Evening star., 1921-09-11

/ paper. looking at it. 1t was evident
| enough that she was trying. by. re-
reading some letter. to convince her
Smith-whoever she supposed him to
| be-was right. She seemed less
doubtful now. and folded the letter
with one hand, putting 1t in a pocket
You must be quick, Mr.. Cardigan
she said. He may be back any
minute now"
"Ah. yes! So he may" Morley
Smith said.
"She is over there" said the girl.
pointing across the hall. II thought
1t would be all right: she was always
30 fond of the child. She loved it.
Mr.. Cardigan. She spent hours with
be no harm for her to go there"
Quite so. Yes, indeed" said Nor
ley Smith.
Suddenly the girl seemed to have
a return of whatever suspicion had
lurked in her mind. Perhaps 1t was
that Morley Smith stood SO long and
so strangely, staring at her. Some
thing like sudden fear shone in her
eyes, and she took step forward
one step and then collapsed in a heap
| on the floor. pitiful little heap OF
unconsciousness.
Had he not been seeking adventure
the turn affairs were taking would
have annoyed Morley Smith exceed
1 "
The adventure was becoming worth
while. 1t held mystery. danger. a
fair young woman In evident distress.
He gathered the girl in his arms and
carried her to the couch and laid her
on it. her head resting on his soft
expensive coat. He hardly knew what
| to do next. That she had tainted was
| evident enough-probably from un-
dernouriShme ment-and he had a vague
impression that when one tainted ii
III 60 0nrVHa h n O
and use a cold liquid. but there was
no liquid but the milk in the bottle
on the packing-box, and the girls
gown seemed loose enough. turned
low at the neck. He reached across
hat and began tanning the girl with
it. AS he famed. he heard some
heavy-footed, person coming up the
stair. THE undertaken" he thought
cor the man she fears will return
door open, and q man standing on
the sill. questioning and doubtful.
The man was young. rough in ap-
pearance. and seemed powerfully
sure, the "he" whose return the
young woman had seemed to dread
There was something the girl had
wished done before this man re.
turned. Morley. Smith was not q
weakling; he measured the young
fellow with his eye as the youth
crossed the room. He might try to
place. and he had an impulse to dc
so. He Strengthened himself for the
| work II 1t should be necessary, but
| the young fellow came and bent
over the girl and then looked up al
Morley Smith questioningly.
said: and then: lis she very sick;
Lord. what a place for her to be in
Can't we get her out Of here. into q
! better sort of place? I've got some
money. not much. but you can have
all I've got: Don't you know OF
some hospital or something you car
$50 I am a doctor now. am To-
thought Morley Smith. He rather
preferred being mistaken for a doc.
| tor to being thought an undertaken
II dare say" he said, answering the
yotng man. "Ah-quite SOL"
He felt the lapel Of his waistcoat
silken ribbon. He adjusted the
glasses on his nose.
"And may I ask who you are?'
Morley Smith questioned.
''What do you care who am?''
demanded the young man. She's
Can't you do something? SHE'S moi
dying, is she?'
The distress that shone upon the
young mans face reassured Morley
smith. This young man was moi
going to attack any one.
"She has only tainted" Morley
Smith said. But / say, now, who
| are you?"
| 'None Of your" the young man
began. but he thought better Of 1t
| Never you mind me-" he said. TN
her friend, II It comes to that. Me
and her used to be engaged, If you
want to know it. We used to be-'
"Sweetheartsr' ask ed Morley
Smith.
saThats 1t. We was going to be
married. but she chuciked me. guess
, I've got a right to butt in on this
look how she has been living" He
cast q glance at the room. Say, cant
you do something?"
Morley Smith took the girls hand.
/ You might get some water" he
said Gold water. what?
y
THE young fellow looked for a
L utensl and took up the milk bot.
tile. Unceremoniousiy he threw the