Evening star., 1922-02-05
HE blinds OF Rockhouse were
thrown wide for the first time
in seven years. The month
was June, and Evalyn Wells

in seven years. Tne mohth
was June, and Evalyn Wells
was four-and-twsnty.
Evalyn had been summoned from
abroad by the trustee OF her fathers
estate. Because OF an irreparable
quarrel back in the spring OF 1917,
the late senator had left Evalyn as
near penniless as would be compaa-
Bile with her station in life.
Dlagonaliy across the road stood
the other house at the Corners. This
building had formed the annex OF the
county poorhouse, whose main struc"
ture had disappeared.
A Eaunt. pallid man. with two days
stubble on his face, appeared In tho
doorway and emitted a Quavering,
pedantic imitation Of whistle. A
yellow streak shot around the cor
ner Of the thin little house. then the
man closed the door softly.
Outside there was the throb Of a
motor, the ring Of = dinner gong.
Meat. butter. eggs!" doomed tho
itinerant butcher. Il don't come again
till Saturday"
1.-TWO Of US. three days" calculated
the man. "Six steaks will do"
An hour later he lifted two large
steaks from the top Of = rusty. luke
warm stove in the basement and
quietly replaced them in their origi-
nal wrapper. "For myself I could do
we'll enough. But I must think Of
you. my friend"
Princess Blue Mouse raised her
head from her paws, shifted. and
raced across the tennis court. Evalyn
glanced up from her self-imposed Ia
Dor Of wedding the tennis court.
Shades of Abraham Lincolu!
gasped the girl.
Madam" faltered the man. '.you
live here
eyes," Evalyn smiled. 1--WE been
expecting you all day. Have you had
anything to eat?"
"I was about to speak Of that"
'We've finished our lunch" the girl
informed him. She assured him she
would run to the house and tell the
maid. In the meantime he could
start where she had left of. pull
them like this She demonstrated.
Now try. Shake the roots and pat
down the earth with your foot. Don't
leave any holes. Start here"
The girl paused among the flower
ing pear trees. "Your name? she
called.
He raised his head from the court.
John " he stammered.
Bessie" Eyalyn said to her little
maid. "some one has sent US . man.
He'll eat US out Of house and home.
vopt {f can't he he1nAH
Later Bessie appeared with q
flushed face.
That man. Miss Evalyn, I'm afraid
of him.
LIE had given half his dinner to
- the dog that was running wild
with Princess Blue Mouse. and he
brought bag full Of things-gro-
ceries. six steaks!
"Six steaks" echoed Evalyn.
The maid had gotten hold OF the
ne~.paper. There are two escaped
convicts. And have YOU noticed
how pale he is?'
Evalyn started slowly for the ten
mis- court. And she told herself that
the gaunt man laboring with the
weeds made a very pleasant picture.
IF you'll come with me to the
cornhouse," said Evalyn presently to
him, well get bag Of salt"
Several large white bags, stenciled,
"Hay Salt-112 lbs.," lay in the corn
house. John took hold OF ono by the
ears. ,.-s-..'-..-.'
I'm sorry" he admitted, q deep
flush spreading over his pallid face,
Il can't lift it!'
Together they dragged the sack to
the doorsill. Now get the Wheel
barrow. Put it under the door and
pull the bag into it."
'Evalyn directed the man to get be-
tween the shafts. to lift. to push. The
wheelbarrow. on a slight eminence,
rushed forward, careened. turned in
q circle. and only Evalyn's agility
saved her.
'John," she cried, "are you trying
to make me ridiculous, OF don't You
know anything on earth?"
I'm afraid I don't know anything
on EARTH" said the man, "but I'll try
to learn
The chores finished. the man, with
towel and soap and fresh clothing,
passed along the road to the willows.
where he gave himself and his dog a
scrubbing. After supper he ascended
the hill back of his house. There he
stood gazing into the clear June sky.
"My canine friend,' he said solemn
Iy to the dog, IT am not farmer. My
father was an astronomer. A little
man with a thin white beard and
eyes as limp and faded as q faded
blue napkin, white fringed; an old
man at fifty, standing beside q long
shining brass telescope where two
great thoroughfares converged.
Broadway and Fifth avenue. And
there each clear night during eight
trips to the moon and return for five
cents.
"One night a woman stopped by
our telescope. Isn't this Professor
Robert Templer she asked. And my
father answered: Yes. my dear. I
have found an agreeable occupation
that keeps me out Of DOORS But he
could not restrain q hacking cough
The lady placed her eye to the tele-
scope, and my father commenced his
little speech: You are looking at the
sarth's great satellite. The large
crater in the center Of the telescope
could say no more. And noticed
that the lady was wiping her eyes.
She reached into her pocketbook. But
my father cleared his throat. No, my
dear. please not that You're