Connecticut western news., 1920-01-01

Come in," he called.
 No one entered, but presently he heard the knock again. He rose and walked to the door. Outside stood a young woman.
 "If you please" she said, "excuse me, but-you are MT. Elden, aren't you?"
 "Yes. Can I help you in any way?"
 The woman Uttered a moment, but resumed soberly: "You will wonder 1 at me coming to you, but I'm from the country. Did YOU think that?"
 q suspected it." said Dave with a smile You knOcked-" He paused.
 "Yes?"
 Like a country girl" he said, boldly.
 She Uttered again. 'Well, Pm lost," she confessed. T got off the train a l short time ago. My aunt was to meet me, but there are such crowds in the 1 street, must have missed her. And l ] saw your name on the window and I i had heard of you. So 1 just thought 1 that I'd ask--1f you, wouldn't mind showing me to this address," l She fumbled in her pocket, and Dave : invited her into the office. There she produced torn piece of paper witn m address.
 'Why, that's just a few blocksi" said Dave. "I'll walk around with you" He turned for his hat, but at that moment there was another timid knock on the door. He opened 1t. A boy of eight or ten years stood outside.
 What is it, son?' /
 The lad looked shyly about the of flee. It was evident he was impressed with it's magnificence. Are you MT. Elden that sells lots?''
 ''Yes. Were you thinking of buying few lots?'
 Did you sell lots to my father?"
 "Well, if knew your fathers name 1 perhaps could tell you. Who is your 1 father?"
 He's Mir. Merton. Pm his son. And he said to me, before he got so bad, he said, There's just one honest man in this city, and that's MT. Elden.' Is that you, MT. Elden?"
 "Weil, hope it is, but won't claim such a distinction. I remember your father very we'll. Did he send you to me?"
 No, sir. He's too sick. He don't know anybody now. He didn't know me tonight" The boys voice went ! thick and he stopped and swallowed. And then I remembered what he said about you, and I just came.'
 Have you help - doctor - a nurse?"
 "No, sir. We haven't any money. My father spent it all for the lots that he bought from you." Dave winced. Then, turning to the young woman: "I'm afraid this is a more urgent case than yours. I'll call 9 taxi to take you 70 your address"
 To lis surprise, his visitor broke out in a ribald laugh. She had seated her self on a desk and was swinging one foot jauntily.
 "It's all off, she said. "Say, Dave, you couldn't lose me in this burg. You don't remember me, do you? Well, all the better. I'm rather glad I broke down on this job. 1 used to be some thing of an actress, and I'd have put 1t over if it hadn't been for the kid. The fact is, Dave," she continued, q was sent up here to decoy you. It wasn't fair fighting, and I didn't like it, but money has been mighty slow of late. I wonder-how much you'd give to know who sent me?" i Dave pulled some bills from his i pocket and held them before her. She took them from his hand.
 "ConWard," she said. Dave's blood went to his head. "The scoundrel!" he cried. "The low-down dog! There's more in this than ap- i pears on the surface" ! Sure there is,'' she said. "There's 1 another woman. There always is." Elden walked to his desk. From a | drawer he took a revolver tOyed with l it moment in his hands, broke it ] open, crushed it full of cartridges, and thrust it in his pocket.
 The girl watched with friendly in- terest. "Believe me, Dave" she said, eff Conward turns up missing I won't know a thing-nOt a d- thing"
 For a moment he stood irresOlute. He could only guess what Conward's plan had been but that it had been diabolical and cOwardly, and that it concerned Irene, he had no doubt. His impulse was to immediately confront 1 COnWard, force a confession and deal with him as the occasion might seem to require. But his eye fell On the boy, with his shock of brown hair and wist- full, half-frightened face.
 I'll go with you first" he said, with quick decision. Then to the girl, "Sor- ry must turn you out, but this case is urgent"
 That's all right she said. "Tm used to being turned out" And before he knew it she was in the street.
 All right, son. said Dave, taking up the matter now in hand. Whats | VOur name-UOur. first namo0O