Cleveland County herald., 1920-02-12

Sso8i3 Oi DedIu, nlS SnOeS ana CTOu" sers were caked with mud. and as he carried his coat under his arm his shirt was seen to be little more than a rag which clung to him damply.
 For two days and nights he had not known sleep, and in the past five hours he had tramped three times as many miles. Only a constitution of steel could have stood up under this, but Fitzhugh had one. AS he turned the corner and swung down the street with vigorous strides he seemed far from exhaustion.
 The moment the woman saw him all the love and pity and tenderness of her emotional nature welled up in her bosom, and with a little low cry of My boy !"-more maternal than amorous-she ran to meet him. He took her outstretched hands, and holding them wide apart smiled at the anxiety in her face.
 Am on time? I was delayed little at the start"
 And you walked all the way!' she exclaimed pityingly.
 "No. l ran part of the way-the first part" He thought of his empty pockets q couldn't very well ride," he ended dryly.
 I'm sorry! I should have given you"
 His smile vanished. "No, you shouldn't" he interrupted.
 "You must be ready to drop. Your breakfast has been waiting for an hour, for I expected you earlier, and l know you're starving"
 In her basement room - which, though cheaply furnished, was spot lessly clean-she bade him sit down while she warmed over his breakfast on the coal-oil stove. When he had finished the meal to the last drop and crumb he sat back in his straight-back chair and felt through his coat pocl1- cts. His quest finished, he stared ruefully at the moist lunep of tobacco in his palm. She sprang up, ran to cupboard, and in a second was back with a package of smoking tobacco and a book of cigarette papers.
 'I thought of it last night" she said simply. T knew you would want to smoke"
 He rolled and lighted a cigarette, took heavy inhalation and sent the smoke swirling ceilingward Then, lowering his head, he looked steadily from beneath his thick, jet-black brows at the starry-eyed woman sitting op- posite him. He felt no love for her, but a gratitude too deep for words tugged at his heart. He began to be uncomfortable.
 She walked to the sink with the stack of dishes, deposited them and returned to where he was standing.
 TT told the landlady," she fal- tered without looking at him, that I-- that you were my brother"
 "No great harm in that, hope Be sides there is sort of family resem- blance. And I certainly have most commendable brotherly love for you"
 She became silent. Her dark skinned hands relaxed; her shoulders dropped. After a few dumb moments she turned away and opened door leading into a dark hall. "Would you like to go to your room now?" Her voice sounded spiritless. "Pll show you the way"
 He followed her down the subter- ranean passage to a narrow stairway at the rear, up which they climbed four flights. His room was at the rear of the top floor There was but one window which gave upon an alley and commanded a fine view of brick wall He raised it and leaning out found the cornice of the house was less than six feet above the sill.
 "I may need that some time," he remarked, turning back to Esther. "1'll get the lay of the roof tonight.
 She had apparently forgotten her depression, for she was all tenderness now and, apologizing for the baroness of his abode, she left the room.
 After locking the door Fitzhugh stripped to the skin, hung his damp garments out of the window in the hope that chance ray of sunshine might discover them and curled up on the bed, which was never intended for man of his stature. In less than three minutes he was slumbering soundly.
 
 It was dusk when he awoke. Feel ing greatly refreshed, he put on his clothes, which were almost dry, and walked downstairs, where he was greeted by Esther.
 "lt must be pretty late" he re marked.
 Its nearly nine''
 "Nine! Why, I have had ten hours sleepl"
 But you hadn't slept for two nights"