Evening star., 1923-08-02

1
curb on errapds known 10 themselves.
the street lamp shone down like
moons IS indifferently upon solitude
as upon crowds; all the shop fronts
were dark.
| Grcs, it need hardly be said. was
\ fairly eaten up with curiosity con-
eernink his passenger, yet he could
not question her. Her air OF friend
| Illness and confidence disarmed him.
Questions implied doubt She vol
untsered no inforra alton about her
self, but seemed to feel the necessity
Perhaps I ought to be riding in
behind"
"oh, no." said Grest very quickly.
Well. thought 1t might look odd,
my sitting here in front"
giving friend lift, especially at
this time of nisht?'
This seemed to make her uneasy.
She said: "All right; but you know
I'm hiring you really. just like any
body"
Greg felt a most unreasonable hurt.
Il didn't ask for pay" he said sruffiy.
She was distressed. "Oh. you
mustn't let your feeling be hurt! I've
got to pay. YOU know. You don't
know anything about me-"
meant: "Td like to- But she did
not take the hint. Aloud he said: Il
won't take anything"
She let the matter drop.
| The cab they were following drew
up at the great Hotel Meriden at
Il Thought So" murnured the girl
He's stopping here, The chase is
over for tonight. Drive on for a
block or two, then come back IT
will vii give him a chance to get to his
| Gres obeyed. As they returned and
| circled in front OF the hotel she said:
| Don't stop at the entrance. Go on
to the end of the building and walt
there"
| They came to a stop opposite the
| last of the great windows that light
4 ed the lobby and the lounge of the
! Meriden. GREG wondered, II the chase
| were over. what they were to wall
for. The answer came directly. con-
+, reying an important bit of informa-
tion obliauely.
She said. pointing to two lighted
! windows on the third foor Of the
| hotel: Il daren't go in until he goes
to bed. Do you mind IL wait here
DO 1 mind" said GREG.
His tone was perhaps a little toe
| warm She glanced at him suspi-
| ciously. Greg tried to look uncon-
| seious. Meanwhile he was revolv:
! ing the Significance OF what she had
] just said. So she lived here, too, and
| was, she implied. a member OF the
! tall foreigners household. 1t oc-
Cured to Greg that her speech re
sembled the mans. they used tht
| together. Certainly in no other re-
| spect was there any likeness Gree
! frowntd. He resented the thought
that man and girl might be related.
Che broke in on his thoughts by
| SAYING in her abrupt. boyish way
You don't seem like a common taxi.
driver river, ,.,. ,. -. ,o,u
! said Greg smiling.
! He reflected that the surest way. &C
| win a persons confidence is TO one
| ones own. and he proceeded 10 tel
| her tho story of his meeting will
! Hickey Meech, and how they hac
changed places. stopping short. how
ever. of the grim denou.mtnt
The girl was cha armed. "Oh, ] lik.
that" she cried brisht-e I'm
glad you didn't want TO leave Amer
| lea! [ love America. I'm an Amer
| lean"
/ He wondered a little what impellec
; her TO state this fact so definantly. a:
| IL it had been called in question. Il
! cheered him though. for certainly tht
man they had been following was no.
an Amerlca4 Sc they could not bs
telose relatives.
I'm SO glad it was you" she wen,
en-.
| so am l." he said smiling
| "a person like you can understand.
But I understand nothing"
"Ah. don't ask me-" she said witt
a painful air Il can't explain. It.
/ a family affair
That put Greg back where h.. hat
started from. He was silenced bu
| not satisfied
F. Suppose l need YOU again" sh.
| asked. Would you be willing
!. TRY me-"
How can l get you?"
! The man I bought the cab from told
| me where he kept it, and I suppose
| I'll hans out there. Have YOU any.
thihs te write 1t down with?'
She nodded, and produced a tiny
| notebook and pencil.
| Elmer Fishbaek,' he began.
She wrote II down, smiling TO her
self at the eemlcal sound of iii.
! syllables.
My right name is Gregory Parr,'
| That's better she said.
! He continued: Care of Bessie
Bickle-he didn't say whether she
I'll just put Fl Bickle."
| "Gibbon street south Of Houston
| She wrote it all down.
| All this while Greg was wondering
| how she expected TO get across the
| lighted lobby and by. the hotel DESK
without hoy d discover; The question ,a tor tor,
You can't go in-like that" he
| blurted out.
She instantly mounted on her high
! horse. What do you mean?
We'll. YOU know-anybody could
| SEE he stammered, anybody
could see that you werewolf. tha,
! you were not q boy"
| She sharply averted her head from
| him. He saw the crimson tide cree p
| up from her neck.
| Il don't see what reason you have
| for. saying that" she murmured
He strove .stgmblinsly to put ,htr
| They're all right. You leok out o
sight. But-but-well. girl is diff
Of locks, mean The charm OF a
She ignored this. I'm not going
| through the lobby" she said abruptly,
but Through the service entrance:
and he will let me in again"
GREG brsathed more freely. A con
| strained silence fell between them
I'm NOT altogether q fool" she
presently burst out sorely. Il didn,t
| And / kept away from all brilliantly
lighted places. Nobody found me out
but you"
That's all right" said Greg. "But
| suppose1wsll, suppose hadn't been.
! well-detent"
Il woaid have known exactly what
air that made him smile broadly.
But / knew YOU were the instant !
looked at you" she added.
Thanks" said Grefe.
She was still sore. II don't see he w
| you could have guessedp' she went
on. AT home when we have the
| atrlcals everybody says make a per-
| feetly dandy. b6y.''
"Thats different" said GREG sniil-