Evening star., 1923-08-12
CONTINUED from Yesterdays starr

the room in their shabby oVercoatS,
caps in hand. A threatening look in
BeSSle'S eyes warned them not to step
off the linoleum. it was hardly big
enough TO hold them all They were
almost overcome. Though they car
ried such Young ladies in their cabs AS
a matter Of course, to be personally
introduced to one Of them was an
other thing: they could scarcely MI
their eyes to hers; their voices died
away in their throats. There was
nothing Of the pixie about Amy now.
Toward these dumb souls she exhlo-
tied an angelic kindness.
You're Hickey" she said to the
l knew you quite we'll already. but
I'm glad 10 have the chance of speak
ing to you"
This is Bull Tandy," said Greg. in
dicating the next.
william Tandy," corrected that in
dividual, acutely distressed.
oh. like Bull much better sald
Amy quickly. There's something SO
strong and steady about it.
This IS Ginger McAfee. SAID Greg;
Another nickname. And good
one, You look gingery.
The delighted Ginger could only
grin and wag his head from side to
side like an imbecile schoolboy.
Blossom, said Greg, coming TO
the end. Nobody knows his other
name"
''Billups." said Blossom, in voice
so sepuichral they all had to laugh.
and their embarrassment was much
relieved.
How do you do, Mr.: Billups.- said
Amy. Don't mind If we laugh al
You have another friend here. Pa
Simmons" said Greg. He's away
on your job tonight: foull nave 10
L.. her 8
At this point Bessie coughed as
hint that IL was time for the men
TO go. But Ginger McAfee stepped
forward to the extreme edge OF the
linoleum and cleared his throat
Excuse me. Miss" said he, put US
fellows made up something we want
ed to say to you. and they plcheu
on me TO put it over. because theS
said l got the tongue or redus
sneaker. But ii amt much TO say.
It's lust this. without wishing 10
pry into your private affairs AT an we
heard that YOU was up against IL IKE.
mean that YOU had undertaken the
lob OF putting A gang Of crooks where
they belong. Well. what We want 70
say is If we could help wed jump at
the chance. that's all. If YOU need
man or a gang to back you up. try
us. Us and our boats is yours TO COM
Amy was touched. Her eyes were
misty as she replied simply: THANK
you. Ginger. and all OF you. It's sweet
10 find friends. 7 shan't forget YOU
After they had filed out Amy sat
down on the green sofa and started
her tale.
NV real name Is Amy wilmot Ny
father, Gerald Wilmot, was United
States minister to Managuay. Mana
American republic. During my fathers
term Of office there he married a
Managuayan lady, Emilia Bareda. and
7 was their only child. My mother
died while | was still an infant. My
father brought me up with the as
more or less inefficient OF course, |
was very badly brought up. but |
was happy.
my father was a generous. frank
and liberal minded man. and all the
men in Managuay like him were at
I can still remember the good talk
around our table-especially since l
have begun to try to think for my
self. My uncle Tony. Antonio Bareda.
was such man as my rather. and
thew were the closest of friends.
Uncle TONY was continually at our
house He understood children ana L
idolized him.
well. the climate Of Managuay is
an unhealthy one except for natives.
and when / was eleven years old
fever carried off my kind. wise father.
1 was too young. OF course to realize
whatshts loss meant to me. OF course.
1 erieved as children grieve. but like
a child I soon adapted myself to my
new surroundings.
These were very different from
what / had known up to that time.
Since my father had no near relatives,
I was adopted by my mothers cousin.
Sonora de Socotra, who taught me to
call her mamma. She is a dear kind
soul. too, and / love her dearly. The
only thing I have against her is that
she gave me a Spanish name. while
was still too young to realize what
was giving up. She called me Amelie
de- Socotra. by which name. of course.
I have always been known. But I
mean to take my own name back now.
Mamma is devotedly attached to
her husband. and actually after living
with him for twenty years has no
idea but that he Is model of all the
virtues. But she Is simplicity itself.
I have noticed since ] have become
susuicious of him myself that mamma
will believe any tale, however wild,
that he tells her. 1t is his discovery
that 1 am not so gullible that has
made him suddenly suspicious of me.
For some reason i never could
bring myself to call him father He
encoura sed me to call him Francisco.
and T have always done so. He has
invariably been kind to me in his
casual, offhand way. which Is not the
same. of course. as real affection. l
ALWAYS acted toward him as my in
stinct told me he wished me to act
that is 10 say. the amusing child, the
plaything for idle hours. He was the
master, the source OF all good things.
If ANYBODY had asked me If I loved
him I suppose I would have said yes,
but l can see now that l never did,
though I saw nothing but his charm
ing, good-humored, amusing side.
"The de Socotras are of the old
Spanish stock. very prominent in
Managuay. and, in addition. Fran
cisco has made a great fortune to re-
yiye the ancient glories of his house.
How he made II ! don't know. | am
ashamed to confess my ignorance OF
the practical side of life. While Fran
cisco is always deep in affairs. he has
no regular, visible business like other
men. He has no office. He never ap-
pears to do any work, but just CON
fers' with men Of all kinds. 1t has
something to do with politics.
"But there is no doubt about the
reality of the fortune. He was rich
before I went to live with them. We
live in grand style at home. I re-.
member how grand 1t seemed to
me when first l went to them.
everything for granted. and came
to think that 1t was the only way
for nice people to live. We have a
fine house in Santiago and mag
nificent country place among the
hills. I had horses to ride. automo-
biles, troops of servants who looked
up to me as a superior being. We