The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-02-10

u wy Oh eNcltement audible to Mel
rill. Then in her pretty night robe the
! little child ran up to the window, the
. cage in her hands. She set it upon
! the sill, she drew back with a bewilder.
I ing smile of gratitude, bowed with the
! grace of some titled lady and kissed
, her dainty finger tips to the donor OF
the feathered pet.
The memory 81 the face of Miss
Thirty-one fingered in the thoughts of
Merrill all that day. Miss" they had
called her. Then possibly not wife,
mother nor widow. And the little one
had nightly attracted him, too. The
mystery of their Seclusion gave an add.
ed spice to the situation. There might
be call for a chivalrouS attention. AT
least. the proximity was pleasant. lie
would miss the bird, but the next
morning the little child appeared ut
The window again and warmed his
heart with her innocent, grateful
smiles.
I'll take a box Of those said Mer-
rill to a clerk in Il toy store two eve.
nings later, and started homeward with
a box Of building blocks under his arm.
The landlady smiled covertly as he in
Dictated their desired destination.
The weather changed during the
night and it was too chilly for open
windows the neXt morning. but as he
glanced at the one across the court
Merrill was greeted with a pyramidical
message on the inside sill, formed of
the painted wooded alphabet blocks:
THANK you"
I'm glad Miss Thlrty-one takes no
o~ffense,' reflected Merrill. Its some
thing to keep me from the megrims-
having that little one to think Of"
He left out reference to the one that
was not little, and rather testify re-
sented a quick mental suggestion that
his interest in the young lady in uues-
ton was q growing one. and that there
was a tinge of hypocrisy in Indicating
the child as the main object of atten-
ton.
One evening Merrill, passing a small
ladies' bazaar shop, saw Miss Thirty
one and the little one inside. He
glanced through the window to see the
young lady produce some homemade
lace which was measured and paid
for. As they came out he followed,
but did not approach them. He OBJ
served an ill-favOred man SLOUGH
Stealthtly after them, carefully note
the building they entered and sneak
away.
1t was early the mex morning when
Merrill arose and threw up his window
to air the room. His first glance was
at the n opposite. 1t was closed.
but revealed, standing sideways, Miss
Thirty-two. She was apparently speak
ing TO someone in the room and fun
bling with the building blocks, Merrill
noticed that her hand trembled and
that her face was unnaturally pale.
suddenly She flashed a single dance
ut him. Eloquent pleading was i n her
eyes. Then her fingers moved among
the scattered blocks, and then. slow
~ but with precision, she spelled out
three words: "Help-come quick ="
Merrill was down the steps in a flash.
He hurried into the next building. he
located the room opposite to his own
across the court. He stood still and
listened. There was a rustling against
the other side Of the door, and it move
rs if somebody there was barring
The money my wife left. Give it
to me, here, now, or I'll put you asleep
get the child and put her where
Enull nnyap 500 hap praFp - ,,-....l
he hOarse savage voice.
Mo- came quiveringly, but firmly,
N femme tones. what have. take.
30, leave me in peace You have no
wtfe-your neglect killed her, my poor
And the law has given me the
rightful charge of the child. The
money is for her education. You are
an escaped convict. l will betray you
than you should darken Irma's
young life"
There was Il savage growl, a rush.
burst open the door. He pinned
the rutiian by the throat to the wall.
This man is annoying you?" spoke
Merrill quietly.
"Oh, drive him away, save me. Pro-
lcNl Inc SObDtu MISS 1nlFly-OQe, m !
fainting to a couch, while the lit
lie one, just waking up, stared wonder
.ngly about her.
Cor spoke Merrill sternly, giving
intruder a swing through the open
doorway. Il have heard enough to
know that if l speak one word to the
you will be out of this lady's
way e~ffectually," and the fellow made
swift retirement.
Wont you be my uncle, just as dear
Aunty Audrey is my aunt?" chirped
title Lois Devere as Miss Thirty-one.
Audrey Claxton, told Mer-
ill her mournful story of a sister who
married a brutal husband, and had
eft the little one to the care of her
sister.
You need a protector, and care
md love-" spoke Chester Merrill soft
Y during the call a week later, and
Dick piped a glorious strain-and as
Hiss Thirty-one drew closer TO his
embrace, little Lois cried out
leefully: "Oh, I've got a dear uncle
last !"