The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-09-10
i'd the officer kindly, ~ Dorcas hest

said the officer kindly, as Dorcas hest
tated.
II don't believe I'll want help. The
only thing isl wish to do 1t as qui-
city as possible. 1t is altogether a
family affair."
II understand. You'll find me here"
Thank you. Good night" said Dor
cas- gratefully.
Il didn't bring Mr.. Merry tonight,
JASON" she said, when the old servant
opened the door for her; but tomor-
row night think he will come"
The following day seemed to Dor
cas- the longest she had ever lived
through. The weather was crisp and
cold. She went for long walk, tread
ing for the first time a tangle OF
streets in the vicinity of the docks. 1t
was a part of the city which belongs
to the very poor. She searched every
where for one figure. Poverty, famine,
and hopelessness seemed to create a
family resemblance among men, wom-
en-, and children. Still-she found
nowhere the man for whom she looked.
When she reached home at noon she
felt tired physically and mentally.
She had spent an almost sleepless
night. AS she dropped off in a
browse she dreamed of finding Merry,
of bringing him back to the world
where he belonged, of setting his face
towards fame, happiness, and an hon
orable life.
Not thought Of love-the love of
woman for a man-stirred in her
heart. She had forgotten her broth.
er's question. There was something
singularly childlike about Merry. With
his magnetism was blended strange
dash of childish dependence which
few men never lose. 1t had appealed
to the maternal instinct in Dorcas the
first time they met.
From morning till night she waited
anxiously for news from her brother,
but none came. She realized that he
was on the wrong clue, but he had
left no address, and Dorcas could
merely wait. After her walk she lay
down to rest on the library couch. A
few minutes later she was sleeping
peacefully as a child. When Jason
came in he closed the shutters noise
lessly and covered her with an afghan.
The city lights were ablaze when sho
woke. She waited impatiently for the
hours to pass. The policeman had
told her 1t was of no use to come to
his corner until eleven or later; it was
past midnight when the bread was dis
pensed. The clock struck eleven when
a carriage Dorcas had ordered stopped
at the door Jason lowered anxiously
about her.
"You mus put on yo' big fur coat.
missy, please" He was trying con-
stantly to manage her as he had done
when she was little girl.
Jason, 1 don't need it; I'm perfectly
warm"
"Yo' do, sure ez yo' breathin',
missy" he pleaded anxiously. Hits
grown bitter col TO November. Yo'all
IL freeze eff yo' dom"
"All right" laughed the girl, and
she slipped her arms into the wide
sleeves. lust to please you, Jason
remember that-not because I'm cold.
Now" she added, don't get nervous
if it is an hour or two before / return.
shall be quite SAFE Mr.. Merry will
come back with me tonight, l know.
Have everything as coy and cheerful
as possible. And-Jason-I've got
my key. I'll ring when l want you
Don't bother about opening the door"
The girls intuition told her that Mer-
ry might have fallen to such low es-
tate that it would hurt for even tho
old servant to see him. The negro
understood.
"rknow, missy, I'll do des es 20 say
but TO de Lawd's sake do take care
oh yo'se'f. What could say to Marse
Enoch if anything happened to missy?'
'Nothing's going to happen, good
old JASON" cried the girl, as she ran
down the steps.
The officer was waiting at the cor
ner. He beckoned the cabman to pull
up where an electric light would not
shine into the carriage, then he
stopped for q minute at the window.
"Pll stay near by and keep my eye
on you. When you see your party.
signal me. I'll give your cabby the
order, and he can drive around
block or two and take you up Tenth
street. Then slip out and get your
your-friend that way. There amt no
chance of him seeing you come up be-
hind, as he would II you crossed the
street"
HAS the bread line begun to gather
YETI" she asked.
Hardly. ma'am. There's a few
straggIers hangin' round. Them that
come first get the first chance. OF
course, only it's nasty night to wait
outdoors with an empty stomach"
CTO BE CONTINUED)
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