The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-04

her painting things went to the museum Harr, was not there when she arrived, but after sht had wandered about for time, enjoying the op portunity to look at the pictures, she saw hin come in and take his place before the Monns Wanna. She waited little longer, and then went up to him, rather timidly.
 "Oh beg your pardon !' she said. q won der-would you mind very much if I sat here and copied the picture, too?"
 He turned to her with faint start of an noyance But she pretty enough to disar him at once. However, it in rather un- gracious tone that he replied
 Tt is not my picture my dear young lady, he said. You or anyone else can come here and copy any picture you like.'
 Despite this rather rude beginning, they were soon chatting amicably.
 Mary, meanwhile, had also been at work. She had taken out from the trunk the two old pieces of jewelry that Mona had found and cleaned them, although she did not clean them so well as to make them look too new. And with these she went to the shop of Melnotte. She was lucky enough to find Melnotte disen- gagged He sized her up at once from her timid, indifferent manner, as woman in distress, and, because she was good looking, attended to her himself.
 IT want to borrow something on these, If you please" she said, laying her trifes be- fore him. He picked them up sniffed, and then pushed them back to her.
 For heavens sake-what do you bring me stuff like this for?" he asked contemptu- ously This is nothing but junk you've got, my dear: And this isn't pawn shop! We buy and, of course, for good customer, we will sometimes arrange 1oan.'
 Mary looked at him piteously. And then, as she picked up the pin and the bracelet she began to weee.
 ''Oh-oh!" she sobbed "What am I to do? What am to do? I have nothing else left and you say these are worthless! Oh, don't know what to dol have got to have money, or I'll be put out of my room.''
 Menotte pretty thorough paced ScOuD0rR1 but ba had ctIaa H. Of him that made him sorry for Mary. He might have conquered that and have hardened his heart if she hadn't been so unusually attrac- tive. But the whole thing was too much for him. He may have had vague idea that if he put so pretty girl under obligations to him he might make her like him well enough to be rather nice to him later. So he came around the counter and took another look at her offering.
 'Well, now, I'll tell you. young lady," he said. II ought not to have said this was junk It's old stuff, and suppose the things are heir. 1ooms?"
 "0h, yes !" sobbed Mary 'Theyve been in my famlly ever so long, and I wouldn't dream of parting with them if I weren't so desperate!" !"
 Well, well, don't cry," said Melnotte. "Ill tell you-the value of these things is sentimental NO one would buy them from me, so it wouldn t be business for me to give you anything for them But l don't like to you in trouble You keeL the things and I'll see what can be done for you Suppose you let walk around to your rooms with you and if I can't keep your landlady quet?"
 Mary understood his purpose perfectly well He wanted to see if she had been telling the truth. But she agreed, tearfully, and in a few minutes gave him ample proof of her story. He was impressed by the barren poverty of the room she shared with Mona and he did not notice that anyone else lived in the room. There was little enough, indeed, to indicate that there were two of them there!
 "How much do you owe?' he asked Mary told him the exact amount-because, of course she expected indirectly to get much out of him than she could have done by naming a greater sum, which must still have been petty
 "There you are!' he said. 'I'll lend you the money, and when your ship comes in you can pay me back
 Mary was overcome with gratitude, and she did not resist when he took her hand and com forted her by batting it. She did cry, however.
 "Oh-it's hard to take charity!" she sobbed Gould you--isn't there work could do for you in your shop? Then I'd feel I was earning the money, at least!'
 Why" he said, and paused, struck by the idea. Mary would be near him, under his in fuence, if he gave her place! And-who could