Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-25

YOU can lay out the velvet gown. Be
side" she added TO herself Mr.. Leclerc
will know me easier by that"
Yes, Mademoiselle," returned the maid
smiling.
She withdrew from the room. and could
be heard downstairs singing French
love-song softly to herself, as she put
the house to rights. A few minutes later,
she returned to say:
IF Mademoiselle will permit, will
hasten down to the corner drugstore for
some little things I forgot yesterday"
Very well, Sophie"
The front door softly closed as the
maid sped down the block on her errand:
and her mistress. left alone, wondered
what she would have done in this out
ot-the-way corner of the city without
some one she knew and could depend
upon, like Sophie.
An hour later, Miss Ballantync was
summoned downstairs by the telephone.
The first janglinE of the bell set her I'm A
Hutteri her nerves were on edge this
morning. 1t might be her father, calling
her up, as he did frequently, to counsel
and encourage. 1t might be Craig, ex-
plalhing his strange conduct
n strange voice disappointed her hopes.
Hello!' called mans crisp, business
IKE tones. This is Mr.. Cowen talking.
wish to speak with Miss Ballantyne,
please"
This is Miss Ballantyne-but do not
recognize the name"
Cowen, OF Cowcn. Covington & Brown"
oh, ycs." replied Billie, hr. heart
neating more rapidly than ever Ibid
Mr.. Leclerc tell YOU
lantyne."
on I'm so glad-so very glad!"
'Mr. Loclcrc is not here Just now. lie
Is detained on another matter. lie asked
me TO cal you up and postpone the meet
ing slightly 1t was to be at three, 1
understand"
Yes, at three. this afternoon"
Il believe he agreed to deliver TO you
a certain-sentimental article-in which
you are interestcd?"
fes-have you 1t ready?" she asked
breathlesslv.
Certainly. 1 am merely rehcarsing
these details, in order that there may
be no misunderstanding. Now, Miss Bal
lantyne. If you will be good enough to
postpone your visit until four, Mr.. Le-
clerc will be able to see you"
lhlll four? Certainly" Billie agreed;
ana the busincsslike person at the other
end Of the line thanked her, and rang off
Ihat day, ever after, seemed the long
est in the girls memory The minutes
dragged by like so many hours She
tried busying herself with one duty after
anothef-but always she found her fingers
stopping and 'ner eyes gazing away alb
stractedlN, while her mind went over the
phrase, Postpone your visit until four;
POSTPONE your visit until four!"
Could IL really be true? She was SoinE
to get the other blue buckle! She would
see the rest of that strange inscription,
and If she could not make ii out, Craig
would help her-and they together
pshaw! what nonsense! She would never
able to read it herself. She would never
ask another favor, never, of man who
could not let her get out of his sight
without misjudging her!
She bit her lip. and her wandering
thoughts took another course. Sne pic
tured the two buckles at last in her pos
session. and herself presenting them tri-
umphantly at the office of some trust
company. \ MISUNDERSTANDING box
would he turned over to her. after she
had signed her name. oh! loads of times!
She would open the box and gloat over
its contents. Yes, here were bonds and,
maybe, gold or jewels-tne family treas
ures of the Ballantynes-but, best of all,
here were papers. formidable appearing
LEGAL documents which would restore her
fathers good name; would make it no
longer necessary for him to keep hidden
away from the sight of men.
And some day-thus continued her un-
ruly thoughts-she and her father would
drive up openly to the Sandringham.
They would request Mr.. Craig Ruther-
ford please to step down to the reception
room. Her father would thank him for
them both, and explain the few things
he had so persistently misunderstood.
The enlightened young man would, per-
haps beg her pardon, and she would in
terrupt him with, THAT is unnecessary,
Mr. Rutherford I understand, even
though you did not. join my father in
thanking you for all you've done. We
shall always be grateful to you for your
kindness. GoOd-by!' And they would
depart from the room and out of Mr..
Rutherfords life.
How we love to dwell on those that leave
little parting scene, over and over, and
each time thought of something more
clever, more cutting to say. Then, by
a sudden revulsion Of memory she pic
tured Craig at this moment lying i'll,
wounded. she did not know how serious
ly-and more than likely because she had
enlisted him in her service!
Four O'Clock came at last; and pune
tual to the stroke she presented herself
at the spacious suite of offices where
Mr.. Lecerc was to await her The office
boy smiled at her, and without waiting
for her to give her name or errand
started toward the inner office.
"Tn tell Mr.. Cowen," he said "He
was just going, but l don't think he has
left the office yet"
CONTINUED TOMORROW