The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-11-19

mer and keS of nails and told him to go build a house.
 And there was Mary; she knew. And because she was tender, she couldn't muster up the courage to tell him what he already knew bet ter than anyone else.
 Absently he hunted about for newspaper and bit of st-ing, wrapped up the suit and secured it. And then he heard footsteps in the hall. Mary was returning He dropped the bundle and hurried to the door. But. as his hand reached for the knob, he heard
 Let go my arm, please"
 Come, Mary. be sensible. Why stick it out any longer? Why waste your youth in this musty hole?"
 Will you let go?''
 Sands stepped out into the hall, which wasn't very well lighted Thus, Morgan did not observe the angle of the younger mans jaw. A spirit of malice rose up in him, and he swept Mary into his arms, just to show his contempt for the spectacled pumpkin.
 Mary did not see the action which followed for her hat had been damned over her eyes; but she saw the result-Morgan pinned to the wall and Sands fingers boring into the mans throat.
 "Herbertr' she cried in terror.
 Sands stepped back, while Morgan tore at his collar, gasping for breath
 I'm sorry. Mary. I rather lost my head" Sands turned to Morgan.
 You were blind fool not to see that Mary wasn't your sort. Now. I'm going to give you your choice of exit; the stairs quietly, or the space between the banisters. I am stronger than you, and if you elect the ban isters you are likely to break your precious neck.
 Make the choice quickly! Yes, yes; I understand. If looks could kill But they can't"
 Morgan walked to the head of the stairs and stepped down one He looked back. his eyes burning like opals. Then he passed down the stairs--and out of this story.
 Instinctively Mary and Sands ap- preached the bahister. When they heard Morgan's door slam Mary looked up at Sands and Sands look ed down at her. Quite unconsciously she dropped her hand from his sleeve and took his arm from around her waist.
 T beg your pardon, Mary. wasn't thinking"
 'I didn't notice" was all she said She liked the way he said Mary. Most people called her Marry; he said Mary" There was music in the name now; never again would IL sound commonplace.
 This doesn't sound much like love episode, does it? But 1t was For Mary's hand upon his sleeve and his arm around her waist was worth a thousand sonnets.
 ''Good night" she said, and thank you.
 Good night. Hell have cleared out by morning. Pearls, Mary; there are some without price"
 Mary could not see the knob of her door when she reached it; she had to feel around for it. Once she had closed the door behind her, she realized that she was Trembling
 What has happened to her? With out digging into her heart for the answer, without taking off even her hat, she ran to her bed and flung her self upon it and asserted a preroga- tive which was hers and every wom- na's-the right to cry when she felt like it.
 They were inclusive tears: her lone Illness, her poverty-and his And
  the rest of her life.
 Sands, being man, did not waste any time combating an established fact. Concerning Mary, he had reached the clear; he was through with foes and labyrinths. He tucked his bundle under his arm and went forth into the night, via dolorosa, which is the way to all pawnshops.
 Well here we are again, Mir. Brounstein"
 "Ah!' said the pawnbroker, his tone and expression neutral. We'll, vot is it tonight?"
 "A dress suit"
 T don't know. Nobody hereabouts wants t'go to der opera
 But I'm not selling it; I merely want loan against it."
 Say, von o'dose stickpins I like. Sell it to me"
 Sands shook his head No. I'm sentimental"
 Brounstein nodded and cut the twine of the bundle He shook out the dress suit and his practiced eye saw that it was of the best doeskin and perfectly new.
 Then he went through the pockets of the coat, for he was honest He discovered pair of white kid gloves and a dance card. He laid these relics on the counter. There was nothing in the waistcoat.
 Next, he investigated the trousers. The sidepockets were empty; but as his hand went into ono of tho hin