Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-22

"I cannot tell you" she replied. .u
"Then shall suspend Judgment un'''
| you can" -, -.
"You have judged me already" she
said ..u
"Then I shall reverse the decision untii
shall we say tomorrow
"Oh, that is too soon -,
Until YOU explain then" he announced
"what Is the-frst thing-you want me
! TO explain?" she asked, very low.
/ How can your father have duai per,
sonality-can be in two places at once
He did not want to accuse her' IN 80
many words, of falsehood; and now m
stead of cringlng under his Implied ac-
cusation, she merely laughed. LOOKING
at her he felt all desire to cross-eNaHlno
die away within him, and instead man
like eagerness TO make the most OF ms
opportunity with this provoking Dit OIL
femininity.
Miss. what other name have you
beside Wilhelmina?" he asked, laying
his hand upon the little gloved one by
his side.
"Father calls me Billie" she answered
"Bnlie. Billie. Bllllep he whispered, and
with every utterance Of the saucy little
name he drew nearer to her.
At this moment the cab stopepd.
Look, we're home. and there's Sophie
out In front. I'm glad she returned before
did"
They had. in fact. drawn up in front
of the West 10th street house The maid
was just going UP the steps, evidently
from an afternoon out. Rutherford, pro-
voked, assisted his companion to alight,
and she ran UP the stairs TO give some
instructions to her maid. The latter
glanced around furtively at Rutherford
before unlocking the door and going in.
Miss Billie. I'm coming in" announced
Ty,,NI l.I t., tp1 indicated
that he meant to carry out his intention.
"I have something important to say"
Miss Ballantyne made no protest, for
she seemed to see that II would be use
less Rutherford came in.
"Oh, Mademolsele, the telephone has
been ringing-long!" said the maid, COM
ing back TO meet them. shall / answer
It,, Yes?"
mo will answer, Sophie" said her
She went upstairs, and Craig followed.
The bell was. indeed. ringing with
long insstency that suggested It
had been doing so for long while.
Miss Ballantyne took the receiver. and
at the first words she turned pale.
wait n moment" she said to the |
other person: "Mr. Rutherford Is here.
Tell him, please"
Rutherford was by her side. Her voice |
old him that something had happened. |
She held out the receiver to him.
"Wait!" he whispered, and he tiptoed |
luetly back and closed the door who |
8 it?" he said, returning.
Father" she answered.
Hello, Mr.. Rutherford" the voice |
allied II disliked to alarm my daugh- |
er unnecessarily, but l have reason to
believe that some persons, one of them a |
nan, visited the rooms there, this after
loon"
"Where-here?"
Yes"
DO you know who they wersT'
81 heard n mans voice and a woman's |
'oice. I didn't recognize the latter, but |
he man was Helderman."
what! Helderman!"
Yes, l couldn't possibly be mistaken
n his voice. 1 heard him plainly"
THE woman couldn't have been the
Maid here?" Rutherford spoke low into
he transmitter Perhaps she was ex-
laining her mistress absence to a
aller."
"Nonsense" retorted Mr.. Ballantyne,
atIently. "I know Sophies voice, of
curse. 1t was another woman"
weren't you here?" Craig inquired
luntly.
They were talking about-the blue
uckle," the answer came. evadIng his
uestion, apparently.
about what timer
Between a quarter after and half
asst"
Rutherford glanced at his watch. II
as siX-flfteen.
Your daughter was not here then.