The Washington times., 1916-01-26

and leaned against the pile, Weak-and
faint from the terrible stranu. At her
feet was the old battered hand organ
forgotten.
Suddenly she remembered that there
was great deal of danger still to he |
surmounted. She must md June inIme- !
diately ard warn her. The wldness of
this particular prank worried her |
cruelty. How far was this stain i'll the |
girls blood likely to go? She stumbled |
through the sand keeping a sharp looh-
out. |
Reaching the sidewalk. she hurried on, !
watching for glimpse of a pale PINK |,
frock and white hat. Her heart |
thumped in her breast and her throat |
felt parched and feverish.
She fancied that every woman i'll light
clothes was June, until she came along
side. A desert mirage could not lave
been more elusive than her quarry. ,
People turned to watch her with curious
interest.
At last spot of pink against a
background of green came to her eyes
She knew the free. easy stride and the
line Of the straight shoulders. Ii was
June coming out of the park Mary
hurried up to her.
you broke your word to me-" she
charged, Indignantly. not waiting Tor
explanations. There is no excuse Tor
what you have done. You have robbed
a Door man of fils means Of making
livelihood" ,e,
ly. In the first place. didn promise
you anything. Mary In the second
there is an excuse for what I've done.
I've saved a helpless animal from
cruel master AS for deprivlng that
Italian of his means OF making a living
that's a fine way for great Dig
husky man to make living, Ism II
BY grinding out wheezy tunes on little
hand organ and kicking and beating a
little monkey"
That doesn't make any difference"
argued Mary. stubbornly. 1T was none
interfere. And no matter what excuses
YOU make-you can't take away the
fact that it was robbery"
We'll, if it was robbery, I'm glad OF
it. June said, sullenly.
LET me see your right hand COM
ma nded the old woman.
June raised it listlessly. 1t was free
of the mark. She threw her arms
around Mary's neck. in sudden shame.
Don't be angry with me-" she plead
ed softly. Il can't nelp these things
do. l don't want to worry, you or
make you unhappy, dear but tbs thing
whatever it is. gets the best of me-
Don't be angry, dear"
Mary's heart softened at the helpless
ness OF the plea. She put her arms
around the girl and led her down n side
street toward the Travis home. On the
way June regained her high spirits.
When they reached the house the nurse
was laughing heartiy-all fear and
dread forgotten.
Coming along the walk toward the
house. June broke away from Mary and
ran up the steps to greet Mrs. Travis.
who had Just come through the doorway
Where have you been. child?" asked
Mrs. Travis anXiousy. I've been un-
easy about you. You and Mary go
wandering off and forget to come home.
Stay with me little while. won't you?
hor IItr ctDH
at Surftor. Don't you ever get tired
rushing about so. DEAR"
Yes. I do. I'm tired right now.
mother. Are we going to have lunch
ut will be served in fifteen minutes
and We're going to have something that
You like. too"
What"
Guess"
'Jce cream with marrons.'
Correct. The very first time. Well.
well. What is coming in here
Mrs. Travis looked toward the oh
servation porch. She seemed to be both
perpleXed and amused. Mary turned
nervously. and looked in the same dircc-
tion. June knew without looking.
Tearing down the path leading from
the porch to the main entrance was a
squat. greasy figure CARRYING a hand
organ and pursued by a uniformed po-
brought ur the rear, his excitement
making him accelerate his accustomed
stately tread into a dog trot.,
The Italian stumbled up the steps,
tripping over his hand organ; so the
patrolman reached the little group Of
women first.
Madam, l did not wish that the
man beggar to annoy your honorable
self" painted Nama. greatly distressed
Nov, that's all right. Son--thats
just all right for YOU" inlerrupte ed
the policeman. "All we want is a little
description from this lady AMI then
were through. had to bring job
Lots here with me because he's the
guy who lost the monk. See? Now
lady; addressing Mary, IL Nou
wouldn't mind I'd like a detailed de.
scription of the woman YOU saw Will
the monkey"
He took out an important looking
memoranIum hook aud a pencil that
looked as though it had been sharp
ened with a hairpin. Mrs. Travis. al
at sea at this sudden intrusion. locke,
from one to the other, seeking an cX'
planation. June alone seemed calm
Her mouth corners twitChed suSpi
CiouslY as II she were resisting
laugh. or. rather, miSchievOus gig
gle.
fcer. pompously. hair, eyes,"
This woman had bright red hair
began Mary staring tiXedly at June
brown head, land blue eyes. But
didn't see any circle on her hand, a
you talked of down on the beach an
as the Italian seemed to think"
We'll, no; of course. not. That's cas-
lily understood" The patrolman ha
slcuth ambitions also. ~ on were to
far away from her. You didn't knON
it was there, so you weren't lookln
for it. And again the light may hav
been so that you couldn't have seen
even if you had looked See? a
those things might have happened,
he wound up, Importantly.
"Of course. they might" echoed June
coming forward. your argument
very logical, officer.
THANK YOU. miss" stammorrd IN
amateur crime specialist. Good day
GoOu d4V to YOU. ma AM
lie swung around with almost mn
tary manner and dragged tho halt-d"a
Petro off the porch. June watch"
them 60, a gavIl disdainful smile q
her lips. As thcr disappeared Ir"l
view sh" awaved catching at the nar
OF char tor support.
'ISne! Darling, you re LsApt! Mr.