Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-16

It was not difficult to get good look at
him, as the man sat facing her.
At the first glance Shirley had a faint
suspicion that likewise she knew that face
then she looked again and for moment
she was startled NO. It can't be possible
that" At that instant tho stranger
looked up and dispeled her doubts. She
was face to face with the man who had
filled her thoughts for the last two hours.
And so that is Billy Murgatroyd !" she
murmured to herself. He was the same
Murgatroyed she had known. but different
from the man she had pictured. And she
would have gone on indefinitely criticizing
his looks. but she was suddenly interrupted
by the sound of voices 1t was Broderick
talking. his big voice fllng the room. Shr-
ley listened attentivey.
Blamed good place to get away from
the gang" he was saying; and there was
satisfied look on his face as he glanced
about the room.
While Broderick ordered the dinner, Muir
| gatroyd leaned forward and made some
remark, Instantly something in the tone
| of his voice, or 1t may have been his man
ner, told the girl that the relations between
the two men were. In n degree. confidential.
The back OF Broderick assumed the atti-
tude of n political adviser Shirley observed
that he gesticulated a great deal and often
wiped his brow with handkerchief which.
| embroidered, but in none of his movements
so far was there the slightest suggestion of
| hostility.
And this is the use that Murgatroyd has
made of poor Mriam's money !" she cried
| to herself. He's bribng the enemy!"
| Shirley bowed her head in shame.
| Presently she lifted 1t again. for before
their dinner had arrived and while Brod-
| erick talked on, Murgatroyd rose and
W. n Of Nyb nm nd ba
| hind the table; and, unseen herself, she
| scrutinized him closely.
The first thing that her woman's eye
noted was that Murgatroyd was not in eve-
| ming clothes; he wore a business suit, not
| altogether new. which to her thinking
needed pressing 1t looked as If he had lived
| in 1t from daybreak to daybreak lie was
| no stouter than when she had last seen
| him: If anything he appeared to have lost
| flesh, yet his figure still retained its strong
| but fine lines. And Shirley was forced to
| acknowledge TO herself that II had lost none
of its grace. But on his face was the duh
| flush that results from the strain of enthu-
| siasm, of excitement, of overwork, lie
| looked tagged out. and his eyes were rest
| less, though they glowed with steadiness OF
| purpose. From time to time he glanced
| quickly about him. taking I'm every detail
| of the room, studying the people in 1t, and
even peerng through the palms that hid the
| BlTI, HS tnpuPn ne wondered Wnat inter-
loper had had the temerity to rob him of his
lair. one thing, however, impressed her
| more than anything else; his demeanor to-
| ward Broderick There was within 1t not a
| particle of that confidential concession that
| Broderick seemed ever ready to offer; or
the contrary, it suggested suspicious
| watchfulness Murgatroyd had every ap-
pearance of being jealous jealous task
master who had set himself over paid but
| uncertain servant,
And Broderck only once did Brodericl
| turn his head so that Shirley might see hi.
face; but In that one instant the CIR
OWNED what she believed to be the sltua
ton, the true force Of the drama that wal
being played by the two men.
Broderick's face, glance, his whole being
indicated the cunning Of the man; he wa
treachery personihcd, at least, so he ap
peared to Shirley; and she told herself, a
she sat there and studied him, that an
one with half an eye could see that he wa
hoodwinking the man opposite him.
'Murgatroyd was being fooled !" Their
was no doubt about IL, The attitude O
both men expressed 1t; but, more tha
anything else, Murgatroyds air of feverls
endeavor. of expenditure Of energy, con
firmed IT, With Miriams thousands
had paid for something that had not bee
delivered Broderick had taken the none
| every dollar OF II, OF that Shirley wa
thoroughly convinced-and had given moth
ing In return. In the girls mind ther
was no accounting otherwise for Brod
erick's leer in no other way was it poss
BILE TO explain the desperate effort that Mui
gatroyd seemed TO be making. But. at las
the lawyer grew angry: he hit the tabl
repeatedly with his fist and glared 8
Broderick. And the huge politician pr,
! tended to cover and tried to propitiate hin
"Yes, they are fooling him I" she r.
peated to herself. Mlriam's money ha
been of no avail Murgatroyd had faile
to accomplish his purpose,
After while this feeling of contem,
for his failure gave way to wave of pit
what right had she to Judge him at al
what manner of woman was she, that 81
should set herself up to determine wheth,
his lesson was deservedy bitter or mo-
and what should be his punishment. None
so gotten will never do him any good
Miriam had said after the scene In Il
! courtroom. and how true. her words hs
proved! Why, the papers, 'esen though thu
believed III his honesty, had as much
! | And than. u forn ~ fo11<r~ q