The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-04-12
(Continued from Yesterday

the basis of a single logical premise It was silly and childishI Why hadn't the man been an ordinary, plain, common thief and criminal and looked like one? She would never have been attracted to him then even through gratitude! Why should he have all the graces and ear-marks of breeding? Why should he have all the appearances of gen tleman? It seemed needlessly cruel and additional blow that fate had dealt her, when already she was liv- ing through days and nights of fear, of horror, of trepidation, so great that at times It seemed she would literally lose her reason. If he had not look ed, yes, and at times, acted, so much like thoroughbred gentleman, there would never have come to her this hurt, this gulf between them that could not now be spanned, and in a personal way she would never have cared because he was-a thief.
 Her mental soliloquy ended abrupt Iy. She had reached the narrow driveway that led in. between the two blocks of down-at-the-heels tene- ments, to the courtyard at the rear that harbered Shluker's junk shop. And now, unlike that other night when she had first paid a visit to the place, she made no effort at con- cealment as she entered the drive way. SnS walked ana as she emerged into the courtyard itself she saw light in the window of the junk shop
 Rhoda Gray nodded her head. It was still quite early, still almost twi- nght-not more than eight o'clock Back there. on that squahd doorstep where the old woman and the old man had stood. it had still been quite light. The long summer evening had served at least to scar. somehow, those two faces upon her mind. It was singular that they should in trude themselves at this moment! She had been thinking hadn't she, that at this hour she might naturally expect to find Shluker still in his shop? That was why she had come so early since she had not cared to come in full daylight. We'll. if that light meant anything, he was there.
 She felt her pulse quicken percepti- reached the shop. The door was open, and she stepped inside. It was a dingy place, filthy. and filtered, without the slightest attempt at or der, with a heterogeneous collection of, it seemed. every article one could think of, from scraps of old iron and bundles of rags to cast off furniture that was in an appalling state of dis solution. The light, that of single and dim tncandescent, came from the interior of what was apparently the ''office"' of the establishment, a small. glassed-in partition affair. at the-far end of the shop.
 Her first impression had been that there was no one in the shop, but now, from the other side of the glass partition, she caught the sight or a bald head, and became aware that a pair of black eyes were fixed steadily upon her. and that the occupant was hJ %@ come forward.
 She scuffled slowly, but without hesitation, up the shop. She in tended to employ the vernacular that was part of the disguise of Gypsy Nan. If Shluker, for that was cer- tain1y Shluker there, gave the slight est indication that he took 1t amiss. her explanation would come glibly and logically enough-she had to be careful; how was she supposed to know whether there was any one else about, or not!
 '"Ello!" she said curtly. as she reached the doorway of the little of flee, and paused on the threshold.
 Shifty little black eyes met hers, as the bald head, fringed with un- trimmed gray hair, was lifted from a battered desk. and the wiened face of an old man was disclosed under the rays of the tin-shaded lamp. He
 
 teeth and instinctively she drew back a little. He was an uninviting and exceedingly disreputable old creature.
 "You. eh, Nan" he grunted. "so you've come to see old Jake Shluker have you? Faint often you come! And what's brought you, eh?'.'
 T can read, can't I?" Rhoda Gray glanced furtively around her, then leaned toward the other. "Say, wots de lay? I been scared stiff all day. Is dat straight wot de papers said about youse-know-who-gettin' pinch ed?''
 A scowI settled over Shluker's fea- lures as he nodded.
 Yes; it's straight enough" he an- swered. Damn 'em, one and all! But they let him out again"
 Oats de stuff" applauded Rhoda Gray earnestly. Where is he. den? ?''
 ShIuker shook his head.
 He didn't say" said Shluker.
 He didn't say?" eachoed Rhpda Gray, a little tartly. ''Wot d'youse mean. he didn't say? Have youse seen him"
 shluker terked his hand toward the telephone instrument on the
 He was talkin' to me little while ago"
 well, den"-Rhoda Gray risked g more peremptory tone-''where is he?''
 shIuker shook his head again.
 "I dunno" he said. I'm tellin you, he didn't say.'
 Rhoda Gray studied the wizene6 and repulsive old creature, that. hud' dIed in his chair in the dirty, boxed in little office, made her think o1 some crafty oldspider lurking in it: Ses fer Enwa-y prey. Was the mar lying to her? Was he in any degree suspicious? Why should he be? He had given not the slightest sign tha' her uncouth language was either un expected or unnecessary. Perhaps to Shluksr, and perhaps to all the rest of the gang-eXcept Danglar!- G,nS,r Nan was accented at face Nalut