Evening star., 1918-08-11

hated even worse to have to give the
cue which would lead to a surveil-
lance, however secret, over a house
which held child of so sensitive
and tremulous a nature as that of the
little friend who had picked up his
stick In front of the drug store.
He was recalling to mind the pa
thetic spectacle presented by her agi-
tated little figure. when his eyes
was then passing. It was devoted to
ladies' furnishings, and as he took in
the contents of the window and such
articles as could be seen ON the
shelves beyond. happy thought came
Nine Duclos had left her hotel
In a hurry. carrying but few Of her
belongings with her. A lady Of cul-
tivated taste. she must have missed
fort: and having money would nat
urally' buy them. Prevented by her
fears from going downtown. or even
from going anywhere in the daytime.
what was left for her to do but to
patronize some such. small shop as
this. Its nearness to her late refuge,
rs we'll as its neat and attractive ap-
pearance, made this seem all the more
likely. A question or two would suf-
fice TO settle his mind on this point
and perhaps lead to results which
might prove invaluable in his present
emergency. e.r
Signaling to the chauffeur to stop,
he got out in front Of this little shop.
toward which he Immediately pro-
ceeded. with an uncertainty OF step
not altogether. assumed. He did have
some rheumatic twinges that day.
Entering, Mr.. Gryce first cast a COM
prehensive glance at the shelves and
counters. to make sure that he would
find here the line Of dress goods in which
ing the middle-aged woman who seemed
to be in charge, he engaged her In q
tedious display Of the goods. which
led on to talk and finally to Q casual
remariS ,sias Is from him. quite ats IN INK keeping
full to show.
II am buying this for woman to
whom you have probably, sold many
odd little & things within the past few
and can help He choose what Will
and buys always in the evening-a
man. with a strange way of looking
down even when other people would
be likely to- look up. Do you re-
member her?" ,r
nized her perfectly from this descrip-
tion. He saw this at once, but he
kept right on talking as he handled
first one piece of goods and then am
asheg SEEMING amh fbs to hesitate
"She went out OF town yesterday.
and wanted this material sent after
her. Do you think you could do that
for me, or shall / have to see to ex-
pressing it mys, ,lf? I'll do it IL must
only I'VE forgotten her exact ad-
Dress" This he muttered self-re-
proachfully, 1--WE shocking bad
memory and it's growing worse every
day. You don't happen to know where
she's gone to, do you?"
The innocence of this appeal from
one of his. years and benevolent aspect
did not appear to raise the woman's
suspicion; yet she limited her reply to
this short statement:\
'Tll send the goods II you will make
your choice" And it>was not till long
after that he learned that Nine. Du-
clos, being very anxious for her mail
Snd such newspapers as she wanted,
had made arrangements with this
woman to forward them.
Disappointed, bur still hoping for
some acknowledgment that would
give him what he wanted, he con-
tinued to putter with the goods. when
she broke in with harsh decision:
II think she would prefer the gray"
hint of disapproval at the suggestion.
II like brown best, myself: but let'it
be the gray. Ten yards" he ordered.
"She was particular to say that she
wanted ten yards and that was to
be sure and purchase the dress at the
shop adjoining the drug store. You
see / have obeyed her." he added.
with a touch Of senility in his quiet
chuckle. which threw the busy woman
off her guard
Il fear" said She, that the dress
sold her before will not prove very
becoming. But gray is always good.
That's why advised It,"
II see, see."' chartered away the
old man, not without some slight COM
junction. but, in my opinion, she's
too dark for such somber dresses.
I've told her SO score of times"
Then, as he watched the woman be-
fore MIN rolling up the. goods, he pro-
ceeded to ask, with fussy Importantly,
what she thought the express charges
were likely to be, for he wanted to
pay the whole bill and be done with 1t.
She was caught-caught fairly this
time. though doubt II she ever knew
1t.
I'VE don't often send up the river"
said she. But should say that for
a package of this size and weight the
charges would be about 40 cents. But
that you can leave her to pay, She
will be quite" willing to do SO, am
sure"
"Of course, of course-I didn't think
Of that. She'll pay for 1t, of course
she'll pay for it." And he continued
to fuss and. chat, with that curious
mixture of native shrewdness and se-
nile interest in little things which he
thought most likely to Impress the
woman attending MIN and trap her
into giving him the complete address.
But she was too wary or too much
preoccupied with her own affairs to