Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-15

II hev decided to give 1t set back"
he answered grnvely.
What do you mean? If there's
really something wrong-why not call
in DR.. Sales! Why have you this pref
udice against him? I've known him
all my life--nearly-and he has been
the best and kindest friend to Inc. Who
is this other doctor and where did you
hear of him?"
q was folding his letter and through
the intense gravity of his face little
flea of some different expression skipped
in and out.
You're up to some sort of deviltry,"
said Mary.
Amt 1t about timc?" he demanded.
Where is your envelope! Are you
going to address it,"
N.Y." said Q impersonally, "ain't
cows and women inquirin' critters!
I've seed half herd move acrost
plain to look in at hat some lady dude
let fall along trail.
Don't be nasty. don't care In the
least about your doctor, but 1t hurts
my feelings that you don't trust DR..
Sales. You were dreadfully rude to him
about the hospital the day you were
spteful gossip. know that there has
been n great deal of talk against DR..
Sales--even that lawsuit was brought
against him--AIiss Grinscoombe had
her lawyer from New York. and DR..
Sales was completely exonerated."
"Yes, ma'am. How do you spell
Laurie?
Mary started and her face changed
from mildly amused annoyance into the
most concerned interest.
"L-a-u-r-i-e," she spelled and
watched him with an anxious look.
DIR. Laurie Sales,
West Lennon,
n. j.,
wrote the careful pen in the strong
lean fingers.
"Oh, Q! You don't--you can't know
what you're doing
He took out Il stamp. put 1t in place.
and slipped the letter into his pocket.
Now, I'm all ready for lessons.
ma am
But her f;fce was not ready for
schoolma am Representatives it was all
one flushed question.
%. @. What Are You Up To?"
20. Q, what are you up to? But II
ism like yQu to mix up in things-to
to meddle.'
"I'm beginning to think that I'm
Ttgular Olu lnaiu, Salu y. IL 'oWn
life that does it, and hearin' so much
talk from women folks.
"You are sending for Laurie Sales!"
cried Mary breathlessly; 'and somc-
how you know that the River Hotel is
just the most fatal spot in the world
for Laurie. Look out, @! You don't
want to break his fathers heart.'
I'D not be carin'," he announced
briefly.
You re an unreasonable savage"
Then with stcrnness she leaned over,
pointing her finger at him, 'iou must
listen to me, q. and you must follow
my advice. l know what I'm talking
about. There are excellent reasons why
Laurie should not be brought to the
River Hotel on any pretext whatever
mo, ma am. There is just one rea-
son why he should be brought there
and that's Sophie
"Ah. So you do know !"
"Yes, ma am
20, you are a silly sentimentalist !"
"Well, ma am, that sounds like bad
talk, but you don't scare me any. ~
Because a pretty little waitress-'
she tops yoy by about two heads
that Sophie gesr'
Mary flushed. "I-l--you make mo
feel that I've been insuffcrably con-
descending"
II never use rough talk to n lady.
Likely YOU called her little because you
have forgot what big classy woman
she Is,
Sophie must be, trying to get hold
Of Laurie, and she's using you to decoy
him to the hotel.
mo, ma am, that amt the truth,
but even if it was, why shouldn't the
gel try to keep holt on the feller she
lovesT'
But, G Oh, you are n senti-
mentalst."
That's twict you've spurred me in
the same place.
"You must realize that Sophie Is
not the wife for Laurie Sales. He is
gentleman, well born, well bred.
we'll educated. She is servant girl,
uneducated, socially his inferior.
know she Is n beauty and probably
very nice girl and would make some
nice man happy, but
"Ain't Laurie nice mani" asked Q.
In her excitement her half mechanical
delivery of one of the dogmas of her
fathers class, Mary did not notice that
the strained look had fallen about Q's
lips.
clever, good looking. bound to succeed,
to go very far. He has shown great
good sense and courage He has made
a splendid start. 1t would be wicked,
cruel, to drag him back to the wretched-
ness of that affair: 1t almost broke
his fathers heart :"
"And what about the Sophie gels
heart, ina amp
Mary got up and walked about the
room.
Il am sorry for her And do blame
Laurie. But she Is young. And she
must see, herself, that n marriage be-
tween her and Laurie would mean un-
happiness for both of them. Three
years ago, she acted splendidly.'
But. Miss Grinscoombe and you
must please excuse me-but | am plumb
confused-didn't your Pa marry n
girl
Marys face famed and her eyes filled.
Yes" she said shortly, ''hc did"
She stood for a minute stock still in the
middle of the little room staring at .
through the quick, angry tears. And
in a sensc--it ruined his lifo-but
It was a matter of his honor. Mother
was very wonderful woman-and-
and-oh, q, how could you bring that
Iup?" She turned away and stood at
one of the windows, her hands Clenched
at her sides.
Pm ashamed of myself clear through,
Miss Mary, but | sure don't savvy. Ii
seems to me a man amt worth his
grub. stake If he cant choose his woman
for himself and stick by his choice.
And, ma a'nm''--something in his voice
made her turn quickly to look at him
"you told me once. yourself. that edica-
ton and such things hadn't ought to