The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-09-20

places or It's own 80 10 had seemed
snub from the conductor who looked
But In the lighted Strand she had
been stared at az well rs jostled; "a
girl alone at 5 o'clock on a winter
evening. bareheaded, Conspicuoualy
tail n conspicuous In no other way;
dressed for dinner or the theatre in
pale gray sequined gown under al
'1nauve chiffon cloak meant for warm
nights OF summer.
or course. as Mrs. Ellsworth (giver
OF dress and wrap often pointed out,
''beggars mustn't be choosers;' ana
Annesley Graylo was worse on than
beRgar, because beEgars needn't
keep up Appearances. She should have
thanked Heaven for good clothes, and
50 she did In chastened mood; but -
was n costume 70 make a girl hurry
through the strand, and just for an
instant she had been glad to turn
from the white glare into comparative
dlmness.
That was because offensive eyes had
made her forget the almost immediate
future In the quite immediate present.
But the hotel, with light hearted taNis
tearing up 20 it. brought remembrance
with a shock. She envied every one
else who was bound Tor the savoy,
even old women, and fat gentlemen
with large noses They were going
because Lhcy wanted 10 60, for their
pleasure. Nobody ia the world could
DO In such an appalling situation as
she was.
IL was then that Annesley's feet be-
gan to drag, and she slowed her steps
10 gain more time TO think. Gould
she-could she do tho thing?
h'or days her soul had been rushing
toward this moment with thousand
horsepower speed, ike a lonely comet
tearing through space. But then -
had been distant the terrible goal.
She had not had TO gasp among her
heart thrObs: Nov! II Is now!"
Creep as she might, three minutes
brought her from the turning out OF
the strand close TO the Welcoming ca-
trance where revolving doors oi sass
received radiant visions d-+lling as
moonlight on snow.
mo, / cantl" the SRI told herself,
desperately. she wheeled more quickly
than the whirling door. hoping that
no one would think her mad. AL
the same, i was mad" she admitted,
ito fancy L could do II. 1 ought 20
have known / couldn't. when the
| time came. I'm the last person to
well, I'm sane again now, anyway"
A few long steps carried the girl IN
the sparkling dress and transparent
cloak into the Strand again. But
something queer was happening there.
People we're shouting and running. A
man with a raucous, alcoholic voice.
yelled words Annesley could not
catch. A woman gave a squeaking
scream that sounded both ridiculous
and dreadful. Breaking glass crashed,
A grOwl OF human anger mingled
with the roar OF motOr-Omnibuses,
and Miss Grayle fell back from IL as
from a slammed door in high wall.
As she stood hesitating what TO do
| and wondering II there were a fire or
a murder, two women, laughing hys-
terlcally. rushed past into the hotel
court.
Hurry up" painted ono OF them.
They'll think we belong 20 the
gang. Lets 90 into the hotel and
| stay until It's over"
"Oh. what Is IT. AnnesleY en-
treated, running after the couple.
Burglars at a jewellers window
| close by-there are women-theYre
being arrested" one OF the pair tiung
over her shoulder as both hurried on;
:" That meant that II She
plunged into the fray she might be
mistaken FOR woman burglar, and
/ arrested with the guilty. Even II she
| iurked where she was, a prowling pO-
nceman might suppose she sought
concealment, and bag her as mill
tant.
Imagine what Mrs. Ellsworth
| would say-and do-if she were
taken OFF TO jail
Annesleys heart seemed 10 drop
out OF rs place, to 90 "Crossways."
as her old Irish nurse used 20 say a
million years ngo.
. without stopping 20 think again.
or even 10 breathe, she flew back to
the hotel entrance, az migrating
bird follows It's leader. and slipped
through the revolving door behind
. the fugitives.
ITS fate" she thought This
must bo a sign coming just when I'd
made up my mind
suddenly she WAS no longer afraid
though Der heart was POUNDING
under the thin cloak. Fragrance OF
dollhouse flowers and expensive per
fume from wOmen's dresses intoNl-
Gated the girl as glass or cham
payne forced upon ono who has
never tasted wine flies 10 the head
She felt herself in the tide OF adven-
ture, moving because she must: The
SOU which would have fled 10 re-
turn 10 Mrs. Ellsworth, was a coward
She had room In her crowded min,
, IN think how queer IL was-and how
% oueer it would seem an the rest o
4 her life in looking back-that sh,
/, should have the course OF her eNis
q tence changed because burglars ha,
% broken some panes OF glass in thl
, | strand.
-. "Just because OF them-creature
I'M never mest-Tm going TO see thi
& through 70 the end" she said. ming
inp up her chin and looking entirel,
mike the Annesley Grayle Mrs. Ellis
worth knew TO the end!"
she thrilled at tho word. which IA,
, az much OF the unknown IN IL a
though IL were the worlds end sh
referred To-, ana she were Jumping
e on
n "WM you please tell me where {
a leave my wrap" she heard hersel
inquiring OF a tootman as magnif
cent as. and far better dressed thar
" the Apollo BelyedeIe. Her volc
"a sounded natural. She was glad Thl
% added 10 her courage. II was wonder
| f,tl 10 faol br4Va. life uyaa ~ dnndI,