Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-18

touch to his performance, he added:
You, too. Gollcy! You're discharged"
Mike tramped out after the two depart
ing crooks. but he wore cheerful grin.
"Ifeighol" sighed Craig stretching him
self II feel better now. That setting-up
exercise is great-when the other fellow
does 1t for you"
XIII
THE LITTLE ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Feeling much more himself than he
had felt all that day, rutherford sailed
forth about dusk for brisk stroll. He
disappointed the waiting cabby. the same
man who had driven him to Riverside
Drive, by shaking his head negatively
and set his face downtown as he bran
dished his substantial walking stick
Across Madison Square he walked,
striking Firth avenue at the Flatiron
Building, and following that brilliantly
lighted thoroughfare down toward the
spot where the white curve OF Washing
ton Arch marked the end OF the old
fashionable section
As he walked on, he pondered over the
changes which had taken place in the
fine old avenue, even during his own
memory of it-changes which had pro-
ceeded so rapidly that he was actually
startled by the difference shown in the
two short years OF his recent absence
FROM lith street to 23d n mass Of tall
ugly buildings had sprung up, almost
oblleratng the last of the old brown
stone fronts and Haunting signs OF Lofts
to Let or worse still, the sign OF some
foreign Parmcnt-workers' shop Craig
rubbed his eyes. Could this be 5th ave
nue. the most famous boulevard OF this
great city: or had he blundered into some
street on the East Side? only the arch
at tho far end and the few blocks below
l4th street preserved any semblance of
the dignity of the old. Craig was to have
this fact brought still moro forcibly home
to him one day later, when he tried to
walk down the avenue during the noon
hour. Tho sidewalks were a teeming
mass Of humanity, straight from the
Ghetto. and newsboys hawked papers in
foreign tongue. Craig was forced more
than once into the street itself, in order
to pass this turgid mass: and was also
included in the impatient, raucous COM
mand of the officer to Move on" Could
this be America, he thought; and was
this the priced thoroughfare of an Amer
ican city?
Tonight however. before lie reached
the arch. he turned at right angles down
side street. Rambling old West 10th
street has no particular charms for a
pedestrian, but through 1t he proceeded,
impelled by something to which he gave
no name, but acknowledged, neverthe-
less.
Presently he reached the house that he
had entered with the supposed Mrs. Tai
colt, 1t was dark. He glanced at his
watch as he passed the street lamp, and
found 1t was I O'Clock. He wondered just
what would be the proper thing to do at
this informal hour. Certainly it was too
early to call. why hadn't he thought of
that before? He decided to stroll back
and forth down the block bit, and think
it over.
Suddenly tho door of the house opcned
and a girl, wrapped in a gray ulster, and
with little close hat drawn down over
her hair came down tho steps. He had
seen the cloak too often not to recognize
it. The blue buckle had dangled from It,
after the attack on board the Gothic.
The girl walked quickly to the street
lamp he had Just passed. There was a
mail box there, and she was evidently
mailing a letter. lie followed her quietly
until she had stopped at the box.
May 7 mail it for you, Miss Ballan-
tyne?" he asked. lifting his hat.
The girl gave little cry OF surprise.
"Why, Mr.. Rutherford, how you startled
me-" Then with a touch of hauteur:
"Thank you, Pm quite able to manage
it,"
But Craig was quietly helping her
with tho box lift, as though his presence
here were the most natural and welcome
tnlnB III lHe WOTlu-ucllHeT OF WHICH
seemed true.
"a truce. Miss Ballantyne." he said.
smiling at her frankly "T don't blame
your being offended after last night, but
things are too much upset at present for
the commanding General''-hc bowed to
her-"to be at outs with the high private
i'm the rear ranlis"'
"ITas anything else happencd?" she
asked quickly, forgetting her pique In
the meaning which might underlie his
words.
Nothing highly important. yet some
what diverting. I'll tell you all about 1t
later, If / may. only please accept my
apologies for last night, won't you?"
She hesItated a second, and then ex-
tended her hand. "Mr. Rutherford" she
said simply, 1--we already owe you too
much to hold grudges, and father Is very
much distressed over it all. He is posi-
lively i'll today
Can ] see him." asked Craig. Impul-
slvely. 81 could at least offer him a
good cigar"
Miss BalIantyne laughed in spite of
herself at his boylshness; but as he
turned toward the house she drew back
uneasily
"No, you can't see him tonight" she
said.
"Why. isn't he at homer"
"No-that is"
"It seems to me he is never visible,
even when at home" observed Craig.
The girl smiled in an amused sort OF
way. as though she were making game
of him. But she made no reply.