The Washington herald., 1913-01-26

I cried, all eagerness and excitement as
this one sane thought entered my head.
did he tell you there was a letter
in it?"-scornfully.
YES" guiltily Heaven only knows
why 1 should have had any sense Of
guilt.
GIVE it to me at once"-imperativeiy
The hat or the letter?' Truly. l did
not know what was about. Only one
thing was plain to my confused mind,
and that was the knowledge that want
ed to put my arms around her and carry
her far, far away from Toddy- -One-B Boy.
Are you mad, to anger me in this
fashion, she said. balling her little
gloved hands wrathfully. Had there
been real lightning in her eyes I'd have
been dead this long while. do you dare
believe that 1 knew you lived in this
apartment
II - haven't the hat"
you dared to search it?' drawing her
self up to a supreme height which was
something less that Ave feet two.
I became angry, and somehow found
myself.
Il never pry into other peoples af-
fairs. You are the last person I expected
to see this night"
''will you answer a single question?
/ promise not to intrude further upon
your time. which. doubtless. is very val
liable. Have you either the hat or the
letter.
Neither. I knew nothing about any
letter till Mr.. Chittenden came. But he
came too late"
Too late?"-in an agonized whisper.
Yes. too late. I had. unfortunately.
given his hat to another gentleman who
made a trifllng mistake in thinking 1t
to be his own. Suddenly my manners re-
turned to me. VIII you come in?''
Come int No, You have given the
hat to another man? A trifiing mistake.
He calls 1t a triflinG mistake.-address
ing the heavens. obscured though they
were by the thickness OF several ceilings
'Oh. what shall ] do?" She began TO
wiring her hands, and when a woman
does that what earthly hope is there for
the man who looks on7
Don't do that" l implored. "1'll find
the hat. The gentleman left me his
card. With your permission I will go at
once in search OF him
Il have a cab outside. Give me the
address"
Il refuse TO permit you to go alone"
You have absolutely nothing to say
in regard TO where I shall or shall not
60"
I'm this one instance. shall with
hold the address"
How her eyes hlazed,
''Oh. IL is easily to he seen that YOU
do not trust me" I was utterly dis
Couraged.
Il did not imply that" with the least
bit Of softening. Certainly I would
trust YOU. But"
''Well?''-as laughingly as I could
81 must be the one to take out that
letter. r."-deCidedly
II offer to bring You the hat un-
touched" I replied
Il insist on going"
Very well: we shall go together: under
no other circumstances. This is a COM
mon courtesy that | would show TO a
perfect stranger"
I put on my derby. took up the
FrenChman's card and tile. and bowed
her gravely into the main hallway. We
did not speak on the way down to the
street. We entered the cab in silence.
and went rumbling of southwest When
the monOtony became positively unbear-
able I spoke.
II regret TO force myself upon you"
No rerlv.
1T must he very important letter"
To no one but myself" with ex-
treme frigidity.
Ills father ought 70 wiring his neck"
thinking Of Toddy-one- Roy.
Sir. he is my brother
II beg your pardon" II seemed that
I wasn't getting on very we'll
We bumped across the broadway
ira Cks Once or twice our shoulders
touched. and the thrill experienced was
as painful as it was rapturous. What |
was in letter that she should go to |
this extreme to recall Il? A heat-iash |
Of jealousy went over me. She had |
written to some other fellow: for there |
always is some other fellow. hang him.
And then a grand idea came into my |
erstwhile stupid head. Here she was. |
alone with me in a cab. II was the |
opportunity OF lifetime. 7 could force |
her to listen to my explanation.
II received your note" I began. 1T |
was cruel and without Justice"
Her chin went up a degree.
The worst criminal is not condemned |
without a hearing. and have had none"
No perceptible movement.
I'VE are none of US infallible in keep
ing appointments. We are liable to make |
mistakes occasionally. Had known that |
Tuesday night was the night of the |
dance I'd have crossed to Jersey in a |
rowboat but what I'd have kept my en-