Evening star., 1921-09-25

salt and pepper. for all the good it
did him.
The dinner was an unusually good
one, but Nell didn't seem to enjoy it,
his hopes of the morning growing
weaker with every passing course.
1t was dusk when he left the res
taurant, and he was just on the point
of giving up the search for the day,
when his eyes fell upon very proud
looking Pomeranian that was taking
the air on the end of leash. Nell
glanced at the dog and then with a
start he looked at the girl who was
with it.
Yes--it was certainly Molly.
If anything, she looked q little
more wistful than her Photograph
wistfulness that had more sadness in
it than Nell liked to see. and that
filled him more powerfully than ever
with that strange desire to comfort
her, which he had felt when he first
saw her picture. But now that he
had found her. it suddenly came to
him that another problem. quite as
difficult as the first one. had stimuli
taneously presented itself for Solu-
ton. 1t is one thing to find a nice
girl whom you have never seen be-
| fore. but it's quite another thing to
make her acquaintance on the streets
! of large city.
Upon reflection he decided to try
strategy. The Pom was tagging be-
hind, and its leash was a good two
yards long.
I'll trip over the string he
thought, mopping his forehead.
He did it better than he had expect
ed, and after he had picked himself
up. il was only natural that he should
help to recapture the frightened dog.
Il hope you didn't hurt yourself"
said the girl, with a glance in which
grstefulness and formality were
agreeably blended
"Not-not great DEAL" said Nell.
She made a precise little bow with
her head-a bow which spelled dis
missaF' in unmistakable letters-but.
himself to the task before him and
walked along by her side.
II hope you won't think I'm
bounder-er anything of that sort"
he began, "but IL have reason.
OF course I know that it absolutely
introduce myself-until we can find
some mutual friend. My name is
Melville Serymser-my aunt is Mrs.
Van Ranseliaer-she lives on Park
avenue just around the corner here
and she likes your picture very
much
| Molly. her cheeks as red as Melrs.
| had been walking along with a sort
of icy disdain, but this last stam-
mered remark surprised her in spite
of herself and she gave him glance
that had quite as much curiosity as
dignity in it.
'T'n tell you about that later" he
went on hurriedly, but in the mean
time please don't think that I'm any
thing that shouldn't be. Nearly
everybody around here knows me.
This florist, for fnstance-rny aunt
trades here-and this property on the
corner-she owns it nearly down to
the next block
They had come to a bakers shop
and the girl stopped at the doorway.
Can I come in with your he
pleaded.
They looked at each other, then
with that silent intentness with
which most of the important things
of life are decided. and what they
saw in each Others eyes no one
selves; but when the glance was fin
ished it might be said that they both
seemed unconsciously satisfied!
THE baker knew that Nell and the
L respect with which he spoke to his
landlady's nephew might have helped
a little; and when they left the bake
shop Nell was carrying the cake
which Molly had bought. At all
{ events, it wasn't long before they
were sauntering along and chatting
as Young people have sauntered and
! chatted since time immemorial, and
every time she spoke, and especially
every time she smiled in her wistful
way, Nell felt his admiration for her
growing deeper and deeper, as a
swimmer walking out from shore
gradually approaches the place where
the depth of the water will carry
/, him of his feet. =
sNine o'clock" she gasped at last,
when a riefghboring church clock
| chimed the hour. Il. must run home
now
"At least you'll. let me see you n
far as your door," said Nell.
"No no: YOU mustn't" she object.