Evening star., 1922-03-26
THE AMATEUR

The young girl regarded him. ap-
parently. with disappointment. 1t
| was as though DR.. Sparrow had led
her to expect a man full OF years and
| authority, man upon whom she
| could lean; not youth whose smile
| seemed to beg one not to scold him.
| She gave Ford three photographs.
| bound together with Il string.
when DR.. Sparrow told me you
could help me l got out these" she
said
| Ford jotted down a. mental NOTE to
the effect that she "got them out"
, That is. she did not keep them where
she could always look at them.
/ The f1rst photograph showed three
men standing in an open place and
leaning on a railing. One of them
was smiling toward the photographer.
He was a good-looking, young man of
about thirty years of age. well-fet.
well dressed. and apparently well sat
isf1ed with the world and himself.
Ford's eyes were alert and interested.
| The one with the Panama hat
pulled down over his eyes is your
husband?" he asked.
(, "Yes," assented the widow. Her
| tone showed slight surprise.
This was taken about year ago.?
inquired Ford. Must have BEEN" he
answered himself; they haven't raced
at the Bay since then. This was
taken in front of the club stand
probably for the Telegraph" He
lifted his eyes inquiringly.
Using on her elbow. tho young
IN wife bent forward toward the
photograph.
Does 1t say that there" she asked
doubtfully. How did you guess
that?"
In his role as chorus, the ships
doctor exclaimed with enthusiasm:
| Didn't I tell you? He's wonder
ful..'
| Ford cut him of impatient1y. you
never saw a rail as high as that ex-
cept around race track" he NUT
tered. And the badge In hisbut-
tonhole and the angle Of the stand all
| show
| He interrupted himself to address
| the widow. This is an owners
badge. What was the name Of his
! stable?"
"I don't know" she answered. She
regarded the young man with sudden
uneasiness. "They only owned one
horse, but believe that gave them
the privilege Of"
! "I see," exclaimed Ford. your
husband Is bookmaker. But in Lon
don he is a promoter Of companies"
so my friend tells me-" said Mrs.
Ashton. She's just got back from
London. Her husband told her that
Harry. my husband, was always at
the American bar in the Cecil or at
the Salisbury or at the Savoy" The
girl shook her head. But woman
can't go looking for man there"
! she said. That's why 1 thought
you-"
"That'll be all right" Ford assured
her hurriedly. ut happens that my
own work takes me to these hotels.
and if your husband is there I will
find him. He returned the photo
graphs
Hadn't you better keep one?" she
asked. !
"I won't forget him." said the re-
porter. "Besides"-he turned his
eyes toward the doctor. and, as
though thinking aloud. said-'he may
| have grown a beard
! The eyes Of the woman grew
troubled. Her lips pressed together
as though in a sudden access of pain.
"And he may" Ford continued. have
changed his name"
AS though fearful. If she spoke, the
tears would fall, the girl nodded her
head stif1ly.
Having learned what he wanted to
know, Ford applied to the wound a
soothing ointment Of promises and
encouragement.
Hes as good as found" he pro-
tested. you will see him IN q day.
| two days after you land"
The girls eyes opened happily. She
clasped her hands together and raised
them.
You will try?" she begged. you
will find him for me"-she corrected
herself eagerly-'for me and the
i baby?"
The loose sleeves Of the kimouo fell
back to her shoulders. showing the
white arms. The eyes raised to Ford
| were glistening with tears.
"Of course, l will And him." growled
the reporter.
He freed himself from the appeal
in the eyes Of the young mother and
left the cabin. Tho doctor followed.
He was bubbling over with enthus-
| iasm.
THAT was fine" he cried. you
,, said just the right, thing. There will
be no collapse now -
His satisfaction was. swept away In
burst of disgust. 1
''The blackguard!' he protested
ITO desert a wife as young as that
and as pretty as that"
$50 I have been thinking" said
the reporter. II guess" he added
gravely, what is going to happen is
that before I find her husband wild
have to know him pretty we'll"
| A PPARENrLY, young Mrs. Ashton
4 believed everything would come
to pass just as Ford promised
| it would. for the next day. with cour-
age in her eyes, she joined Ford and
| the doctor at the luncheon table. Her
attention was concentrated on the
(, one person who could bring her hus-
| band to her.
"She acts" growled the doctor later
| in the smoking room. "as though she
! was afraid you were going to back
out of your promise and jump over
| board. Don't think" he protested