The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-05-27

 advanced I became conscious that my own position was an awkward one. I had no money of my own with me not cent other than those two $500 l bills handed me by Vail The useless ness of attempting to pass one of these was apparent It would be bet ter to plead lack Of cash and put up some security if the man in charge re- fused credit. At whatever cost the girl must have food
 I The all night resta urant through the l glass front revealed lunch counter and number of cloth draped tables
 awaiting occupants. A few of these l were in use, single waiter catering i to the guests. woman was scrub 1 bing the floor under the cigar stand
 while a round faced, rather genial ] looking young fellow steod leaning l negligently against the cashiers desk
 Rather doubtfuIly I glanced uneasiIy I up and down the deserted street and 1 then into the still averted. face of my l chance companion. I had no desire she should comprehend my dilemma 1 sswould you mind waiting out here Lon the step moment ?p I questioned I awkwardly attempting to explain, ] .sonly until make sure who are i'm
 side. There are some fellows I ana
 not friendly with, and am not hunt
 ing a roughhouse with a girl to look 1 after. You went care for just min ute, will your"
 l ssNo,,' wear1ly q won't mind. g l You7 promise not to go away ?" 1 She shook her head, her eyes staring ] duly in te tke mist.
 ] ''No; won't go away. Where coulda 1 I go
 Scarcely satisfied. yet feeling obliged to take the chance, l stepped within and advanced across the room toward l the man 1t the cashiers desk. He l glanced up cur1ousry as approached 1 and spoke low so as not to attract the l attention of others. To my good luck l he was an ex-army man and willing 1 to trust ms for two meals. When re turned to the girl she was waiting motionless, her back to the window, and when spoke followed me in with
 out word. I led the way to the SC | ciuded table behind the screen, seated her and took the chair opbosite With | out questioning her wishes ordered I for both, the girl sitting in silence, her l face bent low over the menu card, 1 red flush on either cheek.
 l What will you have to drink ?" I asked as the waiter turned aside. sI'd l rather like cocktail to drive the wet
 out of my system. Shall I make it 1 twoY,
 She glanced up quickly from under l shading lashes, her eyes. big and l brown, meeting my own.
 f "I prefer coffee That will be quite, l sufficient
 l ordered coffee. too, and we sat there waiting without further speech, 1 she nervously lingering the card. her 1 eyes yelled by lowered lashes. glanc- ed cautiously across at her, conscious of my cheap clothing and vaguely I wondering why my usual offhand ad-' l dress had so suddenly failed. I felt embarrassed, unable to break the si-
 lence by any sensible utterance My l eyes rested upon her hands, white, l slender, ringless. They were hands of 1 refinement, and my gaze. fascinated by the swiftly recurring memory of 1 other days, arose slowly to a contem- I plation of her face. It was Womaniy l face, strong, true, filled with charac-
 ter, not so apt, perhaps, to be con l sidered pretty as lovable-a face to awaken confidence and trust: a low, | broad forehead. shadowed still by the 1 wide brimmed hat and the fiossy. brown hair; the skin clear. the cheeks rounded and slightly flushed by ex citement; the lips full and finely arch 1 ed; the chin firm and smooth She suddenly glanced up questioningly. .Yeu-you do not at all understand
 my position, de youY' she asked tim 1 idly. '1 mean why should be home
 less, on the street, alone at-at such an hour2'
 ssNo. responded, surprised into frankness. q do not understand. but
 shall we not permit the whole matter to rest and pretend at being friends for the moment? You have already acknowledged being both homeless and hungry. What more do I need know to be of assistance? The cause of such condition is no business of i mine, unless you choose to tell me vol untarily.''
 She continued to gaze at me, her eyes misty. yet full of wonderment. l My language was net that of the | siums, nor were my manners. To her must have seemed as strange a char acter as she appeared te me. We were 1 both advancing blindly through the l dark.
 You are aIso,'' she affirmed finally,
 as if half regretting the words. You are just as penniless as IT.
 Why should you say that?"
 Because I know.'' And by now her
 eyes were blinded by the tears cling l ing to her lashes. -You-you humii-
 lated yourself to serve me You had
 no money. I watched through the I window, and-and I almost ran away, only my promise held me-
 I laughed uneasily, yet sobered al-
 most at once, leaning across the table.
 all earlier embarrassment vanished.
 .swell, even at that it would not be my first experience I said swiftly
 "Poverty is extremely unpleasant, but not crime Do not let that unfoftu-
 nate condition of my exchequer spoil your appetite, my girl can assure