Marble Hill press., 1921-07-28

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voice"
which Is not altogether strange. q,
! nm only The clerk on this fioor. am
making thus request In behalf OF =
guest
"A man o. woman. may I askr
She laughed good humoredly.
Really. ! am not at liberty 10 say.
You will cnme1'
Yes. of coursc-"
Before had r-ally finished nv sen
irucs III" connection had been severed
However there ~as no doubt nov iu
NV mind but that Il vas Harris. (
tc-'k the subway and was at the rn.
trance within twenty minutes. eager
"a learn What had actually transplrsSI
during the past twelve hour~. with
out using the elevator passed M a..
marble stairs 10 the mcEEanine nooF.
pausing 10 uncertainty At the top g.
look about IN srarch ~ some familiar
face. 4 number Of people wer. cou
grrgaied shout the rallied opening looA
ing down into The lobby. while Others
were scattered around on convenient
dNsns or ~ small writing desks
Prom the fecesscs ~ the ladies' room
at the left came the strains Of piano
music. aud the sound of . soprano
V"irr singing The song ceased to =
clapring ~ hands The faces I wRs
all. TO distinguish Wcre all strangr
aud moved forward in search.
| had attained the opposite side -
The r"om before came 10 a halt. SUD
dctLy arrested b. . vision as startling
n uneNpcctc'I Leaning over the rail-.
gazing lniently down 81 the jostilns
crowd 70 the lobby below. apparently
unconscious 81 sll else. was Marie
GesSisr There rnnid he no doubt.
stood motIonlr>S looking st her tn
icuily. satisfying pyself that ! could
not h~ deceived No Il was certainly
the sam. g.r. had talked with the
evening before, dressed more elaborate
ly. changed -onrWhat m appearance
by more carrful toilet. yet assuncily
the sam" She must have felt the
Intensity ~ my stare and thus scnsed
my presence for she suddenly looked
about with a little start. saw me In.
stantly and arp>e 20 her feet Their.
was second oi hesitation. barely per.
ccptihie. before she veuturct step
forward. her ilps smiling her glo,ed
hand bHd out.
You were very nlcr 20 come she
exclaimed quietly. Especially In ~
spuusc 10 20 unkracious q message -
Invitation"
1, was you then Who sent 'or me-
"of course Did you imagine some
one else"
i came rather hlinily." admitted
unwilling 10 mention Harris. Your
messenger refused 20 satisfy my %.
rInsIty even 10 the extent ol telling N.
sry ot the one calling"
She laughed. quite a. her case row.
and Seemingly amused
"Shc was duly vSr-l confess
feared you mish' hesitate t. respond
II YOU once knew what awaitei yJu."
"No fear ., that"
"Hu, didn't know" her voice more
earnest. her eyes on my fsoe qHcs
Ii,nnsIy You have ~, thuusi' very
well OF me. have ypu' iet a. ~ over f.
there 10 th" corner. who're We can ak
without being overheard there are
two vacant chairs"
We reached there and seated our
selves tn silence. felt the necessity .
ot restraint the desire % permit her
to lead the conversation ia whatever .
direction she thought best She ap.
pearcd younger tn the bright light.
her fa1 even more attractive than IN
my memory
You are thoroughly puzzled ara
YOU notl'' she asked gayly We'll.
So was !, last night /, IS only night I
| should pay you back Ia your own
coin that Is perfectly fair. an sure
Now know who you are but am
still an enigma You accepted me on
blind faith before; | wonder II you
are willing 10 do II agHinY'
Il can hardly refuse"
Answered Ike gentleman. Rut
suppose ! tell you nothing aud yet
ask Of you dangerous servicer
Would you risk your life for me. not
even asking who | am or why make
the requestr'
There was grave earnes,ness 10
the voice, an entreaty In the eyes not
to be ignored. This was no idle ques.
tion TO be thrust aside with a smile.
Il believe can make the pledge
TO you" | replied soberly. 1T Is very
but"
But you are Philip Severn she
interrupted, with an expressive ges-
ture. Had you not been ! would
have never asked" 1
ut Is very nice Of you to put II In
that way. am sure. but how do you
chance to know that | am Philip
Severn7'
Suppose insist that also is my
secreti Yet surely you could no, be. I
ieve would be here with you, unless ,
knew1 You must have faith In me. |
n spite Of all" i
Undoubtedly do. I hardly hold |
I reasonable faith, however More.
! certain amount OF curiosity should {
,e gratifed. especially when n young |
ady asks unquestioning devotion to {
IN unknown cause You admit thstT .