The Washington times., 1921-09-18
CHAPTER XII.

Win <AhAis onu = hVIACOu ouL 6Ooo
face light up almost imperceptibly,
making me feel more than ever sat
isfed that had not yielded to q
natural temptation and laid my
whole soul bare to him to his dis
tress. rather than risk straining the
friendship 30 dear to me.
For my own reasons was par
ticularly anxious to study Dorothy
Wolf more closely for better. for
worse, and here was the opportun-
ity without delay.
Ann, delightful as ever with her
wonderful fair hair and white dress,
ran across the hall and greeted me
with her usual frank sisteriy kiss,
second only to the one reserved for
old Burgess.
at Is good to get you back, Line
she said. I'VE have missed you
horribly, and Burge hasn't known
what to do with himself while
have been busy upstairs with the
hospital. Where are my choco-
lates"
/ handed them over to her. I
don't think had missed once since
she was little girl in short frocks;
and she had begun to regard them
as q prescriptive right. In fact, !
always used to say that would not
dare return without them.
Chocolates, Dorothy" she said,
as l greeted the girl, "just at the
psychological moment, as superior
novelists say, when we have done
tea. Tea, Line, or q drink?"
Both, please" I said, deliberate
~ expropriating Burgess and sit
ting down next to Miss Wolff
"that is, tea first and the drink
some time later, when get stuffy
old Burge by himself sucking at an
old pipe and grunting in an arm.
chair"
They all laughed, and I had
created the atmosphere I wanted.
For the next few days It was i'm
perative to keep things going and
permit no brooding. I.
Dorothy Wolff was looking more
charming than ever. in the white fur
cap which suited her 80 well, yet.
at the same time. fnstinctively
raised acute antagonisn In me, and
must admit that ! was very much
drawn to her personality by the
srankness Of her eyes, her direct
look which bred confidence. II
gave me to think analytically, II
not fusieusly. as the old melo-
dramatic tag has II, and even
frankness is often q disconcerting
factor. Somehow-well. we will
get to that later.
"And how is the Herr Profess
SORT" I asked, keeping the lighter
vein. II have run across one or
two of my scientific friends in
town, who tell me that he is a
wonderful man with an alphabet of
more than twentysix inadequate
letters after his name and the past
master of his own subject"
I noticed Burgess shoot an al
most unconscious glance across at
me, as though he suspected the fact
that I had been making inquiries
about the professor IN town, but I
went on cheerfully, as though had
seen nothing.
81 am very anxious to pursue the
acquaintance, II I may, Miss Wolf.
and would like to call one after
noon and have q chat with him.
What Is his best timer I mustn't
interrupt his work on any account"
"Then come IN the afternoon"
said the girl naturally and cordial
ly. "He usually goes out for a
walk after lunch-or dinner, e. It
really is with us--and returns be-
tween three and four. so come
down with Ann-and Mr.. Clymping,
too, II he cares to-" she added q
little shyly, looking across at Bur.
gess-"and stay on to tea.
"My father Is all right when he
finds people there and has TO talk
to them. but II anyone attempts to
make an appointment he always
tries on his side to evade II with
the instinct OF q recluse. thing
which grows upon him more and
more each year So choose your
own afternoon and come unexpect-
edly. I am sure to be in, as ! 60
nowhere except here.
"The very few people who called
soon dropped us when they found
what funny household we are and
how unapproachable and irrespon-
sible father is. Only Ann took the
trouble to think of me. and be kind
to me In my loneliness-and Mr..
Clymping." i
'.That is the drawback OF having
a genius for q father" ! said; and
II seemed to me as though she
were about to say something, but
checked herself sharply. They
cant help having their Individual