The evening world., 1914-02-28

& NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. :
, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
selling out below cost" sign made
she might be able to mark things up
q tribe and recoup. Anyway. she told
herself for the thousandth time, he
scds fine business man.
The weary day Jagged to it, close.
| She sold one tattered sampler, and was
too low In her mind and discouraged
was the handwork Of Martha WASH
ington. The future looked black. in
deed. But II IL always darkest before
dawn. they say. Dawn In this case
literally broke" The cart that backed
up to the curb discharged Its freight
with q fracturing bump on the pave
ment, owing IN carelessiy fastened
chain. The crash brought Mrs. Bloom
to her door on the run. She was be-
side the broken case even before the
cursing driver. The burlap covering
was torn, revealing the stenciled letter.
Ing OF q well-known firm Of cheap fur
niture makers. Furthermore, q large
splinter. broken and driven inwards.
had deeply scratched the surface OF the
mahogany revealed below-and-the
wood was new. Mrs. Bloom had been
too long in the business to be deceived.
That juicy. full veined grain was un-
mistakable. Sne ooped over and took
a good eyefuli Of the revelation.
At that moment Mclean reached the
scene Of hs-wreck.
you've made q mistake" he said
stcrnly to the driver. That consign.
ment's not for here, man,"
The driver regarded him open.
mouthed. but the steelly eye OF the
Scot quelled his rising speech. The
invoice, however. was In his hand.
and, with q .splutter of anger. he
handed 1t over. Mclean glanced at
It and again at the shattered case.
Mistake" he said laconically.
take 1t back. I'll take this UP with
these-er-people." He set the long
fingers Of his long arms beneath q
corner Of the box, nodded to the
the strength of o steam derrick. hoist
ed the consignment to its place in the
wagon. Then for tho first time he
appeared to notice Mrs. Bloom. IT'S
cold" no remarked casually. you
should not stand out without your
bonnet and shawl" He turned anu
stalled gravely back.
Mrs. Bloom was thinking hard. and
strange thoughts they were. with q
sub current that murmured In sus-
tanned undertone: what fine busi-
ness man." and also. "a Goliath. q
very Goliath Of q mani" She retired
, to her little bedroom at tho back end
, Of the dark corridor and sat down In
| side OF the partition the rat-tat-tat
/ and scraping sounds came low. but
clear. They ceased suddenly and were
, followed by the muffled sound OF
, voices-then began anew. Slowly q
, suspicion and q plan began TO weave
) together In her mind. The soothing
squeak OF the rocker acted ut once as
1 sedative and stimulus. At length
|, Ehe rose and pulled out the toolchest
!, from under the bed-perforce she had
!, to fnmiliarize herself with these tools
, Of her trade. She selected an auguI
I and q sharp knife. Approaching the
J, wall she laid q sharp ear to its soiled
: surface and, after considerable ex-
8 perimentlng, located with exactitude
I n spot where tho sounds reached hel
r most clearly. This she marked out
!, | with the point OF knife In a small
: square, deity lifted tho plaster ir
= strips, and reached tho wood and
!. brick. Her task was easy. Her cubby.
Q hole bedroom and tho Workshop DO.
d You'd, had at one time been thrown
vO90luer, anu tuo buOS6QucuI
b tioning had been OF tho himsiest.
Late that night Mrs. Bloom had
q made q small hole that gave hel
: ample opportunity to inspect the &C
= tivities Of the repair shop. Then sh'
: turned in and slept sweetly.
She was up and dressed earlier
. than was her wont and comfortabl!
established at her peep hole befor,
. the Mclean nephews descended from
their room above. What followe,
fiiled her with amusement, admlra
ton and determination. The variou
processes by which the crude new
furniture was aged were revealed I,
her eyes. Steel wool removed tn
q varnish. creosote dried It. Tin,
= screws developed oil the symptom
!. of boring worms. A skilled ham
70 touched up the machine carving
,r blatant gilt was redeemed, brass wa
70 corroded.
r Mrs. Bloom observed and possesse
IN her soul In patience. Then SIZE ros
the occasion. She closed shop earl
that day and at the corner drug stor
Mt Twenty-third street purchased
camera.
Tor q day or two she practise
with reckless disregard of the cost q
films, development ana printing. TheI
feeling sufSicisntly sure Of the at
curacy OF her aim, she waited for th
big game TO show up.
Il Game. A huge bog arrived an
OF its contents was removed 20 III
workroom-a sidcboard Of noble pr
portions. hideous detail and of gpart
ling newness. II was cot up dtreotl
opposite her point Of Observation
The camera clicked all thst day IN
the next. The phAsas Of IL dsvo
opmsue was reeosdsA AaotbaP wsG
N and M. moom Rea.ssssa z un'sss
:; ss'':ss' & =. 3 ~ - ~ =