The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-05-10
Puzzling
Case
4.
copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
3, A.-W. PEACH

boarding house. From the first he
kept to himself; while uniformly cour-
teous. he did not invite advances of any
kind Next, 1t was discovered that he
spent many hours in the evening Just
walking. One Of those physical cul-
ture bugs" old Doctor Greene said
grimly, and the boarding house accept
eed his conclusion.
& But Ruth Taylor. looking as she did
each day at the strong but haggard
( face, reached a different conclusion.
The gray eyes lifted to hers, az she
chatted in the familiar way Of the
house, were shadOwed. Each evening
after supper she saw him 60 out, his
tall figure swinging away into the
night; and many times she heard him
returning at midnight. And finally,
because her training as q nurse had
helped her to look into human hearts,
she knew that he was walking to for
get, hoping to leave behind somewhere
in his lonely strolls memory that he
wished to blot out.
ed him grow thinner and more bag
gard that she must take a hand in
curing him. She decided she must
find ont, first of ALL what was wrong,
and she decided to take a bold step If
necessary. Her professional instinct
was aroused.
The next evening, as he stepped
from the door, she was waiting. MIR.
Hill. why don't you invite one of us
lonely females to stroll with you some
eyeningg' She felt her cheeks glow
bit with shame at the boldness Of
II her request.
He looked down at her with grave
/ eyes. II have noticed that you, at
least. have plenty Of invitations from
Others" He added quickly as he saw
her wince,' II would like to have you
come, but l am afraid you would find
me poor company. But do come" He
smiled this time, and the smile won
her.
They started down the avenue and
the adventure began. To find his trou-
BILE and to cure him was the task she
had set for herself She made little
progress that evening; but they chat
ted and walked-most of the time in
silence When they returned she had
made little gain in her attempt to solve
him; but she found some satisfaction
In His goodnight words z
eYou make a good CO rade. Please
~ ofn NC II sou can tomorrow. MY
work has been changed. so shall
wander bit in the afternoon"
Lightness came into her feet as she
mounted the stair. She had helped
him a bit to forget something -whGt it
was she. conld not guess. unless it
inight'be some wrongdoing that preyed
upon him; but the clean strength Of
his lean face, the grave kindness of his
: eyes seemed to shut away all thought
of crime
The first link in the chain of mys-
terry was broken the next afternoon.
They were strolling together down the
broad, sunny central path Of the great
park when she saw coming toward
them graceful, pretty girl whose eyes
quickened with interest as she saw
them. She turned toward them.
"Greetings, Albert" she said to him.
Ruth saw his face whiten and grow
stern, then take on look of hunger
that vanished as quickly as it came.
And light began to dawn dimly upon
her.
He turned to her with word Of in
PRODUCTION, Miss Dennison." The
girls appraising eyes swept her coolly
and turned to him.
When they went on again Ruth was
aware that the mystery was nearing
a solution. The conversation dragged
though he made an evident effort to
keep it up; but his mind and heart
was elsewhere.
t She determined to use drastic meth
DDS, for that night at the dining room
table he looked wearier and more de-
pressed than ever. The pity that his
hurt eyes had first aroused III her was
doubled many fold. She thought over
plan and decided to put 1t into action.
She drew him aside into the quiet of
the reception room. She was bit hes
liant just how to begin, but she began,
anyway.
Listen, want you to tell me some
thing and tell me truly ! have decid-
ed TO hire myself as your doctor. Any
way. YOU need a mother--or perhaps.
sister"
''The Lord knows do,' he said
quietly. s
t"Ehen--here it Island forgive me-
but did you love Miss Dennison once?"
He drew q IaBg breath and sank back
into the shadow of the corner. She
was afraid he would not answer; then
the words came, touched with pain.
II love her now--that's the trouble"
He was silent for little while; then
his mans will broke and the whole
bitter tale came out-a story of mans
true love, given fully to girl who took
1t and then when 1t had gone so far as
to make ready home, had been given
hack.
Ruth listened with pounding heart,
and understood. Worthy or not, she
was all in all to him; for love does