Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-27

I TT WAS insufferably hot, and Betty had
i lost her way. Just as she rounded the
corner of the Via Apoloni somebody
seized her silver mash handbag from
behind, and yanked it from her grasp.
! "Oh DEAR bother you" she exclaimed,
and, being young and American and ath-
! letic. she promptly turned and chased the
! fleeing figure of the thief
He was short and young. Not once
! did he look back. The click of Betty's
! heels on the uneven pavement was
| enough to tell him he was followed a
| few children took up the case and wom-
! ems heads appeared above at open case
! ments. Suddenly the thief lodged across
! the street around a spouting faun's head
| fountain projecting from the wall. and
| by the time she gained the same point
| there was no sign of him.
"He went in these, Signora,' girl
spoke from a doorway, lazily, pointing
/ at small church. The iron gates were
/ open
Under the shade of a wide-spreading,
/ old olive tree sat Bellamy Talbot. paint
! ing placidly on the canvas before him.
! Somehow the unexpected sight of him
/ just at this instant inhamed Betty's ris-
| ing indignation and anger. 1t was quite
| like him to appear suddenly on her per-
| sonal horizon like this at an awkward
| moment after successfully eVading her
all over the Continent.
The silver handbag contained some
! change her cardcase. handkerchief and
| two or three bills. Also II held a round
medallion locket, plain dull gold, with
| her monogram on It, There seemed to
! be only one exit to the church. At its
! back rose a high red brick wall, She hes
! itated one small tan suede slipper rest
! ing on the first step leading to the en-
trance. The girl from the doorway
| strolled across and leaned her elbows on
| the iron railing.
"signor Bell-ml" she called. Bellamy
shook his head He was painting the
red brick wall and tho droopine olive
tree, the gray stone flags beneath, and
a slice from the old church. Being In the
middle of a wash he resented intrusion.
| She came nearer. "foninO has been
stealing again. He is hiding In the
church now. He has the signorina's
"Oh. thunderationl" he murmured be-
meath his breath. Betty forgot the thief,
and chuckled 10 hear the old gasp OF
| exasperation. He ran his fingers quickly
through his hair. and stood up willingly.
What do you want, Betty2'
| 'That's a pleasant tactful greeting" ="
| said Betty mildly. Aren't you glad TO
/ see me? I didn't come after you, Bel
lamy. I'm chasing somebody who stole
my handbag"
/ I f'lOnllOf Alt HhA aAli+NAAANAiNNNf
The name reused Bellamy.
"But YOU can't arrest Tonino, He's
my best model He sits Tor me from
3 10 u daily, Betty
Hes going to sit for me-" said Betty,
aimly. "If they have jails In Florence,
he's going to sit for me in a CELL
Rellamy climbed the steps Of the church
three al q time. lie vanished inside the
cool dim archway. and Betty waited.
'sWhere does he lve?" she asked the
girl
an Norma Nedda's house. with the
| areen blinds and red peppers on the bal
| comics" She pointed Il out down the
street .He has painted a long while here
lie has my picture too. sell melons
in The fountain square. He painted me
there with the flower stands behind me
and the doves ali around lie says he
may never go back 10 America"
aOh. but he will" Betty said positively.
lie has dead heart the girl
answered. gently lie has lost love
AIonna Nedea says so.Y