Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1917-12-29
TO HER ADVANTAGE
BY HILoA NORRIS.
(Cop. right, 1917, by the Mcclure Newspa-
por cVnlicate1

NNNNf'AA"I fNHANf a. ANAIWMN IlANANF ANl
friendly gatherings and gossip. IL
hospitable table full Of magazines, lts
big base-burner with n fire glimmerinl
red through the mica windows. its we'll
lined displays Of paper, pens and Other
literary appliances made Il a popular
place for evening gatherings. Young
Ellis had been brought up In that
bookshop; he loved the very sight and
touch of q book. SO when ambition
drove him TO the city with a little cap
ital II was natural that he should start
a bOoksh0p Of his own. This was n
modest place at first, but 1t grew rap
idly, as some shops have a way of do
ing.
There was one young girl who came
into the shop rather often. Ellis had
noticed her once or twice-she seemed
to be always reading magazines,
though she seldom bought more than
pen or an eraser. Ellis Stevens,
watching her out particular morn.
ing when there were few other Gus.
toners, felt a growing conviction that
he had seen that girl before some.
where. He stared after her as she
left the shop. Where had he known
that girl? In Stanton? 1t was pos.
sible.
The girl did not appear that day,
however, and Ellis made a discovery.
She had forgotten something. On the
counter near where she had stood lay
a book, a well-thumbed copy of Pen.
dennis. And on its fly-leaf was writ.
ten, Rose Maxwell, Stanton, New
York."
Rose MAXWELL He remembered
now. She was one of the innumerable
family who lived in the old
gray farmhouse out on the Greenville
road. He had seen her in school, per-
haps, or at the church affairs. She
would come back for the book, of
course.
But the weeks went by and Rose
did not return to the shop.
1t was strange-she had been in the
habit of dropping in every day or so,
before.
A month or so later Ellis made q
flying visit to Stanton, and there he
learned that Rose Maxwell had not
returned home. She was writing short |
stories, II seemed; one of her produc-
ions was in last months Spectrum.
Ellis got her address from friends |
without any trouble, and hurried back |
% town. He meant to find Rose Max.
yell-2f course it was his duty to re-
urn that book.
So the following Sunday Ellis Stew.
sns, carrying "Pendennis," called at |
Rose Maxwell's boardlng-house. An |
landlady met him at the
entrance. Miss Maxwell
lad moved. No, she didn't know her
present address. No, she couldn't give
him any idea as to where to find her
'he had moved some weeks ago. So |
he following morning this notice ap.
leared in the columns of a daily pa
)er: 90. ir...
"If the young lady who left a copy |
# 'Pendennis' in Stevens book store
It Eighty-third street will come tc
'laim her property she will learn of !
something to her advantage"
1t was rather a remarkable adver,
isement, but it brought results. Rose
1aXwell came. Ellis was busy with
IN old gentleman who was fussily
purchasing an edition of the English
,oets, and 1t was some time before he
ould speak to Rose.
After an interminabie while the ole
Gentleman departed, and Ellis ap
'rOached the girl. She was still read
ng, but she looked up with smile
Ellis thought she was pale and lit.
lie thinner. Perhaps she had been i'll
fter all.
"Was it you who advertised my
Pendennisr" she asked. at was ]
Who left it here, several weeks ago."
II know it was" he answered. 81
hought you would come back after it.
waited and waited before / adver-
ised-because-"
"BecauseF" she repeated curiously.
Because thought I'd find you, Miss
Rose Maxwell. You see / knew you
hat is l remembered seeing you In
stanton, and tried all sorts of ways
o find you. l looked In the directory.
Why, even went back home to Stan.
on to find your address-but 1 found
'ou'd moved"
She was looking at him curiously
Ter eyes wide.
"But why should you take so much
she asked. "The book is OF
10 value"
"No, but-well, wanted to see you
had TO see you again. Don't yor
ee-"
She looked down, her face flushed
nd strOked the edge Of the counter.
"NOt exactly" she said.
"Why I-I-You little Rose Maxwell
love youl Don't you seer / had tc
zee you again and tell you so, whether
Iou could care or not. / loved you
rom the first minute you set foot In
M chon 80