The Ordway new era., 1915-02-12
GQeNpI0s2y Ga.2 % SssssS.L. SssssS.L CO.

| Pierce said, with something ike nope
In his voice. We'll send for Mr.. Van
Alstyne! That's the thing. of course.
I'll send for-er-Jim."
Mr.. Van Alstyne's name is Sam. but
nobody noticed.
"Mr. Van Alstyne!" repeated Miss
Patty in a dazed way.
| guessed 1t was about time to make
diversion. so knocked and walked
in with the tray. and they glared at
me. EV
I've brought your supper, Mr.. Car
ter" ! began. Then l stopped and
stared. oh" l said.
Thank you," said Mr.. Pierce. very
uncomfortable. Just put 1t down any
where"
| l stalked across the room and put
1t on the table. Then l turned. I'm
sorry" said. but it's one of the rules
of this house that guests don't come
to these rooms. They're strictly pri-
vate. 1t isn't my rule. but IL you Will
step down to the parlor-"
Mr.. Pierce took a quick step toward
Miss Patty and looked down at her.
| "About-what happened downstairs
tonight" he stammered. with the un-
happiest face ever saw on man,
l"I-I've been ready to knock my fool
head on ever since. 1t was mistake
Ia" MI
MY letter. please" said Miss Patty.
looking back at him without blink.
| please don't look like that" he
begged. Il came in suddenly out OF
| the darkness, and you" u
"My letter, pleased" she said again,
raising her eyebrows.
He gave up trying then. He held
out the letter and she took 1t and went
out with her head up and scorn In
| the very way she trailed her skirt
| over the door-sill. But I'm no fool; 1t
didn't need the way he touched the
| door-knob where she had been hold.
ing it, when he closed the door after
her, to tell me what allied him. He
was crazy about her from the minute
he saw her, and he hadn't q change OF
linen or cent to his name. And she.
as you might say. on the ragged edge
of royalty. with queens and princes
sending her. stomachers and tiaras un-
til she'd hardly need clothes. Well,
a cat may look at . king. .s.,it
He went over to the fireplace. where
/ was putting his coffee to keep 1t
hot, and looked down at me.
1--WE suspicion, Minnie" he said,
that. to use a vulgar expression. I've
bitten OF more than l can chew In
this little undertaking. and that I'm
in imminent danger of choking to
death. Do you know anybody. friend
OF Miss-er-Jennings. named Doro.
thy?"
she's got q younger sister Of that
name," l said, with sort OF chill
going over me. She's in boarding.
school now"
"Oh, no. she's not!" he remarked,
picking up the coffee-pot. ut seems
that met her on the train somewhere
or other the day before yesterday, and
ran of with her and married her!"
l sat back ON the rug speechless.
Don't tell me the way of the wicked is
hard; the wicked get all the fun there
1 is out Of life, and as far as l can see,
it's the respectable Gin at ten O'Clock
and up at seven" part of the wicked's
family that has all the trouble and
does the worrying. rugf
| IF we could only. keep 1t hidden for
few days." said. But. OF course.
the papers will get 1t. and just now,
with columns every day about Miss
Patty's clothes"
"Her what?"
"And all the princes of the blood
sending presents, and the king not IA
voring 1t very much"
What are you talking about?'
About Miss Jennings wedding.
Don't you read the newspaper"
He hadn't really known who she was
up to that MINUTE. He put down the
tray and got up.
FL hadn't connected her with the
1.-The newspaper, Miss Jennings" he
said, and lighted a cigarette over the
lamp Something In his face startled
me. must say.
you're not going to give up now?"
l asked. l got up and put my hand on
his arm, and l think he was shaking.
'If you do, Ill-Ill go out and drown
myself. head down, in the spring"
He had been going to run away-I
saw 1t then-but he put a hand over
mine Then he looked at the door
where Miss Patty had gone out and
gave himself shake.
| '1ll stay" he Sid. Wen fight it
out on this line II it takes all summer,
Minnie. After all. what's blue blood
to good red blood?"
Which was almost what the bishop
had said!
Mr.. Moody took Indigestion that
night-not but that he always had 1t,
but this was worse-and Mrs. Moody
came to my room about two o'clock
and knocked at the door.
You'd better come" she said.
There's no doctor, and he's awful
bad"
We went down to Mr.. Moody's room,
and he was sitting up in bed with his