Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-26
CHAPTER x1x-tcontInuedl.

CHAPTER XIX-(Contlnued).
Miss Ballantyne wondered how tho boy
could know who she was so quickly, anu anu
n II were customary In large othces Hhe
this to tell an office boy so accurateIy Oh
expected clients. In a moment he was
back. asking her to follow.
''Mr. Cowen is glad he waited H'o-
ment longer. he says
The boy seemed disposed to treat her
like an old friend, although she coula
not remember having seen him before
Perhaps all New York office boys were
free and easy! -
There were two men seated IN the
room, into which she was ushered. one
she recognized as Mr.. Leclerc, peering
at her from behind his heavy glasses.
The other was evidently Mr.. Cowen, as
he sat behind desk piled high win
papers. Mr.. Leclerc arose. She ap-
preached him with hand extended
"You are here on time, Mr.. Leclerc'
she said. pleasantly.
remarked, not noticing her hand at frst'
then taking 1t as II her greeting rather
surprised him. ,.
"Back?' she repeated. why, haven't
been away ,,
Nor said Leclerc. seemingly puzzled
at her presence
Mr.. Cowen had risen from ms place
behind the desk
SIS there something further we can do
for you, Miss Ballantyne?" he inquired
cohrteously.
"Further?" she questioned. smilingly,
'srhis is>Mr. Cowen, l believer
"Certainly," he replied looking Keen
" at her. At thought we agreed that
everything was properly adjusted
$50 1 understood you to say she an
swered her mind reverting to the tele-
phone conversation, land l have come
for-the blue buckle"
'a,rhe blue buckIe?" Lec1erc repeated
while Cowen appeared to listen to this
strange conversation without compre-
hending 1t.
girl said.
"And you got 1t, as I promised"
Leclerc replied.
ishment.
''The buckle" Cowen interjected. eve
gave It to you half an hour ago.
"Why, Mr.. Cowen, I have only just
come!" she protested.
''You have only just come back OF
course But you were here half an -Four
ago"
The girls eyes opened wide and she
gazed from one man to the other.
"Am l dreaming-or are you? You
told me at first to come at three
(Which you did. Miss Ballantyne," OBJ
served Cowen, with lawyer-like preci-
sion.
Indeed. I did not. I obeyed your tele-
phoned instructions to come at four in
stead" she answered, with gentle in
sistence.
Mr.. Cowen stood silent moment; then
he said: Miss Ballantyne, I did not tele-
phone you"
mot this morning."
mot this morning-or any other time"
Eillie listened to his calm tones, as II
In a trance While he spoke II came
10 her that his voice was not at all like
the one she had heard over the tele-
phone.
but you came at three. just the same.
and we turned over the buckle to you"
Leclerc interposed. The conversation
seemed to him meaningless and futile.
you mean that you have delivered the
buckle TO somebody" she cried. start
ing forward.
1--WE delivered it to you-don't you re-
member? Why. here is your own receipt
for iti'
Mr. Cowen advanced from behind the
desk, holding a slip of paper In his
hand. She came TO meet him, and the
bright light of the desk lamp, the only
artificial light I'm the room, made neces-
sary TO overcome the shadows from the
neighboring sky-scrapers cast by the de-
elining sun, outlined the graceful gray
figure and the winsome face clearly.
why, you are not the woman to whom
we gave the buckle!" he cried, aghast
''You are not Miss Ballantyne"
Realizing that she stood upon the
threshold of some terrible mistake, the
girl stood silent, with quivering lips,
while the lawyer continued to survey
her, as though she were an apparition
His keen eyes went over every detail
OF her costume, from the broad, black hat
with ita quaint plume running out and
then under the brim, TO the velvet gown;
and thence 90 the trim slippers orna-
fnented BY their old-fsshioned silver
buckles. Every detail was the exact du-
plieate or q costume worn by an earlier
caller; yet he knew this was not the
sam woman.
Leclerc. excited. worried by this new
complication, came close TO the girl and
peered impersonaliy into her face, through
his thick glasses.
Good heavens. Mr.. Convent he ex-
claimed, 'this is the real Miss Ballantyne
The one / met up at the hotelP'
And the other woman has the buckle"
coWen almost groaned.
Ia their excitement they had given no
thought to the mental anguish of the girl
Covers last words seemed to exhaust
The last bit OF her fortitude, already Sc
xerely tried that day. With a stihed
eohlr she collapsed into a pathetic heap
ar0n the door.
The Two men lifted her elumslly 10 the
nearest chair, and brought her a glass
II water, They layed her temples, and
sbo opened her eyes wearily, but at first
uttered 30 Word. either OF complaint or
IHanks she was thinking, IN dumb
asere " hag father awaiting her re-
Iara ellh the bueale. The clew 10 their
property aud his unfedeemad hoHor. NoB
~ eaehIc Hae sHlritad aWay-by that
zs41 q eaam tislderman had warned