The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-01-21

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his fee in his pocket. "My advice to
you is to keep as quiet as possible, eat
carefully, continue to drink nothing
and do your best to win that young
lady. Good night
The door closed after his form, and
Ellwood threw himself down on the J
sofa and laughed silently, though hap
PLY. by Jove!" he muttered. "Its
going some to fall in love like that
What's thatT
That was the same clatter of hoofs
and ringing of gongs he had heard the
previous night Ellwood flung himself
into some clothes and slipped his over
coat over ALL Then he dashed to the
telephone and heard her voice once
more.
"There is a fire now," he said ur-
gently. Twill you please tell me where
1t is?"
There was little silence and then a
startled cry. why, it's in Ninety
eighth street. That's where I live. Oh,
dear" she ended in little sob.
Ellwood thought rapidly.
Cant you call them up and find
out? Haven't your folks got a tele-
phoneT he demanded.
1--WE just moved in today, and it
isn't installed. Oh, dearr' Her voice
was very low and sweet, and Ellwood
could fancy he saw her wringing little
white hands in helpless agony.
"Wait a little while. Don't you
worry. I'm going to the fire, and I'll
inquire about your people," he reas-
sured her. 'T'll have to have your
name-just the last one, you know"
Lane" she said gratefully, land
thank you so much, Mr.. Ellwood."
'I'll let you know as soon as l find
out" he said and was gone. In the
street he jumped on car and was
borne northward to where a red glare
shone against the sky. AS he neared
the scene the picture resolved itself
into flaming apartment house, streets
crowded with pedestrians and onlook-
ers, fire line drawn sharply about the
building and horde of police.
Ellwood paused in doorway and
outlined plan of action. How could
lie get inside the fire lines? He
couldn't. Inquiring for the Lanes
among the excited people who had
been driven from their homes was
much like searching for needle in
haystack.
He noticed all at once that he was
standing in the doorway of another
apartment house, and he glanced hasti-
ly at the names over the letter boxes.
There it was-Lane-the most beauti-
full name in the world. The Lanes
were safe. She would be delighted.
He took the number of the building
and FASTENED to the nearest subway
station and was dashed down to his
hotel. He rushed into the office and
spoke to the clerk.
MAY l speak to Miss Lane, one Of
the telephone operators, on a matter
of Importance" he stammered under
that young mans polite stare.
against the rules" said the clerk.
"1t really is Important will guar
antee that" urged Ellwood.
The clerk hesitated and, then relent-
ing, sent Ellwood to the chief operator,
who proved to be good natured indi-
vidual
"Lane?" he queried. ooh, that's
operator No. 49," He picked up a re-
ceiver and spoke into the transmitter
"Send No. 13 to me at once"
"Unlucky number, eh?" he grinned at
Ellwood.
"Oh, l don't know! Sometimes thir-
teens lucky number. 1t is for me-"
remarked Ellwood with an enigmatic
smile.
Just then the door opened and she
came, deathly pale and trembling with
anticipation of some i'll news. She was
all that Ellwood had dreamed-dark,
petite and demurely lovely, with the
sweetest contralto voice. Her brown
eyes sought his face anxiously.
ITS all right" he assured her. "Ive
been up there and found the place
where you live. The fire is across the
street. 1 took the number of your
house-11S3. That right?"
"Oh, yes, and thank you 80 much,
Mr.. Ellwood," she breathed relievedly.
"lt was very good of you to take the
trouble"
The chief operator was across the
room intent on official business, and
Ellwood had brief instant in which
to look down into the brown eyes that
We're rapidly reducing his incipient
heart disease into chronic ailment.
"Pd like to know you better, Miss
Lane, l wonder if 1 presented creden-
tials would your mother permit me to
call"
81 think she might" said No. 13
gently as the soft color flowed back
into her cheeks. 81 will ask her. OF
course you are not a stranger to the
hotel people, Mr.. Ellwood. Oh, must
go. Good night"
Ellwood held her little hand for the
fraction Of an instant, and she was
gone. He fioated down the corridor In