The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-30

S0ll0 as a rOck, ana no IeVerS anu iuSeCtS attached to it, either"
 ..li;@. CHAPTER TX snNE afternoon, about two weeks later, M Kirk, returning to the studio from an unprofitable raid into the region of the dealers, found on the table card bear ing the name of Mrs. Robert Wilbur. This had been crossed out, and beneath it. in 9 straggly hand, the name Miss Wilbur had been written. <, :. The phenomenon of caller at the cell of the two hermitsS was so strange that he awaited Ruth's arrival with more than his customary impatience. She would be able to identify the visitor
 Ruth, arriving few moments later, was met by Kirk, with the card in his hand. "Can you throw any light on this?" he said., ,.-..-s -+ x < --@'
 "sybil Wilbur? I wonder what she wants." z-.
 "Who is she? Let's get that settled first" ---
 "Oh, she's girl I used to know. haven't seen her for two years. thought she had forgotten my existence.
 "Call her up on the phone. If we don't solve this mystery we shan't sleep tonight. It's like Robinson Crusoe and the foot print" . short conversation she turned to Kirk with sparkling eyes and the air of one with news to impart. Kirk! She wants you to paint her portraitT'
 "Whatv
 "She's engaged to Bailey! Just got en- gagged! And the first thing she does is to insist on his letting her come to you for her portrait" ," Ruth bubbled with laughter. .It's to be birthday present for Bailey, and Bailey has got to pay for it. That's so. exactly like Sybil." :.
 T hope the portiat will be. She's taking: chances" :.
 q think it's simply sweet of her. She's a real friend"
 "At fairly long intervals, apparently. Did you say you had not sseen her for two years?"
 She is an cratic little thing with an awfully good heart. Isfeel quito touched at her remembering us. Oh, Kirk, you must do simply wonderful portrait, some thing that everybody will talk about, and then our fortune will be nlade You will become the only painter that people will go to for their portraits" .=.--,1
 Ruth, old girl, Pm horribly nervous about this. l am taken with a sort of sec ond sight. see myself making a ghastly failure of this job and Bailey knocking me down and refusing to come across with the check.'
 "Sybil is bringing the check with her to- morrow" said Ruth simply. = - <
 Sybil<Wllbur fluttered in next day at noon
  the studio like humming-bird. She eff ferveseed with, the joy of life. <
 It was about 2 o'clock before she -ac- tually began to sit, and even then sine was no statue. A thought would come into her small head and she would whirl round to impart it to Ruth destroying in a second the pose which it had taken Kirk ten pain full minutes to fix.
 At last it was finished Ruth thought it splendid. Sybil Wilbur pronounced it cute, as she did most things. Kirk could hardly bear to look at it. In it's finished state it was worse than he could have believed possible
 In the old days he had been fair paint CT with one or two bad faults. Now the faults seemed to have grown like weeds, choking whatever of merit he might once have possessed This was a horrible pro- auction, and he was profoundly thankful when it was packed up and removed from the studio. But behind his. thankfulness lurked the feeling that all was not yet over, that there was worse to. come. 1t came.
 Itwas heralded by fearful telephone call from Mice Wilhur u,h0 ranop mn Ruth with