Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-25
THEN READ THIS
Identification

THEN READ THIS
Identification
MARIAN VAN NESS turned rest
AA Iessly away from tho window as
her old servant came into the sitting
room.
Are you quite sure no telephone
call has come for me, Nanny" she
; asked with gentle insistence. Mammy's
sntipathy TO the telephone was known
TO her: on occasions she had not an.
swered it in Marisns absence, having
conf1ded to the cook in Tho next apare-
ment that It was little short Of uu.
canny and she wanted nothing to do
with the devils works"
"Ain't been no call at all" Nanny
assured her with conviction. Il ies'
sat in my kitchen wifi de do open
alistenin' fo' dat and de do hell, as 20
said yo' was 'speCtin' company; aim
chen been in hyar 10 tidy up
As she spoke Nanny proceeded TO
"set TO rights" as she termed it, the
mass of books electric light parapher-
MALTA and torches which Uttered the
window ledge and TO put each chair
in orderly array Marian, who had
kept luncheon engagement of some
days standing and returned afterward
as promptly as possible TO her apart
ment, moved away so that her Old
~ "a 10
appointment her statement OF no
callers and no telephone calls had,
given her.
Marian bitterly regretted the almost
insane impulse which had prompted
her to seek out Dan Maynard the
night before, TO even leave a note-a
note he had ignored and left unan-
swered. Her cheeks burned at the
thought.
The bang OF heavy book which
Nanny inadvertently lot fall startled
her so that she dropped her ball OF
worsted which she was winding with
the aid OF a chair back. Mamrny's
rheumatic joints cracked as she stoop-
ed over, but Marian was before her.
Don't bother, I'll pick it up" she
said, and retrieving her ball, which
had rolled under q table. she sat back
somewhat flushed from her exertions,
the book balanced open IN her zap.
Looking more closely she saw It
was an edition of who's Who" and in
sheer idleness turned over its leaves
as she continued winding the ball.
Suddenly her eyes, travelling listlessly
down one page, stopped, arrested by
Dan Maynard's name. Putting aside
the worsted, she lifted UP the book and
read the long paragraph devoted to
his accomplishments. his stage career,
and his place OF birth-BerlIn.
Nanny finished her work and see.
ing Marian sitting staring in absorbed
attention at an open book, concluded
not to interrupt her reading, and hob
bled from the room. In the kitchen
she paused to ruminate before putting
on her spotlessly clean white apron,
her Sunday best"
self no mo-" she muttered, sorrow.
fully. "Why dat man got ter com
back an torment her mo? 7 s'pose
de good Lord knows His business. but
thar's times when us morta!s could
give Him p'ints. Laws! who dat?"
The sudden clang OF the front door
gong startling her into dropping her
apron. Mammy's heart sank, when on
opening the door a moment later. she
gazed UP into Dan Maynard's hand.
some face; and It was only with much
self-restraint that she managed to an.
swer with any civility his inquiry for
her beloved Miss Marian"
Marian made no motion to rise as he
entered and her frigld bow was far
from cordial. An awkward pause fol-
lowed.
won't you sit down." she asked
finally, and Maynard with suppressed
indignation quietly took the chair next
to hers; in doing so he dislodged the
worsted which she had carefully
stretched across the chair back.
Il beg your pardon" he exclaimed
contritely. II never noticed the
worsted: very stupid of me-
Don't bother, please" Marian turn.
cd about and rested one hand on her
desk. Have you brought back my
blotter?"
Maynard sat upright, the neglected
worsted at his feet.
Your blotter?" he echoed. What
blotter Is that?"
THE one you took from here Friday
! night"
Maynard stared at her. Il am an
absent.minded beggar." he said and
bis smile was whimsical IF acoi
dentaIly walked Off with your blotter
that night apologize and will bring
you another one tomorrow"
Marian stiffsned. IT allude to the
biotter I unfortunately used when de-
coding q message from the State De-
partment; the message on It was very
clear" her voice stumbled as she met
his sstonished gaze. The blotter was
missing the morning after your call"
Slowly her meaning dawned on May.
nard
Good God! Marian, do under.
stand you accuse me OF stealing a
blotter with the imprint of decoded
.....saoa from, fha Sfata Dana artroapt