The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-04-29
Chapter So.
DEVELOPM ENTS.

Langley Williams was tall. very tall
indeed-his height made apparently
greater because Of his extreme slim
ness. Ruth thought him quite the tall
est man she had ever seen. Later
she found that the thick crop or
straight yellow hair which was brush
ed straight back from his forehead
added an inch or two to his height.
That was all the girl was conscious
of at a first impression. Later she
discovered that he had grey eyes,
which were not very large, a mouth
that closed firmly. but that was rather
honas,y in shape; a jaw that was
firns9 than the mouth, and great
many lines in his face. Just now, as
he smiled, she did not notice this
stubbornness of either mouth or chin.
Langley Williams had had hard
life and his face showed it. He would
know more things about man he
had Just met than most people would
find out after weeks of acquaintance.
He knew practically nothing about
woman, men rarely deceived him, wo-
men always could, and one woman
once
But meantime Ruth was speaking
again.
Tim said he was sending you to
see about "a room" Her cheeks
flushed suddenly, and she wondered
why she should feel embarrassed with
him talking about a simple business
arrangement such as renting room,
when she had no such ideas with
anyone else!
We'll, yes. that was partly it," He
was standing on the step below her,
I>,,t eto eth al hot he lnnkin
up at him. Il expected to get here a
long time ago, but l only arrived yes
,erdsy and I'm stopping at-well, they
call II hotel"
Ruth laughed. She knew the Main
Street Hotel was a joke, even in the
town. for its badness.
But Turner was also good enough
10 give ule . letter of introduction to
you, and to few other people here. }"
We are always glad to see any
friend of Tins" Ruth answered me-
chanicallv. and added, Wont you
come in?"
He shook his head and said it was
dinner time, but that he would come
again with the letter, if she would
allow him.
But there isn't vacant ROOM
Ruth said, moved by sudden impulse
she could not explain. She mentioned
house where he might be made com
Portable. and with that he went off.
Mr. and Mrs. O'Niel looked up wnen
the girl came in, wondering at her
long delay. She explained that the
man Tim had written about had come
for a room.
But ! said we had none" she went
on. 81 don't know why. because we
need the money and there's plenty of
rooms to rent. Only, somehow l did
not want a friend of Tins to be-well,
to board-to-
81 know, my dear 1t puts one in
a curious position" Duncan O'Niel
answered. And Ruth, grateful that he
could understand the idea she could
not explain. said nothing more about it.
The next day Ruth received a note
from Langley Williams. 1t said:
Thanks for your suggestion about
a place to live. I'm already fixed very
nicely there. This is the letter OF in.
come around some evening next
week."
Ruth opened the other note, hating
herself for the agitation that the sight
of Tins writing caused 1t was only
the SOHN culloLdl vi 0iu6 III SoSh
notes, and it was dated some time
back. Ruth dropped it in the fire as
soon as she could, and sent the new
arrival brief letter saying she would
be glad to see him the following
Wednesday.
But she was not very much interest
ed. Mr.. Williams, it appeared, was
making stir among her friends, as
any stranger, particularly man
would be bound to, in such small
place.
Mrs. Weed. it seemed, had had him
10 dinner. and knew great deal about
him.
He's very charming" she tolt
Ruth Hes been all over the world
worked his way mostly. He's beer