The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-09-09
Love Affairs of a Lonely Woman
By MARY HAT

with sudden light of understanding
 breaking over his face. he stopped her
 with a gesture.
 This is my fault" he exclaimed. But
 then again it isn't my fault. I'll tell you
 what I mean.
 You remember when I tried to see you
 at the boarding house?" Jane nodded
 Well, you'll have to forgive me, Miss | Brown, but l was disappointed. l liked
 you. I wanted you for a friend, and
 when left there l went back to Green wich Village, to one of the tea shops,
 and IT had had a drink or two" He l turned impulsively to his father and added. You see, I'm telling all of this ! dad. I've acted bounder to this girl.
 but I didn't know it was going to get | her into this sort of trouble. I went , down to tea room and sat there think
 ing how I could meet you on another | sort of footing. I knew that l had start 1 ed wrong, and I was trying to figure out some way to make you respect me. 'I hadn't been there long before man came and sat down at the table with me. I didn't know him, but pretty l soon he and l began talking and he wanted me to have a drink with him. He had a pocket flask with him. I can't re- member how it began, but l told him about my trouble with you, Miss Brown. | At first he wasn't very much interested,
 
 know, until I happened to mention that
 you worked as a stenographer for Nor | timer. Then he began to ask me a lot of questions and ended up by saying. | Maybe before she gets through she'll | wish that she'd been little more friendly | with you!'"
 But what had my working for MT. l Mortimer to do with it?' Jane exclaimed.
 At first she had frankly disbelieved Biliy's statements. But as the man con | tinued something about his face, his sincerity. had gradually broken down her dislike, and now she leaned eagerly | toward him, waiting for his answer. T don't know" he answered. after
 moments thought "I don't really know
 if that had anything to do with it, but
 somehow, as I remember the way he | looked it seemed to me he was suddenly | interested. Who is Mortimer anyhow? ! Maybe the man I talked to had some
 thing against him. Maype he was taking
 out his spite on you, trying to get square with Mortimer through you.' For a time Jane considered this new | phase of the strange affair, but this ! would hardly explain the presence of Mortimer in the house, nor would it ex- plain those strange words he had used | to Helga.
 The Billy Burns that Jane remembered of the restaurant, the man who had been l | loud laughter, was gone. In his place
 she found a gentleman, rather the worse for the life he had led, but still quite
 good looking, courteous and all that Jane could wish.
 1 q suppose it's because he is under the eyes of his mother and father" Jane
 thought to herself as she took the older
 mans hand Tomorrow, if he gets back | to Greenwich Village, he'll be just as bad
 as ever" Aloud she murmured a con-
 ventional greeting and turned to the woman.
 l You have had terrible experience, my dear" Mrs. Burns said, as she took Jane's hand. You had better rest here overnight and we will see that you get
 safely back to town tomorrow. Could you l do that?"
 l "Why-I'm not sure" Jane began. 'T 1 think I had"
 ''Nonsense," MT. Burns put in genially.