The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-20
Love Affairs of a
Lonely Woman

No 95.
With a sharp cry of surprise Holiday
started forward and reached Jane just
in time to save her limp body from
tumbling headlong down the stairway
STOPPING, he gathered her in his arms and
kicking the door open entered the apart
ment
Stretching James unconscious form on
a couch in the living room he ran for
bottle of brandy and with spoon forced
some of the liquid between her clenched
teeth A moment later her eyes fluttered
and she sighed:
Good Lord" the man murmured, look
ing down at her in perplexity. you give
me the scare of my life, young ladyr'
James lips moved in whisper, and on
his knees beside the courch Holiday
bent his ear to catch the hesitating
words.
"A glass of water" she faltered. 81
feel OH so very sick, because l haven't
had anything to eat for ever SO long"
Don't you worry now, little GIRL
Holiday returned, patting her cheek ten
derby. We'll soon have you your own
self again! I'll be right back with the
water"
Rising to his feet ne disappeared. Jane
heard the sound of running water, the
cracking of ice and almost before she
had time to realize that he had gone he
was again by her side, holding her up
from among the pillows and steadying
glass of ice water against her lips.
"Oh, dear. it's been so terrible!" Jane
sighed, lying back on the couch. You
don't know"
Don't talk now, Miss Brown" HolN-
day pleaded, his hands closing gently on
one of hers. Just lie still until you
feel better. then we'll have some supper.
I've been working and 1 haven't eaten
either. Are you all right now? Can
leave you for a minute while I hustle
around and play cheff"
Yes" the girl smiled waniy. You're
very. very kind!' she added, a little
catch in her voice as she looked into
his face.
mot at ALL" he protested. mot nearly
as kind as you were to come straight
| to me when you needed help"
| Jane felt his fingers give little pres
sure to her hand and she lowered her
eyes as he gazed earnestly into her face.
The big understanding of the man, his
gentleness, his honestly coming at this
particular time, brougl< lump up into
the girls throat, and it was only by
winking very hard that she kept back
the sudden tears that threatened to fill
her eyes.
Holiday, seeming to realize her feel
ings, laughed suddenly and with an
other little pat on her shoulder. ex-
claimed Now for some regular grub,
en- Miss Brown? regular old chow.
I'll snake it together in about four wall
lops of cats tail, and while we're eat
| ing, that is after you feel better, you
can tell me the gossip of all the neigh
bors."
| After he had gone, and Jane could
hear him busy with dishes and pans out
in the ktchenette, she lay quietly think
ing to herself How fortunate she had
been in this mans friendship! lone.
some girl friendess and alone. she had
come to New York only a short time
before without an idea of what lay In
store for her. and this man, without
knowing who or what she was, mad
given her of his best. What contrast
he was to those others she had met
that day out in the country. Her mind
! went back to the farmer. in whose wagon
she had hidden. the man who was deter
mined to make some money from her by
| turning her over to Billy Burns And
! that brought her chain of thoughts back
to Pedro What had he to do with
| Billy Burns? Who was he? And once
more her memory shifting, she wondered
what part Mortimer had played in the
adventure of the automobi~- She would
find out the next morning. for she had
made up her mind to go back to the Of
flee and demand an explanation from her
employer.
"All ready. Miss Brown Holiday ex-
claimed appearing in the doorway. his
voice breaking into the girls musings.
j"First call for dinner in the dining car.
All change for de grubville function.
Come on. I've got a spread out here mt
for king. or" he added with little
smile at her wan face, "a queen"
She laughed but with a touch of sad
ness. as rising to her feet she accepted
Holidays arm and allowed him to lead
her into the dining room. II feel a
sorry queen" she answered as he helped
her into chair at the table. ''All the
gold has turned to tinsel and my court
had found someone else to pay homage
tor
| Bully" he exclaimed, looking down
at her in admiration. "Only We'll put it
| Ad2EEsE