The Washington herald., 1914-01-18

4
| Wheeler, the porter to the flats, stopped
me as i was entering the lift.
1 Before / take you up, Miss Lee, If
\ YOU don't mind, there are one or two
things which / should like to say to
YOU
What is it, Wheeler?" I asked.
| Il was thirty-two last. week, Miss
Lee" he began, with rather unexpected
candor. My mother died more than
twelve months agoy- and left me quite
tidy bit of money. I'm going TO set
up in business on my own account, but
before doing so | want a wife, some
ono who can look after the house and
the accounts while | look after the
customers and the shop, and, with your
permission. Miss bee, ] was thinking
of Miss Harris"
| was a little startled as well as
amused. He was big, strengthening
| fellow, with an honest face and nice
manners.
Does this mean that you have spok-
en- to Miss Harris, Wheeler"
In manner of speaking, Miss Lee,
| have, and also / haven't. She won't
! listen to me because of hulking chap
with whom she has got herself mixed
up, and who, / am dead sure, means
her no manner of good"
/ This is news to me, Wheeler. /
wasn't aware that she had any mascu-
line friends in London"
| "She's got two, Miss Lee She's
| frightened out of her life at the sight
| of one, and she ought to be at the
| sight of the other"
| Are you sure of what you say?
| How did you find out these things!
"One afternoon Miss Harris came
running in her as if for dear life. She
ran up the steps without waiting for
! the lift, and she cried out: Don't you
| let him touch met The very next mo
| ment a fair-haired, thinnish. shabby
| chap appeared in the doorway. Here
said, you can't come in herel What
do you want?' His eyes went all over
me. l didn't fancy his looks at all.
Does the young lady who just came
i'll live here:' he asked. What young
lady?' l said. You take yourself off.
Its not my business to answer ques-
tions asked by chaps like you. If
you've got anything to ask, you take
yourself to the Office and ask it there
Three or four days afterward Miss
Harris went out, as she generally does
| of an afternoon. / was going out my
self. Barr"-that was the name of
another porter-"was taking my place.
| | stood here talking to him with my
hat on. / spoke to her as she went
! past; she paid no more attention to
me than if | wasn't there. / don't
| mind owning that | followed her.
There was something about her looks
| [ didn't understand. She walked down
to the corner of the Pimlico Road.
There she met a tall, thin chap, in a
long black overcoat and a big, soft.
black felt hat A motor landaulette
was standing by the pavement. He
didn't speak to her and she didn't
speak to him; they just got in and the
thing went off. She came back about
E O'Clock, looking white and i'll, and
l could see that she'd been crying. Il
hope there's nothing wrong / said.
She looked at me for moment or two.
as if she couldn't make out who was
speaking to her, and then she said.
'Everythings wrong-everything. l
wish I'd never been born.
i Wheeler paused for a second or two,
and when he continued his tone was
almost oddly serious.
! I've reason to believe, Miss Lee,
that she's been to meet that chap
twice since then, and each time she's
come back in the same condition. My
feelings about her being what they
are, | thought the best thing l could
do would be to speak TO you"
! | liked the man; | liked the girl. /
felt that they might not make at all a
bad pair.
One day. while she sat typing some
papers. | noticed that absorbed look
upon her face which / had come to
know so well.
What are you trying to hear?' /
asked her, with a smile.
She looked round at me with startled
/ eyes
! Il can't think what it is" she said.
DO you know. I'm always catching
myself trying TO listen to something
sometimes in the middle of the night
and | always wonder what it is.
/ ! changed the subject my saying:
DO you know what | think you
WANT A husband
What do you mean" she asked.
Has Mr.. Wheeler never spoken to
you, or dropped hint?"
She was silent. Presently she leaned
over the typewriter and covered her
face with her hands. Then she stood
up ana luIIcQ 10 11lc d IdSc O1 WHICH
there was a mysterious something
which was beyond my comprehension.
You had better kill me-than talk
to me like that"
I She scarcely spoke above a whisper;
then she left the room
The following morning was walking
up Sloane street when | saw in front
of me a figure which l recognized as
that of the man who, by accosting
Maggie Harris in the Embankment
Gardens, had Srst brought her to my
notice.
|, l thought of Wheeler's story of the
fair-haired man from whom the girl
had fed as for her life. l decided that
/ would see where this gentleman was
going.
When he reached the top of the
: street he entered restaurant. / un-
hesitatingly went in after him. He had
gone right down the room, and had
| joined man who sat at a small table
; which stood. in a sort of alcove
Looking round, / perceived that an
, other small table stood in such a posi-
ton that, if l occupied chair at it.
| could get good view of their faces
The person l had followed was the
man of the Embankment Gardens. But
he was in better fettle than on that
r L Il