Evening star., 1914-04-26

chants like Killigrew, generally these were
along the waterfronts; creaky, old, dim
windowed. In this bewildering country a
man conducted his business as from palace.
The warehouses were distinct establish
mentS.
Thomas entered the portals, stepped
cautiously into one of the express elevators
$50 they insisted upon calling them here),
and was shot up to the fourteenth floor, all
of which was occupied by Killigrew & Co.
1t was Thomass first venture in this dis
trict And he learned the amazing fact that
it was ordinarily as easy to see Killigrew as
it was to see King George. Office boys,
minor clerks, head clerks, managers, they
quizzed and buffeted him hither and thither
He never thought to state at the outset that
he was Mrs. Killigrews private secretary:
he merely said that it was very important
that he should see Killigrew at once.
"Mr. Killigrew is busy, he was informed
by the assistant manager, at whose desk
me your card, I'll have it sent in to him."
Thomas confessed that he had no card.
The assistant manager grew distinctly chill
ing.
"If you will be so kind as to inform Mr..
Killigrew that Mr. Webb, Mrs. Killigrew's
private secretary"
"Why didn't you say that at once, Mr.
Webbe Here, Boy, tell Mr.. Killigrew that
Mr.. Webb wishes to see him. You might
just as well follow the boy"
Killigrew was smoking, and perusing the
baseball edition of his favorite evening
paper. All this red tape to approach man
that! Thomas smiled. 1t was wonderful
people!
"Why, hello, Webb! What's the matter?
Anything wrong at the house?' anxiously.
"No, Mr.. Killigrew. came to see you on
a personal matter"
Killigrew dropped the newspaper on his
desk, little frown between his eyes. He
made no inquiry.
Miss Killigrew tells me that you will not
be home this evening, and that | am to take
her and Mrs. Killigrew to the theater."
Anything in the way to prevent you?"
Killigrew appeared vastly relieved for some
reason.
"As matter of fact, Sir, 1 haven't the
proper clothes, and 1 thought you might
advise me where to go to obtain them
Killigrew laughed till the tears started.
The very heartiness of it robbed it of all
rudeness. "Good Lord! and l was worrying
my head off. Webb, you're all right. Do
you need any funds?"
Il believe l have enough" Thomas ap-
peared to be disturbed not in the least by
the older mans hilarity. 1t was not in
fectious, because he did not understand it.
"Glad you came to me. Always come to
me when you're in doubt about anything.
I'm no authority on clothes; but my secre-
tary is. I'll have him take you to a tailor
where you can rent a suit for tonight He'll
take your measure, and by the end of the
week. He did not finish the sentence, but
pressed one of the many buttons on his desk.
"Clark, this is Mr.. Webb, Mrs. Killigrew's
secretary. He wants some clothes. Take
him along with you
ALONE again, Killigrew smiled broadly.
The humor of the situation did not
blind him to the salient fact that this Webb
was man of no small courage. He recog
nized in this courage commendable shrewd-
ness also: Webb wanted the right thing
honest clothes for honest dollars. A man
like that would be well worth watching.
And for moment he had thought that
Webb had fallen in love with Kitty and
wanted to marry her! He chuckled.
Clothes
What a boy Kitty would have made!
What an infallible eye she had for measuring
a person! No servant question ever dangled
its hot Interrogation point before his eyes:
Kitty saw to that. She was the real man
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