, 1921-10-01

the ofscer. instantly resppearinz up
the steps CT the basement
How should I know answered
Van Bibber. .nd added. with m-timed
iirh.nexs. they didn't cave any ad-
dress-- The onicer stared at him with
severe suspicion. and then disappeared
again urder one Of h trucks
Il am very. very much obliged 70
you, Miss cuyicr.- Van BiSbcr said.
He tried to raise his hat but the Of
forts of the gentleman who had struck
him from behind had been successful.
and the hat came OF only nftor a
wrench that made him vince.
You were very brave he went on.
And It wa very good of you 70 stand
by me. You won't mind my saying so.
now. will you- But you gave the
wrong rap. I hadn'; time 70 tell you
10 change H.. He mopped the bach
of his head tcnderiy with his handker-
CHEZ. ard tried to smile chserfully.
~Fou see. you were giving the rap he
explained politely. -for a n~re-enEine:
but it's OF no consequence" Hiss Guy
Ter came TO closer 20 him, and he saw
that her face showed sudden anxiety.
-Mr. Van Bibber." she exclaimed
-Oh. I didn't know It was you.
didn't know Il was any who knew
mo. What will you ihink:-
Il beg your pardon said Van Hsb-
Der. biankiy!
You must not believe abe went on.
quickly. shat I am subject to this sort
of thing. Please do not imagine I an
annoyed down here like this. II h<s
never happened before. / was nursing
n woman. and her son. who generally
goes home with me. was kept Mt his
! work. and ! thought could risk get
ting back alone. You rec" she ex-
planned. as Van Bibber's lace showed
he was stin puzzled. my people do
not fancy my living down here: and u
they should hear OF his they would
never consent TO my remaining an
other day. and It means SO much 20
mo now
"rhey need not hear Of IT. Var Bib
Der answered. synpatheticaiiy. "They
certainly ont from me. II that's what
you mcan.'
He stepped to Miss cuyier's s,d,.
and they walked on down the street TO
the College Settlement in silence.
4 haven't thanked you. Mr.. Van Bib
bers- said Miss cuyier. TT was really
ine o. you. and most exciting. You
must be very strong. I can't imagine
how you happened to DO there. but j,
was NEST fortunate for me that you
were. II you had not. -
"oh. that's all right" said Van Bib
Der. burriedly. I haven't had so much
fun without paying for It for a long
time Fun he added. medita.ivey,
costs so much,
And you will be so good. then. nz
not to speak Of IT," she said. as she
gave him her hand at the door.
"Of course moi. Why should 2" said
San Bibber, and then his face beame1
and coluded again instantly. But
oh.--he begged. I'm afraid I'll have "a
tell Travers. oh. please let me tell
Travers. III make him promise no,
to mention II. but It's too good a joke
on him. when you think what he
missed. You see" he added. hastily
we were to have gon out together
and he forgot. as usual. and missed :he
Whole thing, n he want In it. and
IL win Just about break his heart. He's
always getting grinds on me-" he went
on, personal---very.. "and now I've got his
on him. You will really have to Lei
me tell Travers."
Miss Cuyier looked puzzled and SAID
"Certainly.. though she failed to So.
why Mr.. Trnvers should want his head
broken. and then she thanked Van
Bibber again and nodded to the ofices
and went indoors
Van Bibber told Travers about Il the
next morning. and Travers forgot he
was not to mention II. and told the
next man he met. BY onc o'clock the
story had grown in his telling. and
Van Bibber's reputation had grown
With It. y
Travers found three men breakfast
Ing together at the club. and drew ~
l., @k-fr sT4-rn VIM Hcord ttn srt.-
Van Bibbers got on mer' his asked
sadly. by way of introduction
Wainwright was sitting at the mex,
table with his back to them. He had
just left b customs officers. and his
wonder al the ~,dirtiness OF the streets
and height OF the buildings had given
way to the pleasure OF being home
again. and before the knowledge tina;
old friends are best
His mind was wide awake. ani
shifting from one pleasant thought tc
another. when he heard Traycrs's voice
behind him raised impressively. ANT
they both. went at Van hammer and
tongs.' he heard Travers say. "one IN
front and The other behind. kicking
and striking all over the shop. Anil
continued Travers. inter-upting him
self suddenly with q shrill and anxious
tone OF Interrogation. where was ]
while this was going on2 That's the
pathetic part OK it-where was IT, His
voice rose to almost a shrek OF disap-
polntmeit. 7 was sitting in a red
silk box listening to a red-siik opera
with a lot OF sirls-that's what I was
doing. I wasn't IL It: I wasn't. r.
well. never mind what you were
doing said ono OF the men. sooth-
ingly; you weren't in Il. as you say.
Return to the iibreeto."
We'll" continued Travers. neekiy,
let me see; where vas T."
You were IN a red-sik box" sug-
gested one of the men. reaching for
tho coffee.
Go on. rravsrs." said the FRS. man,
Tho two men were kicking Van BIB
ber."
"oh. yes" cried Travsrs. We'll. Van
Just threw the FIRST fellow over his
head. and threw him hard. He must
have broken HIS ribs. for the second
fellow tried TO get away, and begged
on. but Van wouldn't haze II. nad