Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-14
The Phantom LOUer
BY Ruby AyreS

| btbnulnB Dy tne WlnuOW LOOKING out INTO
the neglected garden at the back OF tho
house she turned.
I'm not really hungry and II you'd
like to have Mr.. Mellowes to yourself
-" she began.
June stared at her.
my dear" she said then drily, "if I'd
wanted TO have Mr.. Mellowes to myself
] should have married him long ago so
don't pretend you're no, dying for one
She linked her arm In Esther's, and
they went upstairs together Esther did
not want to come, but II seemed easter
to give way than to make excuses. She
| took the chair which Micky brought for
ward she felt q little nervous and III nt
ease. Once, when their eyes met, she
found herself coloring sensitiveiy.
Micky left her alone In marked fash
ion and talked to June.
"Uml" said Jane. intent on another
Mlcfy adseted. lie looked down at
IN you don't hear anything of me
for a few. days .you'll know I'm out OF
London '" he looked at Esther
but she was kneeling down by the Are
stroking Charlie.
"out OF London !" June said in sur
prise. Where are you solng?"
Micky cleared his throat
II thought OF running over to Paris
Paris! They were both looking at
him now. Micky. was painfully aware
OF the eagerness In Esther's face.
yes; / haven't been since September.
Anything I can do for YOU while I'm
there?"
June raised her brows comically.
. Not for mo. but perhaps Esther
Esther has great friend over
there, haven't you, my child?"
ESTHER turned crimson from chin to
Mr.. Mellowes is not at all likely to
meet meet any friend of mine" she said
Don't he too surct Miss shepstone."
ne SAID lightly. TITS a small world
you Know, and It's the most unexpecrod
Things that happen"
But Esther seemed not TO have heard
CHAPTER
And SO Micky went TO Paris. II wss
dark when he got there, and he drove NJ
once to small and unpretentious hotel
IN narrow side street, where he had
never been before.
He had a bit of a headache and felt
wretohed: he drank four cups Of strong
coffee and went out,
He avoided the popular thorough
fares he sauntered about tiil lunch
Tine and then went back to the hotel
apparently the walter had spoken the
truth when he said that the place was
almost empty for cnly two OF the twenty
ab,es were occupied beside his own.
, lie mad just finished his dinner WHEN
the swinging doors opened and a man
came into the room with lady In cve.
| ming dress,
Micky looked at them. and his heart
began to race-for the man was Raw
mond Ashton, and the woman Tubby
cares little widow.
Ashton saw Micky al once. and his
| tace fell into almost comical lines Of dis
may, but he pulled himself together at
once and spoke to the woman beside
| him.
Micky knew Mrs CIaro slightly. bo
rose and went toward them. ''
| :, heard you were In Paris lie said.
lie shook hands with Mrs. Glare she
was rather pretty little woman, small
ana plump, with round, meaningless
eyes and friendly smile
We're going TO the opera" Ashton
sa,d MRS. Clare Is not staying here
but she very kindly consented TO come
and dine with me. Are you staying here,
miSkyy When did you come overy'
Just dropped in for some grub"
| YOU'D better dine with u.s." Ashton
saiu, put he did not sound very cnthusi-
"Mioky laughed. Thanks, but have
came in" He thought of Esther. and
his face hardened. This was tho man
| or whom she was thinking all day a,d
every day this man who was so OBJ
cIHass cIarsss iitte ifH'Ss wiaaTy 'S Ty to marry Tub6y
He stood talkHg to them for a few
moments, then, accused himself,
You haven't told me where you arc
staying" Ashton said.
Mo-and I'm going away tomorrow
| ing back to town." ~" oo''-
Ashton looked quickly at his com.
pamion. oh; not yet awhile" he said
..,I see Micky met his eyes steadily,
after moment. you didn't 'e' osk ne sSnm, So,d
that letter you gave me. posted
Raymond turned crimson. "The letter.
vyoh' yes thanks-thanks, very much
You didn't take II then?"
ninty. 'o'ee was
"Er-thRnks. awfully!' Ashton so,d
again Re twisted his mustache nery-
pousiy. Iil see you some other time"
line" '''p you
ne was getting into his coat in the
,1uhge when Ashton came after him
lie looked worried and abashed bc
asked hurried question. "
nVerythings all right oh Mickyo
Lallie; mean-I thought from the Wv
yIgb, yo9 looked okea Just now-she-she's ali
MY dear chap-how should I know,
Ihe sap, never ,h answered my letter. though
thought you would have heard"
,oid you ! didn't mean to write--
!. sa,d mat | wanted the whole afroIr
cut out. Ashton said irrltably. "'""
!mickN made no response,
Shes sure to be ali right anvwo,,, ;,
Ashton said after n moment any w waN
haun | should have heard o., s"e
Moicky looked at him coolly.
o~r6o,I,r ra,hrr SOUND az ir you wero
rooIIsbs rITIsbt'ns @ 10 near she'd done something
Something---" he said driiv, ''eo Vt
wei; she was SO cXcItable sbo s.,s
more c than once that she'd do .Ica ,,u :,
WIZ hers''f--Its all rot OF course 'Iny bIt
tnow" he said heartiessiy. ~" "woms,, wonNsr
ar ar "lmn due"r croRtures--and I,olIIa
what did YOU say?" ''""'e-
,",NonthinE" said Micky curtly. Good
went out MS heei ana
Micky wrote letter Of nassoro,s
,ovs 10 Esther when he got 20 his hoteI
Sn S,'u ws1;nS s'Ensd Nshton's name to II. Then
lie stayed in Paris four days. tho
four longest days of his life. Inc
re wandered about killing time and
the bottom OF the sea, '"o Ut
When Monday morning came he
packed his portmnnteau before he left
MN; so he might az well clear OUT and
go home without making further fool
OF himself There was not the least
nope IN ms heart when he went TO the
came as It had done each morninr;,
Nothing for monsieur
Micky turned away. He was half wa,,
70 the dining room before II suddenly
he was expecting letters In the name
OF Ashton-that he had forgotten to