Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-08
MANS WAY
BY RUBY NJ. AYRES
,bo, Of "Ths Fortune Hunter "A Bachsos Husband etc.
Copyright Newspaper symdtcoO ~.

guarded all these years. Among them
| was the curt note of dismissal with
which she had broken his heart---he
knew It word for worn, ana yet, some.
thing within him urged him TO read
II once again, to see for himself how
little her love had been worth n those
days. to try. to erase the memory Of
last night with Its heartlessness. He
turned the key in. the lock. and had
pulled the drawer out when sohis one
Harden drew himself UP impatiently.
"NNell, what Is itT' lie closed the
drawer With a little click, leaving the
keys In sthe lock! LOS na :,
Wharton entered; his good. nature,i
fdce was hot and disturbed his eyes
ut ITS Viz VIZ Dnns.r6.ld, s,r-sae in.
s'sts on seeing you. / told her you were
busy. ] told her that you never see
visitors in the morning" Wharton's
tone implied disgustedIy especially
such a visitor''--''but she insists; she
says she won't 30 away without seeing
you; she says that rhe knows you would
not refuse to see her." te's
Neither will he," said Molly's shrill
voice behind him. ~.
She had followed close on Wharton's
heels; she Was AZ flushed and angry ns
he--her eyes flashed furiously; she
II want tn speak to you !" she said
imperntively. ."Send him away. ",
The faintest smile crossed Hurdcn's
face; he mOtioned TO his secretary.
IT'S all right, Wharton: you muy
CO." - ~ ,f..7
He turned to Molly. ~
Il am afraid Wharton has exceeded
his duty: it Is by no order Of mine
that YOU were refused admittance."
"He's hateful!" Molly said. II can't
bear him; he only tried to be oficious
because I'm n DangerReld. III pay
him out some day If ! get the chance"
She stood twisting her fingers. Once
or twice she glanced toward the
closed door as If she lon7ed to So after
Wharton and tell him what she
thought Of him.
Harden pulled forward chalt.
Won you sit DOWN."
Molly gave a sigh. The anger died
from her face. -
"You said might count on you as Q
friend" she began. "Or else I shouldn't t
be here. I've no one else to 70 to.
meant to ask my uncle yesterday when
he came to dads funeral, but-well-"
She set her teeth with a little vixenish
click. 'It's no use talking about him"
she went on scornfully. II don't think
he's human"
"And you think am2" said Harden.
She glanced up at him from under
her long lashes; for a moment her eyes
swept his hard face consideringly, then
she smiled, a confident. trusting smile
that had something very young and ap.
pealing about 1t.
Eyes" she said. II know you are
and that's why I'm here"
She pushed aside the chair he had
offered; she went to stand beside him,
and now her face was quiverinE and
tears welled to her eyes. -. ..
"Mr. Harden. we've got a man In
possession in the house." she said trag.
ically. :
There was a little silence. and she
rushed on in confusion.
"Oh, I know you must be disgusted ;
know I ought to be ashamed, but !
can't help It, It isn't my fault. And
he's such beast Of q man-a great
horrid fellow with q mustache, and
he's rude to Jane. and rude to me. It's
the rates; they haven't been paid, and
suppose now father IL gone they
think they never will be, and I'm 10
afraid. believe he would have come
yesterday only-only because of-of the
funeral, you know" =
Two largo tears welled over and
splashed down onto the cheap black Of
II wouldn't ask you," she stumbled
on. "only--only, oh, / don't know what
to do. I don't know what to do! !" she
added in whisper.