The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-06-29
ETHE UPHILL ROAD"
'0'''''',> 1'sa- .--'-'-' By RUBY M. AYRES|


4 the time Fcrrier had fixed for the ap-
pcintment lie found the paper after
= moment. he read the scrubbed
words eagerly.
"charing croes Post office--i
| o'clock
J He went out of the room and rang
message would be taken TO him.
oh, Well ask him 20 send the
cthcr nurse round by IL. viii youg
have TO go out on important bust
NESS. and can't leave my sister
Alone. Tell him at once. mind"
He rang OFF with sense OF relief
md went back TO Lillian.
k.iill be all right. I've told them
send the other nurse along.
4 Ihere's Just a chance that may be
rble TO find this woaan.- He looked
cwn at t'errier. There isn't any
Hai danger. supposeg''
HE has lost strength little. but
c's naturally tremendously strong"
pc answered cvasively.
The morning dragged away--the
ands Of the clock seemed 20 crawl.
II was half rast 1. when the nurse
1ng and optimistic: she put fresh
courage into Hastings. He felt al
most cheerful when he left his rooms
and dashed off TO the charing Cross
Post Office.
I. He was there much too soon. lie
walked up and down. staring at
svcry woman who passed He had
not the least idea how he was TO
recognize the smart maid. and he
had serious doubts as TO whether she
would admit her Identity 10 him.
Once he made q dash after q girl
- high-hecied shoes and addressed
her hlunderingiy--
Are you--are you from Esstsea~
She stared at him offendedly. with
heightened color.
Certainly not" she said. and
liked away. leaving him staring
II her blankly. He looked at the
Ms III office clock. and found that II
Je1 wanted 10 minutes TO one. He
"a behaved like an iuipetuous fool.
Women never kept an appointment
unctuaily. and he might be sure
hat she would not come for another
70 minutes at least.
He crossed to the other side Of the
Road: he thought that from a dis
[3s2nce be might have more opportu.
nifty to recognize the girl without
| being observed himself.
He walked hundred yards down
The Strand and back again: II was
1sf one O'Clock
nj A stout woman standing In the
ost office doorway eyed Hastings
uxpiciously--sh han q girl beside
bcr. Hastings stopped and looked at
her hard No. she had not high
celed shoes. or . cheeky face. and
&hoec were the sole distinctions OF
hich Ferrier had spoken.
II was five minutes past one. and
Re was beginning to despair. when q
taxicab stopped at the curb. and .
girl in black got out. She paid the
driver. and stood hesitating. she
boxed pale and nervous--her small
a1thsant face twitched Hastings
4 he- eagersy--she was smart
Hkiax. and--yes. she had the most
IDLY high-hcelcd shoes
He waited . few moments. but she
ia not move away. she was osfsn-
Ebly waiting for some one He felt
erribly nervous. and was sure ne
Fouid bungie the whole business
Erasping ais courage In both hands.
ne took a nervous etep toward her
1 and raised his hat
"a ~You are from-EAstseaT
~ The woman gave a start and
hooked up At him with frightened
Ayew. she shook her head vigorously.
-No--oh, no. She made move
hept as II TO walk away. and
nstings followed determinedly.
Pardon me. I don't wish 70 be
Re. Please don't be afraid OF me.
YOU are here 20 meet Mr.. Fer
am his friend---hc Ii very III.
cannot come. Please trust me-
here Is nothing TO be afraid OF"
"A She stared at him with fascinated
eyes.
! II don't believe you. Ioh. let me
U ga"
she would have darted across the
4 road. but young Hastings held her
4 arm firmly.
TT you try 10 run away. shall
10 the police. and I am sure you
Ii want that I swear to you that
- may trust me. Mr.. Ferricr u
t-<an gerousiy III - he may be
living. Now then He relaxed hts
krip. where shall we 90 to talk
Anywhere you Ike"
~If anyone secs me-" She was
r~nuineiy afraid Young Hastings
reasxured her.
n mo one win see you've are quite
safe. We can 20 into the station II
you like. No? Well then. wen have
: taxicsb and drive about.
Y. She submitted silently. She sat as
Mar away from him az possible: she
{,kcpt looking at him In terror.
sFerrfer IL H." said Hastings
d again. VERY Hat my rooms"
He paused. he half-smiled. Il am
= the real Ralph Hastings" he said
Tgrimly.
q She caught her breath: her face
k<blanched-
4 '.But that needn't Brighten you"
he went on quickly. IAN you've got
70 DO Is TO answer a few questions.
y and nobody will hurt you"
" Il have done no harm. II was
othfng 20 do with mel had 70 do
! was told. / swear I have done
s~harm."
The best proof you can give me
|{Sof that. IL to do as you are asked
~ now"
Hastings left his seat beside her
and sat down on the one opposite.
He looked at her quizzicslly.
II The girl eyed him fearfully from
beneath the brim OF her jaunty hat;
she was wearing a veil With large
spots ON II. and there were paste
buckles on her high-hecied shoes. II
would have surprised any one to
hear her speak with an unmistak'
able Whitechapci accent.
what do you want to know"
| La mia