Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-12-21
4 thrilling mystery story about a
man who lost his courage and the
girl who helped him to fndH again

r Sidney in his arms fade into an fndet
mite futurity.
I'm not going to give you up" h
said doggedly. "When you come bacE
: I'll be waiting"
The shock being over, and thing
only postponed, he dramatized his grie
a trihe, thrust his hands savagely int,
t his pockets and scowled down tn
street. Sidney smiled up at him.
Good night, joe"
Good night. I say, Sidney, IT.
more than half an engagement. Won
you kiss me good-night?"
She hesitated, flushed and palpitat
Ing. Perhaps, after all, her first kis.
would have gone without her heart
gone out of sheer pity. But a tall fig
ure loomed out of the shadows anC
approached with quick strides.
The roomer" cried Sidney, and
backed away.
Oh the roomer!"
The roomer advanced steadily,
When he reached the doorstep, Sidney
was demurely seated and quite alone,
The roomer looked very warm. He
carried a suitcase, which was as 1t
should be. The men of the Street al
ways carried their own luggage, except
the younger Wilson across the way.
his tastes were known to be luxurious.
Hot, isn't It'll? Sidney inquired,
after a formal greeting. She indicated
the place on the step just vacated by
Joe. You'd better cool off out here.
The house is like an oven. l think [
should have warned you of that before
you took the room. These little houses
with low roofs are fearfully hot"
The new roomer hesitated. He did
not care to establish any relations with
the people in the house. Long eve
nings in which to read, quiet nights in
which to sleep and forget-these were
The things he had come for.
But Sidney had moved over and was
smiling up at him. He folded I'D awk-
Wardly on the low step. He seemed
much too big for the house. Sidney
mad a panicky thought of the little
room upstairs.
I don't mind heat. IL suppose l
don't think about it," said the roomer.
rather surprised at himself,
I'm afraid you'll be sorry you took
the room."
The roomer smiled in the shadow.
I'm beginning to think that you are
sorry"
His quick mind grasped the fact that
1t was the girls bedroom he had taken.
Other things he had gathered that aft
ernoon from the humming of a sewing
machine, from Sidney's businesslike
way of renting the little room, from
the glimpse of a woman in a sunny
WINDOW, bent over a needle. Genteel
poverty was what it meant, and more
the constant drain of disheartened
mlddle-aged women on the youth and
courage of the girl beside him.
X. LIE Moyne, who was living his
own tragedy those days, what with
poverty and other things, swore a quiet
oath to be no further weight on the
girPs buoyant spirit. He had no in
of letting the Street encroach
on him. He had built up q wall be-
tween himself and the rest of the
world, and he would not scale it. But
held no grudge against it. Let 9th
ers get what they could out of living.
Sidney, suddenly practical, broke in
IN his thoughts:
Where are you going to get your
neals?"
Il hadn't thought about 1t. I can
stop in somewhere on my way down
own. / work in the gas ofice-I don't
I told you"
IT'S very bad for you," said Sidney
With decision. sit leads to ~sloyeniy
habits, such as going without when
'oure in a hurry, and that sort of
hing. The only thing is to have some
ne expecting you at a certain time"
1T sounds like marriage" He was
azily amused.
1T sounds like Mrs. McKee's board
ng house at the corner. T%wenty-one
1eals for five dollars, and your ticket
good until it is punched. But Mrs.
lckee doesn't like 1t If you miss" :
Mrs. Mckee for me-" said LIE Moyne. :
dare say I'll be fairly regular to my l
I
1t was growing late. The Street,
hitch mistrusted night air, even on ,
not summer evening, was closing its !
'indows. By shifting his position. the :,
ian was able to see the girls face. !
cry lovely it was, he thought. Very :
ure, almost radiant-and young. =
rom the middle age of his almost
lirty years, she was a child. There :,
nd been a boy in the shadows when :
e came up the Street. OF course there !,
ould be a boy-a nice, clear-eyed :
zap .
Sidney was looking at the O !,
18th that dreamer's part of her that n
lie had inherited from her dead and
me father, she was quietly worship ;,
g the night. But her busy brain !,
as working, too--the practical brain II
at she had got from her mothers :,
de. =
What about your syashing?" she in 81
unexpectedly. Il suppose you've d,
sending things to the laundry, IL
Id-what do you do about your stock W
Z
Buy cheap ones and throw 'em away tr
len they're worn out" There seemed
be no reserves with this surprising
ung person.
"And buttonsT' =
Use safety pins. When they're n
)sed N can button over Them &C Il