The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-08-21
re-enterlDg the room.

1T isn't McGovern. It's some one at
the Long Acre theater," be told him.
holding the door.
Dan hurried out.
1.-THE theater-wonder what's up?"
he muttered.
Crawford closed the door and ran
over to the bedroom.
"Has he gone| asked Nora. who was
pale and trembling.
"Not yet, but he will leave in a min.
ute," he whispered.
He doesn't suspect I'm here?"
"Of course not. How could he?"
II don't know, but l wish l were
home"
"Now, now! Don't get ratified" he
said. patting her cheek and closing the
door.
Mallory came back laughing.
1T was O'Brien," he explained. HE
says they can't find their girls on the
stage. an Mrs. O'Brien's in the lobby
insistin' that some ones kidnapped her
darlin's. Amt that rich! They don't
recognize 'em in their stage get-up. l
bet the old mans got his hands full,
an l better get move on. Where's
my hat? I'll call you up in the mornin'
before leave. What's the quickest
way DOWNTOWN
you had better take the subway at
Eighty-sixth street and get of at
Times square," advised Crawford,
handing the hat to him.
The men shook hands, and Crawford
went to the front door to let his vis-
Nor out.
Left in Crawford's bedroom, Nora had
stood shaking with terror, afraid to
move. Her first thought was that Patsy,
when the latter found that she had left
the theater, must have suspected that
she had carried out the idea of calling
on Crawford and asking him for the
note and had sent Dan after her. She
expected the bedroom door to open and
to find herself face to face with him.
Aallory's CHEEKY greeting to Crawford
and the manner in which their con-
versation opened-for the trainers loud
voice was easily audible-soon reas-
sured her. Evidently he was ignorant
Of her presence, and If he did not
have occasion to come into that room
would never know she was there. She
did not suppose that Crawford would
allow him to enter, but she looked
around for place in which to hide in
ease of emergency.
She liked Crawford more than ever.
How nice he had been to her-how
gentle and courteous! She had felt all
along that Patsy had misjudged him.
Patsy. anyhow, was suspicious of every
man who was nice and was always
preaching instead of minding her own
business. 1t was strange. though. that
he should have made her sign her IA
theirs name to that note. She wonder
ed whether he had not done so simply
to humor her because she had insisted
upon having the debt regarded as a
business matter. She inclined to the
belief that he had and that it was not,
after all, such serious thing as Patsy
had tried to make out. Why should
he, who had proved that he was her
friend. seek to injure her? There was
NO doubt, however. that she had done
wrong in signing her fathers name,
and it was imperative that she should
procure the note and destroy it. She
was sure Mr.. Crawford would give it
to her for the asking. He was so good.
True. he had kissed her hands and her
eyes, and she was far from being sure
that this was the proper way for a
gentleman to treat a young girl, but
he had done it in such kindly, father
~ way that she could not feel Offend
ed. Moreover. it proved one thing
that he liked her very, very much. She
considered this quite natural, for was
she not pretty-much better looking
than most Of the girls she knew? And
she supposed that all real gentlemen
who married girls began by making
love in that manner The kissing of
hands. at all events, entered largely
into counting as it was done in plays.
At last she heard the other door slam,
and. looking into the glass to see that
she was all right and adjusting her hair
with few deft touches of her fingers,
she opened the bedroom door to
emerge. There, almost within touch,
but with his back turned to her, stood
Mallory, lighting his cigar. Her heart
stopped beating, and she nearly faint
ed. Her hand was still on the handle,
however, and she had sufficient pres
ence of mind to pull the door to swift
~. She thought that Dan had seen
her, and she stood back. with banched
face and dilated eyes, waiting for what
would follow.
Nothing happened, however, and she
soon satisfied herself that he had not
noticed her imprudent sortie, but her
nerves were so unstrung by the mar
row escape and the emotions Of the
evening that she had but one desire
to get out and away from the place as
quickly as possible.
When Crawford returped to his den
after escorting Mallory to the door he
paused before rejoining Nora to con-
slider what he should do. He had been
making splendid progress when that
marplot of Mallory had interrupted
him by his unwelcome visit.
He pressed button beside the fire.
place. and Rogers appeared.
Il want nice little supper for two
at once" said Crawford. Fix it on
this little table. 1t will be cozier than
on the larger one."
'.Verv good sir. What would Won