Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-16
THE TEMPTING OF TANERNA

shall drag the screen with me. 1 can
promise YOU"
Please explain everything" she begged,
quickly. l am most-uncomfortable"
AT half-past twelve this morning, -
Tavernake said, IL found myself alone
In taxicab with you, without any lug
gage or any idea where to go to. To
make matters worse, YOU tainted 1 tried
two hotels, but they refused to take YOU
In; they were probably afraid that you
were going to be Ill. Then thought OF
this room. am employed. as you know,
by firm of estate agents. do great
zeal OF work on my own account, how
ever which I prefer to do in secret. and
unknown to any one For that rLason
hired this room year ago and I come
here most evenings to work Sometimes
] stay late, so last month bought a small
bedstead and had II fixed UP here There
Is a woman who comes in to clean the
room. l went to her house last night
and persuaded her to come here She
undressed you and put you to bed. 1
am sorry that my presence here distresses
you. but II is n large building and quite
empty at nighttime 1 thought you
might wake UP and be frightened. so
borrowed this screen from the woman
and have been sitting here"
What, all nlght7" she gasped
Certainly" he answered. "The woman
could not stop herself and this Is not a
residential building at all Ali the lower
floors are let for offices and warehouses,
and there is no one else In the place
until eight o'clock"
She put her hands to her head and sat
quite still for n moment or two. 1t was
really hard to take everything in.
Aren't you very sleepy?" she asked, ir-
relevantly.
mot very" he replied. II dozod for an
hour. little time ago. Since then
have been looking through some plans
which interest me very much"
"Can get up?" she inquired, timidly.
IF you feel strong enough, please do"
he answered, with manifest relief. "I
shall move towards the door, dragging
the screen in front of me. You will find
a brush and comb and some hairpins on
your clothes. I could not think of anything
else to get for you, but II you will dress,
we will walk to London Bridge Station,
which Is Just across the way. and while
l order some breakfast you can go into
the ladies' room and do your hair prop
erly. did my best to get hold of look
ing-glass. but 1t was quite impossible"
The girls sense of humor was suddenly
awake. She had hard work not to scream.
He had evidently thought out all these
details in painstaking fashion, one by
one.
THANK you." she said. II will get up
Immediately. IL you will do as you say"
He clutched the screen from the inside
and dragged it towards the door. On the
threshold, he spoke to her once more.
II shall sit upon the stairs just out
slde.' he announced.
'I sha'nt be more than five minutes"
she assured him.
She sprang out of bed and dressed
quickly. There was nothing beyond where
the screen had been except a table
covered with plans, and a particularly
Aard cane chair which she dragged over
for her own use. AS she dressed, she
began to realize how much this matter
of-fact, unimpressionable young man had
done for her during the last few hours.
The reflection affected her in a curious
manner. She became afflicted with a
Shyness which she had not felt when he
was in the room. When at last she had