Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-11-20

good. you Know. j: IT'S the last word
I ever speak. I'm trying To save him
from the biggest snag he ever met
in his life"
She had drawn disdainfully away
from him. but at his last words she
came Il step nearer. I'm toll him
exactly what YOU say" she answered.
and then She asked suddenly in 4
hrmer tone: Have you heard any
;iius more OF my aunt
lie looked at her int"ntly. Why.
yes. You hadn't mentioned her again,
So though, you'd ceased 10 be in.
t'rcstcd. Would YOU like to sec here"
he demanded abruptly after pause.
How can /? l don't know where
She is"
FOR minute or two before reply
ing he studied her closely. Il wish
YOU would let your hair grow out.
FATTY" he remarked AZ the end OF his
examination, and there was a note
81 genuine feeling In his bantcrire,
II remember hpw pretty YOU used
I" look Is q little girl. with your
hair flying behind YOU like the name
of a pony
Let ny hair alone. DO you know
Cn"fc my aunt j. 80
lie appeared to yield reluctantly
to her inSistcnCc. eff you're so bent
on kn"winE-and, mind you. tell
You only because you make mc-shc
amt $" very far from whore we are
standing could take you to hct in
ten minutes"
She looked at him as ii she scarce
" believed his words. you mean
that she is in town?"
Haven't YOU known me long
enough TO find out that | always
mean what | say?"
hen YOU can take me To her
H. laughed shortly. and dug the
end OF his walking stick between the
pavement ana tn" edge OF the curb
stone" "Wha, do YOU reckon the
Governor would say to it?"
Il needn't tell him-not just yet
anyhow. But are YOU really and
truly sure that she is my mothers
sister,"
Well, they had the same parcn,s.
ana reckon that makes 'cm sisters
1t anything does I knew EN- both
out yondcr in California. and never
heard anybody suggest they weren't
related"
WAY did she come here? Was it
To- sec NOR
Partly that and par,ly-wel.
she's been pretty sick reckon
she's likely to go OFF at any time. ana
she wanted 20 H. back where She
was horn. She had pneumonia two
years ago. and then again last win
ter. Her lungs are about used up."
"fh"u Il want TO see her, Ia
better so NOW, hadn't l."
81, would he surer, Something may
hnppcn alm"s, any day. That's why
spoke 10 YOU
y am GLAD YOU did, II i, ism, far.
VIII you take me- now?''
But instead OF walking on with her.
he duE the end OF his stick more
firmly between the pavement ana the
cuThst"nc &c! don't want to do you
any harm, Patty" he said gently at
last. ut may give you n shock To
see her. Nnu know. She's been
through some hard times. and she's
about come To the end OF her ropc
Good Lord. the way life Is, When
hrst saw her ont in California. she
was on" of the prctticst pieces OF
flesh ever laid eyes on. She had
something Of your look. too, though
you wouldn't believe II now"
Eut the girl had already started
t" cross the street Don't let's
waste any time talking. Which way
do We gU2''
Al her decision his hesitation. van
ished, and he Joined her with a laugh
and a flourish OF the diamond ring
on IN" iittlc finger OF his left hand
We'll you arc sport. Fatty You
always were. even when YOU weren't
much more than knee high To "a duck.
II y"u'v" made up your mind To go.
You wont be Blaming me aftcrward? 80
on sha'nt blame you. Of course.
DO We turn up this street,
Yes. 20 ahead. II amt -nr-just
a little way up Leigh Street"
They walked on rapidly. ana pres
entity, SO swift and determined was
f"ttys step. Gershom ceased to
speak. and only glanced at her now
ana then III furtivc and anxious
way. There was a look OF tragic
resolution on her small face-oh. she
was meeting life in earnest. she re
hc"tcd-anh even to the coarse mind
and the duh imagination Of the man
htSid" her. she assumed gradually
the appearance Of some ethereal mes
S"nGcr. At the moment she was think
ing OF stephen but this he did not
suspect. He SAW only that there was
something almost unearthly in her
expressions and he felt the Kind Of
awe that cam" over him on sunday
when he entered II church. lie
wouldn't hurt the girl. he told him
self. with twingc, for a pocket
full OF money.
They had turned into Leigh street.
and had walked some distance in
Silence, when Patty asked suddenly
without looking round. Then she
doesn't know | am coming"
Il told her I'd bring YOU whenever
! could: but she aiIt't looking for
YOU this evening There. that's the
housc--the one in the middle. with
that wooden swing and all those Kids
In the ward"
He pointed To what had once been
fine old house OF succeed brick.
with Il square front porch and green
shutters which were sagging on
lo"scmcd hinges. on the walls where
the stucco had peeled away. the red
brick showed in splotchcs. and the
pillars of ;hc porch. which had been
white, were now spcCklcd with yell
low stains. over the whole place
with its air OF fallen respcctability.
there hung the depressing small of
mingled dust, stale cooking. and bad
tobacco. y numbcr Of imposing and
ell-prcScrvcd houses stood on the
block, for OF the whole ncighborhood,
II appeared to the girl. they had
chosen the most dilanidated dwelling
and the ono which was most crowd.
ed with children.
(To BIO continued tomorrowD