The Delta independent., 1916-01-14
CHAPTER XII.
A Erlend In Need.

A Friend In Need.
That which came to Forbes was an
inspiration. such as comes oftenest to
the kind-hearted. the impulsive and,
might add, the youthful. So he hailed
the first taxicab he could find and
hurried over to the Dryden. Keen
witted and observing, as full of ro-
nance as a water-chestnut is of starch.
he saw that his best friend and the
girl with the copper-beech hair were
pair of proud fools. spelling their
lives over a trife. One was too proud
to tell and the other too proud to
listen to the truth. 1t was all just as
silly land humanD as one of those
East side melodramas over which the
wise critics laughed and commented
upon as humanity impossible. Just
the same. he knew that these silly af-
fairs made the melodramas of a vast
host OF people.
Miss Mearson was still up.
This is Mr.. Forbes"
"Forbes?"
THE gentleman who was recently
tied up in that fine old Sheraton of
yours.
"Oh,"
DO you want those papers?"
"Papers?"
He thought her repetitions a trifie
stupid. Yes. ! know who took them
But we'll have to hurry. Mr. Craw-
ford sails for Italy at dawn and may
go aboard tonight"
Watt" This was Numbered through
the panels of the door.
She had on her sables when she
came out, but her hair was tousled like
the other woman's.
Your father :" he began.
AT his club. Have you a taxicab
downstairs?"
Yea
Gomez" She caught him by the
sleeve and dragged him to the lift
Down they went; the lift-boy's eyes
opened their fullest. She never let go
of the sleeve till she was inside the
cab. 1T was Jim, and II never came
to me! How quickly can we get
there?"
I'm about a quarter OF an hour" He
directed the chauffeur. and they rum
bled off.
Did he tell you he was going to
Italy?"
Yes. He was upstairs with us,
playing poker. He doesn't intend to
come back"
Did he send your"
Send me! He'll probably never
speak to me again. No; there was a
misunderstanding.
Il don't want any explanations.
please" she interrupted. Not n word
about that other woman. What do
care who or what she is. now? Oh,
Tool! Pardon You're a good man.
Mr. Forbes, to come and tell me. /
shouldn't have known. Going
away for good and never coming back
because my love wasn't worth a cop
per penny! 1t isn't even now.'
Perhaps Jim was fool. too" said
Forbes grimly. He hadn't bargained
for Mysteries.
"He never was fool; 1t was L.
Said Forbes: Il love him better
than any man | know, and want to
help him straighten out the tangle;
but II you go to him in this state,
you " SpOll everything fOu III De cry
ing and he won't be able. -
How can / be calm? It was my let
ters. He remembered kept them in
that box. He wanted to take away
something that belonged to me- am
worse than an infidel; ! have been
making an idol of propriety. I've lied
to myself for five years II he goes
to Italy in the morning. shall go with
him.
Forbes took of his hat and wiped
his forehead.
"Oh. / know my heart now!'
"Will you be quiet, Miss Mearson?
The chauffeur keeps turning round.
and he'll run into something; then
we'll never get there"
Forgive mel"
From time to time the light from a
street lamp touched her hair. and the
glory OF It filled him with envy and
sadness and he knew not what else.
No woman like this one would ever
run out into the night after him. 1t
was always the quiet chap like Craw-
ford who awakened and held such
woman. He knew something about
the species: they we're all more or
less mad: they did the widest things