Charlevoix county herald., 1919-05-30


My father is too III TO play him.
SELF she explained. $50 l. must find Il
hotel near Mr. Days house. and then
] shall play every night dntil our for
tune is made. Tonight l lost nearly
two thousand dollars. But I was nerv-
Gus In that strange place. And the
system expressly says that one may
lose at first. Tomorrow I raise the
stakes and we shall begin to win.
Seer"
She pulled little pad from her bag
covered with a maze OF figuring
"But where do you come from"
asked. "Where is your father?"
Again saw that look of terror come
into her eyes. She glanced quickly
about her. and I was sure she was
thinking OF escaping from me.
/ FASTENED to reassure her.
"Forgive me-" said. at is no bus
mess of mine. And now, II you will
trust me little further will try to
find hotel for you"
1t would have disarmed the worst
man to feel her little hand slipped
into his arm in that docile manner Of
hers. took her to the Seward, the
Grand, the Cornhill and the Merri-
mac-each In turn.
Vain hope! When I asked for a
room for her the clerk would eye her
furs obviously, look over his book in
pretense, and then inform me that the
hotel was full.
My curiosity had given place to deep
anxiety on her account. What was
this child doing in New York alone,
and what sort of father had let her
come, If her story were true? What
was she? She looked French and had
something Of the French frankness.
There was only one thing to do, and,
though l shrank from the suggestion
ii had to be made.
at is evident that you must 60
somewhere tonight" / said. 81 have
two rooms which l am vacating to-
morrow. They are poorly furnished,
but there is clean linen; and II you
will occupy them for the night / can
go elsewhere, and / will call for you
at nine In the morning"
She smiled at me gratefully-she
did not seem surprised at all.
you have some baggage?" l asked.
mo. monsieur" she answered.
She was French, then-Canadlan
French, had no doubt. / was hardly
surprised at her answer. / had ceased
to be surprised at anything she told
me.
Tomorrow l shall show you where
to make some purchases, then" said.
"And now, mademoiselle, suppose we
take taxicab."
AS her hand frightened upon my arm
7 saw a man standing on the west side
of Broadway and staring intenuy
at us.
He was Of a singular appearance.
He wore fur coat with a collar of
Persian lamb, and on his head was a
lambskin cap such as worn in colder
climates but Is seldom seen in New
York. He had an aspect decidedly
foreign. and l imagined that he was
scOwling at us Indignantly.
called taxicab and gave the
driver my address.
go through some side streets and
go fast" said.
The fellow nodded. He understood
my motive. though fear he may have
misinterpreted the circumstances.
During the drive 1 instructed my
companion emphatically.
"Since you have no friends here you
must have confidence In me. madenoi-
selle," l said.
And you are my friend? Well,
monsieur. be sure trust YOU" she
answered.
you must listen to ME attentively,
then" / continued. you must not
admit anybody to the apartment until
I ring tomorrow. have the key. and
1 shall arrive at nine and ring. and
then unlock the door. But take no
notice of the bell. You understand
"Yes, monsieur" she answered
YEARLY. Her eyelids dropped; l saw
that she was very sleepy.
When the taxicab deposited us In
front Of the house l glanced hastily
up and down the road. There was
another cab at the east end Of the
street, but l could not discern II II
were approaching me or stationary.
opened the front door quickly and ad-
mitted my companion, then preceded
her up the uncarpeted stairs to my
little apartment on the top floor.
AS | opened the door Of my apart
ment the dog pushed past me. Again
l had forgotten 1T; but II had not for
gotten its mistress.
"Till tomorrow, mademoiselle."
said. "And won't you tell me your
name?"
"Jacquellne." she answered. And
yours?"
Paul" / said.
"Au revoir, Monsieur Paul. then. end
take my gratitude with you for your
goodness"
let her hand fall and hurried down
the stairs, confused and choking, for
there was q wedding ring upon her