Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-03


me the worst Of the bargain. That she
was going to try hard to see II she
could make good and live without steal
ing, and when she was sure, she'd send
word to me through Mr.. Reilly, and II
l never heard ! could know she had
failed and for me to forget her.
Where is she?' asked the girl.
who was sQuirming like an eel.
"T dunno she said. She's left
town.
" 4 don't believe it, / said.
Yes. she has said the girl. 'She
pawned all her togs--that new white
dress and the swell shoes and her new
suit and hat to get money to make a
getaway
81 might as well have tried to hang
on to fish as to hold that slippery lit :
tie street Arab. She broke away and
ran. I was after her, but it was no
use. She knew the ins and outs of the
alleys like n rat and / lost her. You
see. didn't know my girls last name.
When I asked her, she said: Call me
Marta. / didn't care about knowing
her last name then, because was so
keen to give her my own name.
~ was just about crazy. I hunted
all over the part of the city where I'd
left her the first night. Then / went
to see Reilly, but he didn't know who
she was. I made him see what it meant
to me to find her. and he promised to
try his best and to forward at once any
letter that came to him. II I don't
hear after n while, when work gets
slack so you can spare me, I'm going
to Chicago and go through it with a
fine tooth comb. Reilly will help me
follow every girl by the name Of Marta
that's ever lived there"
Kurt's eyes. full Of infinite pity and
regret. turned to 10 rs he broke the
little pause that followed.
"She is doubtless a poor little stray
of a girl and luck has been against her
but, 10. pull all thoughts of marrying
her away. just as she has. watt
he hurried on. seeing the anger kind
ling in the lads eyes-'if it were any
other offcnse-but thief! Once @
thief. always thief is the truest say
ing I know. Your love couldn't"
'It didn't make any change in my
feelings when she told me- said Jo
stanchly. "She could steal anything
I had.
'It might not change your feelings
but it should change your intentions
DO you mean you'd marry" Kurt
had an incrcdulous expression on his
face,
"In n second. If she'd have me. I't
buy her everything she wanted so she
wouldn't have to steal"
"But after you were married anG
people found out what she was, you'd be
ashamed"
! ASHAMED. I'd put my little thiet
On throne and whoever dared to try
TO take her off would get it in the
neck"
The car speeded up again. The mar
Mt the wheel saw the utter futility oi
further expostulation.
"I'll leave it to time and COW punch
ing" he thought sagely. Thine ant
work are the best healers. especially for
the young. Preaching is of no avail
Night came on. Jo looked up at a
little lone star which was trying tc
make it's light shine without properly
! aorlo,.d hacLground.
.'Tbat,s a moor little orphap star
like her,
"I'U look for it every night now.
T wish I hadn't blabbed to Kurt. He
hasn't a nose for orange blossoms.
In the fortnight that followed JC
r.orLod indefatipablv hut his heart and
his thoughts we're back in Chicago, ex-
cent when now and then his ewes turned
to fertile LITTLE beauty spot valleyed
hetweon the hills. For here he had
located an imaginary cottage-his cot
tagc and hers. This mirage, of course
aIwovs showed a little sin of a girI
stonJir, in Tho doorway. To the sur
nriso ord d;smov of his associates. Jc
.ho snondor bocame To tbe saver thai
S;s droarn niobt com. t,up,
ua oTorod no ,ddendum 70 the reyela
.;on ho had made to Kurt Tbcv met
ofto, brt IN roncb life discourse il MOI
srao,,,nt ond In ;nst;nct;volv folt that
-; "aa;to, of oro's Youno Drenm baf
saua. @ ,',,an unsr,notbot;c oars Will,
10 foropnn unyors.d in tbe lappuap,
~ ,ono m.n, ,rst;6ed bv tbe lad,
VI wv
STU. ~. ,. ,,.or +ho "mor r;tbout
no mae g." m oro,no h,ossor,s,, nos agoi,
in town. AS acting sheriit or the count!