Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-11

Col. Loganberry II. Ball looked hard
at Mary Rogue. She, in her turn
looked steadily at him. What if she
had deliberately lied to the old man?
She had tried to save him pain, and
felt justified in the means she had
taken.
Miss Rogue" slowly began the big
man from the West, Il saw Bill Hen
nick on the street car yesterday after
noon"
Yes, Col Ball?" smiled Mary
Rogue, using her very best smile
Perhaps there was a bit of Il laugh in
1t, too, over the fate of the King of i
street, whom the colonel had just
kicked out into the hall.
Miss Rogue. ! hired YOU to FIND
out certain facts about my daughter
Maisie," went on Col. Ball.
Yes"
Florida with Bill to make their for
tune" His face began to get reddel
and redder.
Yes. | am afraid | did, Col. Ball
We'll. then l find Bill here in Wash
fngton. running his street car, and !
says, Why, hello, Fill, | thought you
were in Florida" lie almost dropped
the change he was handing me FOL
my ticket.
He says to me. Bill says, Why
Col Ball, Maisie has gone TO Florida
She-she left me, Col. Ball Made
| me feel sorry for the Teller
Il said, She left you, Bill, Maisie
left YOU? He said, Yes, she beat it.
| said. She beat it, Bill. what do you
mean?' Bill says. Why. she rur
away from me. colonel, that's all ="
Il tell you, Miss Rogue, it nearly
knocked me off the platform. MY
Maisie, run away from you-whC
with | asked him. Bill says, L don't
know who she Went with. or whether
she went with anybody at all, she's
Just gone, that's an"
The old man breathed heavily.
why didn't you tell me that, Miss
Rogue"
There was silence that could have
been cut with knife in the little
studio-oflice of Mary Rogue the girl
who helps YOU out" Her delica te
colon mounted ana increased, as she
toyed with silver paper cutter.
,, Colonel Ball. l knew you loved
your daughter, and | thought
| thought
You didn't want to tell me that
he said, loking miserable. 1t Is ter
rible when an old man or woman looks
miserable. When youth takes on
doWncast, hurt eyes. there is every
chance that time viii press away the
signs. but with the old it is different
II didn't want to tell YOU breatheG
Mary Rogue, suspicion of tears in
her bright eyes. Il thought you
would be just as well off if you didn'1
know she had run away without her
husband"
1T wouldn't have been so bad If she
had run away with him. would il,
said Col. Ball, simply. making a state
ment, rather than asking q que. tion
1T would have simplihed matters,
smiled Mary Rogue.
The round faced man from Omaha
grinned despite himself, as most
people did when Mary Roque's famous
smile dwelt upon them for any length
Of time.
Mary's best friends said that il she
smiled on any one for Il full minute
he would 20 blind. much as one gets
eye-slCk after looking fun into the
face Of the sun.
To some il seemed as if one needed
n smoked glass when facing Mary E
best smile, which combined. in marvel
louS manner, personal with a pro
fessional touch.
= 4 y <
Young lady. I guess l ought to fire
you, but some way or other | can't
find it in my heart to do it," resumed
Col. Ban.
Thank you, sir
You are a wise young woman and
ought to know just exactly how &c
handle matter like this" he went on