The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-09-03

packed, l SudQenIy realized tn0t l was
hungry, for l had eaten nothing since
breakfast. Hastily l donned my
clothes. stopping only to count my
money. With q weeks salary in my
pocket and no room rem to pay for
several months, surely l could afford
a good dinner to celebrate the change
In my fortunes.
As l went out I stopped in the lower
hall to chat with the telephone girl,
ostensibly to ask her to take any mes
sages for me-, though l was expecting
none.
You're MI. Nelson. amt your" she
asked, cycling me with curious interest.
YES" I replied. "Mr. Spalding Mel
son. am occupying the CASTOR apart
ment while they are away"
A flicker OF amusement crossed her
face, with just the suggestion Of a
sneer.
II hope you'll enjoy living here"
"Why notT l replied c~arelsssly. "1f
any one calls, say that l will be home
by ten. Miss"
"Nellis Kelly" she added.
AS chatted with her the elevator
had descended again, and three per-
sons emerged. one Of them being she
for a sight OF whom l had been inten-
tionally lettering. One of the two
persons with her was plainly the
mother and the other + took to be an
older sister. She resembled Barbara
strongly, but there was a world-weary
look in her face, and her beauty seem
ed to me to be marred by Z weak,
sensitive, passionate mouth. But
had no eyes for her, 20 absorbed vas
I in the appearance Of the girl l had
met in the park. II I had thought
her beautiful then, she was ravishing
now. Her raven hair was piled high
and caught back with a great Spanish
comb. An ermine-trimmed evening
coat of brocade swathed her figure,
opening at the front just enough to
give me a glimpse OF her barred white
neck. Involuntarily my hand went to
my hat. but into her eyes came q
naughty look and M hand went to
her lips for just q second. al II she
were warning me again not to recog-
nize her. l stood there abashed as
she swept by me to the waiting motor,
The telephone girls voice Jared me
back to my senses
II thought you was a friend Of the
Bradfords," she said sarcastically.
"Sure he IL" said the voice Of Mr.
Wick behind me. Didn't you hear
the boys telling me he came in twice
with Miss Bradford7"
"Well what Of it," l answered
lamely and fed from the house, indig
nant at this open prying of the em
ployees into my affairs, yet entirely
at a loss to know how to stop it. How
could I tell them / knew Barbars
Bradford, when she had just cut the
dead?
Feeling vaguely dissatisfied witt
my first day In my new home, I board
ed q bus and rode downtown to q
little French cafe, where my comrade.
and l had been accustomed to &C
when we were in funds. All about
me were merry Sunday evening din
ner parties, and I vas alone. Birge
and Roller had gone, and Miss Brad
ford had refused to recognize me.
hurried through my dinner, paid my
check, and was leaving the restaurant
when at a corner table l spied the
scar-faced man whom l had seen in thu
park q few evenings before.
He looked up and caught my glance
Into his face came a strange express
sion, 4 look OF malignant hate, not IN
mingled with fear. Boldly I returned
his gaze. l vas tempted to walk righ'
up to him and ask him what he hat
been doing in the park, and why h,
had warned his mate away when b,
saw me there. Yet I had no right Il
interfere. Miss Bradford had no
taken me into her confidence. I hat
only suspicious to go on that the tw<
men had been there to attempt som,
wrong on the girl.
Slowly / left the restaurant, puzzled
more than eve by the malevolen
glance he had given me, and perplexet
as to how I was going to serve Mis-
Bradford. when she would not evel
recognize me.