?" Paul found voice to ask out of his depth of self condemnation.
 "Yes. She has ordered me to break the contract with the balsam people and have the board removed. She does not feel that she ought to impose upon her neighbors in that way"
 "What can be done to make things right?' asked Paul sharply.
 II don't know, If anything, now, only you might go around and tell her as as possible that you think a strapping six footer of a man who doesn't have to worry about the butcher or baker can stand it to gaze upon a black and yellow billboard bet ter than a frail woman can give up the income derived from said advertise ment. She is a proud woman. too, Main"
 You needn't make me feel like any less than thirty cents," complained Paul.
 "You ought to be made to feel-you :hink too much about yourself, Main"
 You're right" admitted Paul, land now that you've ripped me to pieces what I can do to make myself most ! lseful and inoffensive in Fairdale."
 The next day found Paul Main seek ng the home of Mrs. Amy Covington l n Fair1ale village. The COvington place was pleasant, | Id fashioned white house set in the | 1idst Of comfortable grounds. Paul's Ing at the doorbel1 brought him face } face with the blue eyed woman he ad rescued two days before.
 Mrs. Covington" she repeated, smil- lg, though he was sure she had been 7eeping. "l am Mrs. Covington. Won't ou come in?"
 Afterward. when he told MT. Coombs bout the interview, he added the story f the pretty shoe he had retained.
 "COOmbs," he said thoughtfully. "I Mrs. Covington to leave the there as a reminder to me 1 hat am a selfish sort of beast. Now
 shall spend the rest of the year in her that because saved CT life she should intrust that pre- iOus life to me for better or worse. l can win her for my wife the vhole landscape can be dotted with illbOards advertising Windmuller's alsam and shall not carev
 'You have 1t bad. my dear MaiR" rinned Mir Coombs, rubbing his hanGs "As I understand 1t, there i'll be no blot upon your landscape if ou can persuade Amy Covington to larry you"
 "As I understand it." amended Paul lain, 'the only blot on the landscape