Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-31
Miss Selds Calls for Help

nth 4 message. Heloise's. restless
nscine stopped. She was going slowly
over to her own telephone upstairs.
Miss selda waited. She heard low, en-
pbatic answers, a little reckless, stac-
cato laush. She recognized the tone
a. that appropriate to Ferdinand Fad
dan. What q nuisancel Miss selda
suffered from plebeian temptation to
listen over the downstairs telephone,
. temptation which the trained censor
~ her consciousness cut dead as though
he had not even recognized 1t. The
Conversation upstairs was lasting an
interminable while. There was evi-
dently some sort Of argument. The
anal sentence rang clear through an
accidentally opened door. "Of course,
then, I'll come. That will prove that
Pm not afraid Of you. Good by
Miss Selda started away from her
attitude OF tense listening, seated her
self at her desk, examined the con-
tents Of the heavy envelope for an ad-
dress, and began to write brief, urgent
sentences with tho not quite steady
3 had never heard Of the "slings and
arrows of outrageous fortune" but he
solved Hamlet's propounded problem
instantly, without any faltering of wits:
i Ie took arms against his sea OF
First, he decided, 1t was
urgent to get Laurie Sales letter to
Sophie at the earliest moment per-
sured himself, allowing for the elder
4Eales' spite, must be a matter Of few
hours rest and care. A severe fright
the girl had no doubt suffered, and
looming on top Of long strain and q
violent emotional reaction, It was enough
to put her into Mysteries. But Sophie
was particularly healthy woman
and did not belong to the class whose
nerves had been INDUCED by fretful
introspective idleness. She would come
quickly back to normal. But she ought
to get her letter. II would be an
smcaciou. remedy for ths depressing
hsr "Popps." 9. IN his factory house
refuge meditated the Intervention Of
Mary Grinscoombe, but, remembering
her former disapproval Of his inter-
ference in the affairs Of Laurie, he de-
ycided against 1t. After all, he might
bust as we'll deliyer tho confidential
message himself. Benton and Company
couldn't be forever on guard; It would
take three or four Of them to throw him
out. They wouldn't likely" call In the
police. Miss Mariana had always been
his friend.
Before he had come to IN end Of all
the excellent reasons for putting his
plan into practice, he found himself
Hotel. Five minutes before, Q's OBJ.
servation had informed him that Ben
ton had gone out, 1t was the hour Of
the headwaiter's necessary absorption
In dining room duties. Sales had gone
his rounds, and was probably now TAX
Ing a siesta in his inner office, Miss
Mariana would be at the desk, Bill
Nm or near the elevator.
| Q ran up the steps and strolled across
the lobby. He said. Good mornin' to
you pleasantly to Miss Benton, and
stepped into the elevator.
Bill wavered in the doorway. looking
over his shoulder for instructions, and
was pulled In. @ slammed the door,
You lift me UP to sophie's floor,
start shootin'."
And the elevator slowly rose. BNl's
oppression was beatifc, though wan.
Drama had como at last into his life.
\, stop M where you are until I come
9. speaking grimly over his shoulder
% he stepped out, received . multiplied
whats her roomf"
brsethed out. his nostrils working like
man bellows.
'You-sopSi. I gel, >" +. said.
She cried out softly, and he came in.
closing the door behind him. She was
propped up on her pillows, all her
aark hair spread about her and her
eEss alight. He stepped over to her.
You amt scared Of me, gel?' and
his voice shook. "You know I'd a been
drug by an outlaw bronc afore I'd
done you any hurt"
hungry for the letter in his hand.
ia have told them" che said. "but
.hey won't listen. They say I mustn't
Yak; And'-wth deep rose hearted
plush OF humiliation--''it was so aw-
Iully hard to explain-about Rupert.
We been sick over you, Q. I've been
furious about the way ! acted.
was scared to death because of the fire,
gu | didn't mind what you did"
she laughed uncertainty. Somehow !
san understand you, and you were
flght' 1t was exactly what | needed,
came to with a jump. Oh, Q. think
time !" ''A ~ 'A'S
,o;ta. 1ait tai talking, dear. Look, I've got
lie put it into her hands and turned
20 60. But at the door he couldn't
tslst looking back. She was reading
ner letter, her face glowcd, she had
> milling. ''''
; hown. o"' ''on h'hi
Say" Bill hissed between the Sec
no and third floors, "I'm for you. bo,
A. r!ght. I'm wise to Sophie and that
arummer- Give me new Job
hn III split on her and quit"
Ss eyes widened for an instant.
rrinu iOu hold your tongue: Bill" he said,
nning Stick by the buzz box.
hkely you'll get a raise higher than
he sixth floor. Tell 'em | stuck a six
nTIo.er aIor under your tloatin rib. They'll
pemHeve 1t. Good-by to YOU"
,,nn, G bowed again to the rosy and
,nSing Mariana, who had spent the
;ertval In staring at the elevator door,
In Q,s good looks and dashing
aytor' and wondering whether it
J ns her duty to call Sophie's father
d d ring for the police-and so ran out
nu down the steps. So much for the
Eophie gel A vast weight had fallen
h.m MIS- heart. 1t left 1t free to feel
s keen ache of Heloise's desertion.
pLeore he reached his room under the
WV, red.hot tin roof of his refuge, he
~ white and his lips were drawn. He
~ ~ walked the dusty roads all after
nr1, trying to outdistance pain. How
""'rt himself into an accept.