The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-09-24

you worry ABOUT me. Ill 30 II dlohe
from now on. II don't matter what
happens to me. can starve II
have to-"
She put her hand on the door
knob.
Put I say" said Morley Smith.
Wait Bit"
The woman hesitated.
You don't mean you're going back
10 that chap, wharf" he asked.
ITO him. To a man with yellow
streak? I'd die first"
But then what do you mean"
oh! don't you fret about me" she
said laughing lightly. "1'll make it
somehow. II does not matter about
my kind"
But l say, really" said Morley
Smith with great sincerity, you
don't look that kind at all, II | get
what you mean. You look quite the
lady, and all that sort of thing. don't
you know"
He was awkward in trying 10 say
what he meant.
Il mean, II you had bit Of lift.
don't you know" he stumbled on,
you might be Abe the right sort,
} what? Back TO the old farm, and all
that sort Of thing! Start over again
somewhere and things like that. /
sayl" he cried suddenly. as II great
light had come to him.
What" she asked, her hand still
on the knob.
"NVar-work, don't you know! Red
Cross. or this canteen sort Of thing.
or something. What? Jolly good
idea"
Tho woman looked at Morley
Smith, taking in the eagerness In his
eyes.
NO use" she said sadly. 1T
sounds all right. friend. but you've
got 10 be known before they let you
into those things. You've got tC
have credentials. I've nice ones
haven't -"
But that's the idea" cried Nor
ley Smith. stick around in some
nice place awhile until they know
lou. Place like this Westcote place
:; v"u get what | mean. Ah-built
L Jolly good what-you call-it
uI get what I mcan?"
"F:Irnd," said the woman, tina
,aneS money"
Morley Smit# was still holding hi:
watch il his hand. Now he slipped
il into his pocket and patted the
breast OF his coat.
What say II do my bit?" h.
asked. "War-work, WHAT"
You mean" sh" asked eagerly
that you would stake me while
was getting reputation in some
quiet town. so they would take me
on In some sort Of war-wosk?"
He saw that her eyes glistenec
with eagerness.
BY Jove. yes!" he said. That.
jolly we'll what ! mean"
And ] would DO free from Ed for.
cver!" she said. Il would be able
10 live my own life again. III do il
pail"
Morley Smith took his wallet from
his pocket. He did not look to Sc,
how much money he gave her, bu
no knew it was all she would nee,
for many months, fer he never cam
adventuring without O goodly sun
for use in case OF necessity. It wa
over a thousand dollars; that h.
know, but even that sum did no
mean much to him. The woman
looked at tho money before sh
tucked It away In her waist. Thel
she turned TO open the door. and sh
smiled triumphantly when her bacl
was to him.
Morley Smith stepped forwsr,
quickly to open the door.
Il say" he said politely. I've ,
cab outside. rs you know. ! ca,
give you a lift back TO town, what?
The woman considered this. Sh
had strung this fellow along yer!
nicely. She had helped Ed in hi
getaway and had talked a good rol
OF money out of this swell In add
ton, and that was good piece O
work. II only needed this fina
touch, that he should carry her bacl
d to Manhattan in his own taxical
after being 90 nicely biked. to max,
4 the whole affair perfect.
n That is kind she said. 20
. course, will be glad
Morley Smith opened the door
. The driver OF the taxlcab seemed t
be asleep, but he aroused himself a
:, they approached. He opened tn
y to crank the car while Morley Smith
a helped the woman into the cab
y Back TO New York, Henry Nor
!. ley Smith said.
t The taxicab followed the route BY
which II had come to WestcOte
y Now and then II Jared into a meal
depression In the pavement. but fol
c the most part II bowled over smooth
! roads, and Morley Smith and thu
e woman conversed. The woman dit
Il most OF the talking. She was giving
e Morley Smith what she would have
called n run for his money" in
!, venting n past life-history for her
self and telling him how she mean
e TO rebuild her life now that she wal
IL free from the man called Ed. Sh,
d enjoyed L all greatly.
3 Morley Smith listened. saying 1
n word now and then, but his thought
0. were not OF what she was saying
n He had had a thrilling adventure
d Once more he had ventured from hi
r. club chair into the reams Of romance
II and had experienced strange things
> He smiled as he saw the immobil'
n back OF the taxi-driver. with only
d the thin sheet of glass between. Or
the drivers seat Bat the eterna
commonplace. holding the steering
u wheel, swerving to avoid holes II
d the pavement, footing his horn nov
and then automatically, thinking O
Y not hing Inside the taxi was 70