The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-10-31
HER WAY
e..sDe3s
BY JACK LAYTON.

end OF the "llghtlcss" village. Nell had
difficulty in finding her way to the door
when she arrived on the evening train.
The brief visits to grandmother were
like coming hOme-in fact this same
little house was the only home the
girl knew. Years ago she had left IL
, to make her way In the city, and the
room there, which held her piano
chief asset Of business-could scarcely
he called home. She was sorry that
grandfather would not be there dur
ing her one night visit, but he was
due at a meeting In the next township.
SO he had, upon her arrival at the sta
ton. intrusted to her care, the days
proceeds.
Custom had made the old station
agent careless in regard TO the ham
ding of that bag. For years he had
carried IL home on certain nights when
he did not care to open the safe. The
girl. however, drew 1t from her muff
in relief as she entered the CHEEKY
room.
"There, grandmother" she said. "put
the money safely away" and grand
mother. as had been the custom, slip
ped the leather bags handle over the
back OF a chair.
supper is waiting. dearie." she said.
There was so much to tell after the
tea things had been cleared away,
that a stranger knocking at the front
door had to repeat his summons sew
eral times before being heard.
Someone asking to spend the night,
probably" grandmother surmised.
"Mr. Southworth sent me-" the
stranger announced and was admit ,
ted.
As the girl returned from lighting the
passage leading to the spare room. her
grandmother fingered apprehensively.
'Tm sorry I let him stay" she said.
che has such hard kind Of face"
Don't be afraid, Gran" Nell smiled.
'Tm not afraid-of anyone"
The man sat glowering into the fire
when the girl entered the sitting room.
"You I've in this lonely corner Of the
worldT" he asked brusquely.
mo" she slowly replied, "this Is one
of my overnight visits"
"The station agent is away, I'M
derstand?"
Steadily she looked up at the
stranger, her eyes wide and clear as
a child's, held his own as though I'M
willing. Grandmother and L should
have been quite alone in the darkness
IL you had not happened along" she
said, and smiled.
The man drew his lips down grimly.
"what do you know of me?' he asked.
81 might be burglar"
"Mr. Southworth sent you" Nell re-
minded him.
The man laughed shortly. $50 told
you 1t was lie."
The girls face paled, and she bent
quickly over the fire. When she looked
up again her roslness had returned.
swell, you see," she said, as she rose
to her feet, 81 happen to trust you"
"Why should your" asked the man.
"Once upon a time." the girl an
swered. "a little lost child held out Its
arms to me, from the midst Of crowd.
Because Of its very helplessness II
knew that II might trust me-"
The man lit a cigar, with 1t between
his teeth he spoke slowly. $50 you
feel like that kid? Well, better not
trust too much these days"
"Pm going to try" Nell replied Sc
riously. She looked back at him az
she turned toward the stairs.
The elder woman waited agitatedly
in the bedroom.
'Dearie," she confessed, 'Tve been
so nervous, that quite forgot the sta
ton money. Grandfather always hides
IL somewhere. After we hear that
man come up to his room, do you
think we might slip down and get It
Sometimes there are valuable papers
I'm the bag as well. am trembling
like a leaf. Tn sure / don't know
how ever came to take stranger
in with your grandfather away"
"Foolish !" comforted the girl, "what
harm has your stranger guest done
heretofore? When our visitor has safe
" retired, I'll run down for the bas
myself"
1t had been perhaps Is minutes after
the guest room door had closed loud
ly and all was still that Nell donned
her blue bathrobe and slippers ant
with tumbled curls framing her love
" face, crept stealthily down the
stairs. The absence Of accustomed
outer lights made the house doubly
dark. Swiftly she put match to the
living room gas-then stood blinking
into the staring face Of the guest, who
cloaked and hated. stood In the cen
ter of the room. Nell laughed In evil
dent relief.
"You" she said softly, "then you
had not yet retiredf"
The mans stern face did not relax
neither did he speak. The girl passed
TO the door. ~ wanted to make SURE
II was locked" she explained.
ut is locked" she murmured, sat
isfied. Like child she stretched free
arms lazily above her head. "Goot
night" said Nell.
As though fascinated the mar
watched the appraised arms and empty
hands; watched the slight figure as the
girl moved past him toward the stairs
Then suddenly the tense lines or hii
face softened.
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