The Washington times., 1920-06-25
tCe.ti..eS fro. Yesterday

tCestiaseS frs.. Yesterday
John Cleland turned the page.
searched for the advertisement az
the Christensen Galleries. discov-
cred II. read II carefully. There
were some fine old prints adver-
tised to be sold. His hated rivals
would be there-beloved friends yet
hated rivals in the endless battle
Tor bargains In antiquities.
When he got into his car few
minutes later. he told the chauffeur
10 drive to Christensen's and drive
fast. Halfway there, he signalled
and spoke through the tube:
"Wbere 10 the United Charities
Building? Where? Well. drive
there first."
himself In the corner under the lynx
robe.
CHAPTER IL
Would you care to go there and
see the child for yourself, Mr.
Cleland? A few moments might
give you a much clearer idea OF
her than all that / have told you,"
suggested the capable young
woman to whom he had been
turned over in that vast labyrinth
of Offices tenemented by the United
Charities Organizations OF Man
haitian and the Four Boroughs. Inc"
John Cleland signed the cheque
which he had filled in. laid II on the
desk. closed his cheque-book. and
shook his head.
I'm a busy man." he said briefly.
"Oh, I'm sorry wish you
had time to see her for moment.
You may obtain permission through
the Manhattan Charities Concern,
q separate organization, which turns
over certain cases to the excellent
child-placing agency connected
with our corporation"
THANK you; haven't time"
"Mr. Chiltern Grismer would be
the best man to see-if you had
time"
THANK you"
There was a chilly silence: Gle
land stood frowning at space, wrap
ped in gloomy preoccupation.
But" added the capable young
woman, wistfully, 'if you are SO
busy that you have no time to
bother with this case person.
ally"
"I have time" snapped Cleland,
turning red. For the man was bur-
dened with the inconvenient hon.
esty of his race-a sort OF tactless
truthfulness which characterized all
Clelands. He said:
when l informed you that I'm
busy man. 1 evidently but uninten-
tionally misled you. I'm not in
business. I have time. l simply
don't wish to go into the slums to
see somebody's perfectly strange
offspring"
The amazed young woman listen
ed, hesitated, then threw back her
pretty head and laughed:
"Mr. Cleland, your frankness Is
most refreshing! Certainly there is
no necessity for you to go II you
don't wish to. The little girl will
be most grateful to you for this
generous cheque, and happy to be
relieved OF the haunting terror that
has made her almost i'll at the pros
pect of an orphanage. The child
will be beside herself with joy
when she gets word from us that
she need not lose the only home and
the only friends she has ever
known. Thank you-for little Ste
phanie Quest"
what did the other people do to
herr" inquired John Cleland, but
toning his gloves and still scowling
absently at nothing.
"What people?"
"The ones who-her parents. I
mean. What was it they did to
her?'
They were dreadfully inhuman."
what did they do to the child? Do
you know"
Yes, 1 know. Mr.. Cleland. They
beat her mercilessly when they hap
pened to be crazed by drugs; they
neglected her when sober. The little
thing was a mass of cuts and sores
and bruises when we Investigated
her case; two Of her ribs had been
broken, somehow or other. and were
not yet healed"-
'Oh. Lord!" he interrupted sharp
ly. That's enough Of such devil
ish detail.-- I beg your pardon,
but such things-annoy me. Also
I've some business that's waiting
or pleasure, whichever you chose
to call tt" He glanced at his
watch, thinking of the exhibition at
Christensen's. and the several rival
and hawk-like amateurs who GER
tainly would be prowling around
there. deriding him for his absence
and looking for loot.
where does that child live" he