Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-10

| were being pulled down to make room
| for the ever-present business block and
! apartment house. Furnished-room and
boarding-house signs dangled dejectedly
| as IL they knew that their days of use
| fulness were numbered the moment the
| drifting lime-and-brlcf dust settled over
/ them. Altogether. IL was not the neigh
! horhood which Rutherford would have
expected a woman like Mrs. Talcott TO
find agreeable.
She was looking intently at the house in
front of them.
ut hasn't changed, except to grow
| ugler. perhaps she observed.
| At this moment, spiclS-and-span young
man, who had perched on the stone
| railing of the stoop, came down the steps.
''ls this ---?' he began.
You are Mr.. MAXWELL" she inter
rupted, before he could finish his ques-
tlon.
I'm his SON." the young man aclnowl-
| edged, with n buoyant breeSiness which
| Craig keenly enjoyed as pure product
| of the homeland to which he was re-
! turning. "The governor sent me down
with the keys, and wanted me to say
that IL everything wasn't all right he
would do anything necessary"
"Thanls you. Mr. Maxwell che said.
smiling at him. Now will you go In
with us and see?"
tatlon, with look which begged him
to accept as plainly as words could have
done. Urged by his curiosity by the hope
that something would transpire to give
him a. chance to believe her what she so
attractively looked to be, Craig followed
her.
"t hate 10 20 alone into an unoccu-
pied house." she said, half in apology.
Craig entered the high-celllnged, quaint
" plnbOrafa pprlOr with n gat n thOuuhta
end feelings curlously confused. To every
little appeal on her part, he instantly re-
ponded with " thrill. He loved her; and
he doubted her. He believed that she was
playing with him; and he could not dis
guise tho keen happiness he felt at her
dependence upon him. real or simulated
Her next words, when they were scarce
ly inside the house, gave Rutherford
slight shock.
'Mr Maxwell-the pistol. pleasep'
ooh, of course! said that young man,
producing n box from his pocket, and talk
Ing from it hammerless revolver. You
are accustomed to firearms, Miss
Mrs.
"Oh, yesl" she interrupted quickly. with
glance at him.
Maxwell explained tho mechanism of
tho gun, and she followed him with n
ready grasp which indicated that she was,
indeed, familiar with weapons. Ruther-
ford wondered what II all meant.
Laying the gun on the table, she took
three rectangular boxes from tho small
pigskln bag, which she had carried con-
stantly in her hand.
you know what these are, Mr.. Max
well?" she asked.
"of course" replied Maxwell. with his
usual enthusiasm; they are the"
The girl again interrupted him.
"Will you kindly adjust them according
to the instructions you have received?"
Without another word. Maxwell took the
three boxes, and left tho room. Ruther-
ford heard him ascend to the next floor.
where he was occupied for about five
minutes; then he rejolned them.
Now if there's anything more 1 can
do, just call on me-" he announced hearth
ly. And he produced a card and handed
1t with a flourish to rutherford.
Craig saw the blush with mantled the
girls cheeks, as the significance of the
action struck her. Maxwell had taken
him for her husband. He glanced at
the card, finding some sly amusement In
the situation.
"sprawlins American Sporting Goods
House! You represent them, Mr.. Max
well?"
You bet I do But do side Jobs for
the governor, when he's rushed. He's
real estate, you know. I guess 1 must
move on now.'
Mrs. Talcott thanked him again, and
dismissed him.
'I think that will be all at present.
Mr.. Rutherford will look about
"Rutherford" exclaimed Maxwell look
ing at the other man with the frank ad-
miratlon given by all sport-enthusiasts
to their heroes II thought your face
looked familiar You're old Craig Ruther-
fordI"
ar m, tbotpb r~r,Io, ,s,opto5
Maxwell seized his hand and wrung Il
with unbounded and slightly-paIntul de-
light
by George, sir. I'm glad to see you
looking SO fltl So that's why you've been
so long on the other side-gettlng over the
effects of that last spill 1 thought. after
your horse landed you on top of that
cobble-fence and then fell on top OF you,
out there on Long Island-why. thought
you were done for! We all did Sprawl
ins nearly weptl I'll tell him you look
fit as a fiddle. It's great!'
Craig smiled at his boyish enthusiasm,
and promised to call in to see Sprawlins
soon.
"Going in for polo again this year, sir.
or do you intend to recapture that golf
trophy2" Maxwell persisted.
Rutherford said he really didn't know;
and the boy turned with this parting shot:
"Well anything I can do for you here,
command me at any time-you, or Mrs
Rutherford"
The girl crlmsoned at this apnellatlon.
"Thls is Mrs. Talcott," said Rutherford,
quietly.
beg pardonl I know that was the
name the governor said-but I-well. you
see, 1 Just did a little bit of original
thinking and got mixed, that's alll'
Then he made hasty adieu and dis
appeared.
Rutherford knew that he was alone in
the house with this girl. He stepped 10
the window. pulled back the shade which
was drawn down. saw that the cab piled
with his possessions was stiu waiting, and
then turned to make his excuses.
I'm say good-by now, Mrs. Talcott-"
he began, somewhat awkwardly
Don't go-yet," she said.
"There Is something 1 can do?"
Lots of thlngs!" she affirmed, smiling
shyly at him; "and I've Just been learning |
about Othersp
"From my admrer?" laughed Craig. |
''Well, it's good TO have one friend at
court, anyways And perhaps he will take
In,