Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-12
THE GIRL WHO
ALMOST MISSED
By Mary Douglass.
A FRIEND IN NEED.
CHAPTER XNVlII.

Peggy sat at the other end of the car,
in the subway. had her with me, safer
for week end, anyway. But what was |
going to do2 How could | show her what
wild mad step she was about to take?
To go off with this married man-the
pianist of her company to her
something fine. rather big, outside of the
narrow conventions, as she saw them Yet
she did not even love him. She liked to be
loved-that was all. Oh, the blindness OF
early youth
might take her to Aunt Martha's
Yet | knew that would be useless. Talk
argument, would be of little avail now
She must be shown.
lifted my eyes suddenly to see that |
was being stared at by man across the
aisle. | had been quite UNCONSCIOUS OF my
surroundings, lost in my troubled thoughts,
until he brought me back. ] looked at
him moment unseeingly, then ! recog-
nized, with a little start,-Mr. Tremalne!
| smiled He was standing before me
looking down at me and touching ME as
the train lurched felt again that str: nge
force of magnetism that be exerted over
me; so much had happened to me since
/ saw him last, that felt as though that
evening at Southampton was something
that had been blurred by the passing
davS
Il thought you would never look at
me- he said, something Is troubling
your His eyes were SO kind, so almost
tender, that felt / could trust him. For a
moment | wondered if he could not help
me out? He was a man of the world, he
would know what TO do.
II am in trouble" | said desperately,
Il am alone, my mother died four weeks
ago and | have no one to turn TO, who
would know what to do
In a few hurried words | sketched
for him the situation. Was il a fancy, or
did | soc a smile that lurked IN his wise
eyes? The train stopped with jerk and
was thrown against him; and as suddenly
| thought Of that evening at South
ampton when he had held me in his
arms and kissed me. Perhaps it had not
been he? But. even so, | trusted In his
judgment. If anyone could help me, il
would be he
You'll have to give me time" he
said, ''How long is she going to stay with
YOU? BY the way, where are you staying?
I've hunted you up in vain at your
former home
I'm Mrs. Newton's companion, ]
explained, "She is away this week end,
So | can have Peggy with me"
If YOU don't hear from me before
tomorrow night, III run up TO see you
I'll see what | can do. She's been in the
Honey Girls you say?"
She is with them now" | said
We had reached our station and Peggy
and | stepped out of the train.
who is your new suitor?'' Peggy asked.
tie seems awfully devoted
The next day, | felt, was completely
wasted | planned everything as Peggy
woui have IT. She wanted to go out IN the
car, first thing and choose her new dress.
We went 10 Darleys and Peggy took a
dress that cost SS5. | gave little gasp
when heard the price How should paw
for It, ] hid no idea. But twas the bait
with which | had brought Peggy with me.
Since | had come IN with Mrs. Newton,
last time ! had no trouble in charging
the gown-but had an awful moment of
misgiving; 1t would take three months
whole wages just TO pay for it,
We went TO lunch and to the matinee.
Yet ] felt as though | were throwing away
the time this precious day In which /
should have accomplished something to-
ward my end
After dinner, ! felt I must try at least
once. NV voice shook little rs | began
Peggy have You ever thought how
Mother would have felt about what you
are going to do
Peggy threw down the book she had
picked up, impstiently, IF had thought
YOU were going TO preach st me, / wouldn't
have come, she cried. I've made up nv
mind, and it's useless to argue
The velvet portieres swung moment
then they were pushed aside. Mr. Ire
maine strode into the room.
lie held my hand a moment, and
felt that little sense of JOY that always
felt when he was near. He bowed to Peggy
wondered if she too, reacted 10 his charm
Could he do anything? Could he save
Peggy? l asked myself the question:
strangely, felt reassured that he should
just be there Yet knew he was what is
called a dangerous man
My sister is spending this week end
with me, | explained, rs if he did not
know the whole situation.
Are you an important person like
your slster?" he asked Of Peggy
I'm not companion, if that's what