Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-23
Miss HascHm Spies

written md thrown away.
Tn the empty fireplace of the old
fashioned room. Lockwood touched n
match to the sheet and burned 1t to
an ash. ,
house.
reported to Miss Bnscom.
"Oucer COINS on" tie girl sn!d,
rolling her eyes ut her eager listener.
;Nir. Lockwood, now. he burnt some
papers, and Miss Austin, too. she burnt
some papers. a.,
WHATS queer about that snapped
Miss Bascom, who had hoped LOT somc-
thing more sensational.
h'Wel It's sorta strange they're both
hurnin' paper at the same time. And
hoth so sly about 1t. Mr.. Lockwood
no ken lookin' back at the fireplace as
he went outa the door. and Miss Aus
Tin, she jumped like she was shot when
I come in suddenly an found her
etoonin' over the fireplace. An too,
Miss Bascom. whatever else she burnt
she burnt that picture she had OF DR..
Wsrng.'
"nld she have his ricture!'
"Yep, one Mr.. Lockwood guv her.
after Nora carried off the one she cut
what in the world did that girl
want Of DR.. Warnings picturc?'
II dunno. ma'am. What they call
hero. worship. I guess. Just like I've
got some several pictures of lIaro' d
man in the movies. My, but he's hand
some ~
"And so Miss Austin burned a pho
tooroph oP Jnhn Wnriog ~
"Yes. ma am. and YOU know they re
kinda hard to burn. Anyways, sh"
was a-kncelin' by the fireplace nm the
picture was smo,Sin' like everything.
T.rmmc help yor miss says. as
polite rs could be-"and wat"ha think,
she snatched back. and says, You
lpmna alone. Get "ut nhcre..' or some
thin like that. Oh, she was mad oil
right"
"Sfe has high temper, hasn't
the?"
"Ycs'rn there's no denyln' she has.
Then again, she's sweet as pic. and
nice An gentle. Shes queer make up.
I win say"
There. Callie, that Will! do; don't
gossip" and Miss Bascom. sure she
had learned all the maid had to tell,
went downstairs to tell It to Mrs.
Adams
The landlndy seemed less receptive
than usual, being still mindful Of her
husbands admonitions. But Miss Bas-
CONS story Of tho burnt photograph
rousod her curiosity to highest pitch.
"Th"re's something queer about that
girl, Mrs. Adams opined, and the other
more than agreed.
"I.ot's 60 up and talk to her." Miss
Bas"om suggested. and after mo-
mcnt's hesitation. Mira. Adams went.
The andlady tapped tightly at TIE
door. BAT there vas no response.
Go right IN" the other whispered.
and 70 in they did.
Miss Mystery lay on the couch, her
eyes closed, her checks still wet with
tears. She did not move, and after n
moments glance to assure herself the
eudac!0usly opened one of the small
top drawers of the dresser.
Mrs. Adams gasped. and frantically
made motions Of rcmOnStrancc. but
swiftly lingering among the wells and
handherchiefs, Miss Bascom drew ont TN n
large roll Of bills, held by an elastic
band.
Anita Austin's eyes flew open, ana
after one staring glance at the intru-
tVc woman, she jumped from the couch
ana flew at her like small but very
active tiger.
'liow dare you ~ she cried. snatch
ing the money from Miss Bascom's
unroling it. was
4, And from inside the roll, down on
pin. ''"
Mrs. Adams fell Imply Into chair
H'r round eyes staring in horror.
4, MISS i'ascom had taken upon herself
th" roI" of dictator and with nm nccus.
,nG nnS"r pointed at Miss Mystery she
self?" '' ''0 " S"' ''r your
Nothing replied Anita Austin,
roo'ly, r 'r,;ccpt to Insist that you leave
Leave your room, indeed. I am
,.n,y 100 glad to! And | know where
N!NS FaSc0m's determined air as she
s.ro'" ont OF the door gave hint of
nul desperate intention and within five
ward the village. W
,,MS' MMrS' Adams, still almost speechless
st ~mh surprise and disnav. looked sor-
auw,"l!y at Anita. Something in the
Sr. S in'" stayed the kindly words the
h,'MN hh"n'nN meant to say, and, instead. she
lou must leave this house. What
%aA. Jps A.! anyway? A thief--and mur.
nh non't" Anitn put up her
""Tu M az II to ward off Il physical blow.
men aS If the cruel words had stung
I dor 10 a quickened sense Of her own
Na.mSer' ..Se' she cried, piteously:
mo oh, Mrs. Adams, help mc-protcct
1l"ont YOU? ! don't know what
Mo--lm IN all alone---so alone----''
hn one sank into chair and buried
AeT lhc" In her hands.
Esther Adams was uncertain what
tppurSe tpSe to pursue. Should she protect
tnas guilty girl, of whom she really
bbar" nothing. or should she dismiss
;nta ;et at once from her house. in the
mts m,erests of her other bourdcrs, who
must be considered?
surely, her first duty was to the
,ners-the people she had known so
= SVIs. ana who looked upon her house as
eSme and a safeguard.
fou must co. she said, though her
Dsse wavered as she saw the pathetic
s'e anita raised to look at her. !