Evening star., 1925-02-15
Acknowledgements
of Jane Smith
CONTINUED from Yesterdays Star)
By PATRICIA WENTWORTH
Copyright. 1925, b. Small. Maynard d Co..

Jane stepped back. Her eyes blazed
"And why?" she said.
She tried to say 1t icily, but she
could not steady her-voice. Henry's
arm felt solid and comfortable.
Because I'm damned n I'll let you,
said Henry very loud. and upon that
the door opened and there entered
Mrs. de Luttrelle March. larger. pink
er, and more Mortified than Jane had
ever seen her. She, for her part, be-
held Henry, his arms about shabby
girl. and her horror reached Its eli
max when she recognized the girl as
that dreadfully designing Jane
Smith"
Henry" she gasped-"oh, Henry"'
Jane released herself with a jerk,
and Mrs. de Luttrelle March sat down
in the nearest chair and burst into a
food of tears. Her purple satin opera
cloak fell away, disclosing a peach
colored garment that clunG to her
plump contours and seemed calculated
rather for purposes of revelation than
concealment. Large tears rolled down
her powdered cheeks, and she sought
in vain for handkerchief.
"Henry-I didn't think IL Of you-at
least not here. not under my very
roof. And if you were going to break
my heart like your father it would
have been kinder to do it 10 years
ago. because then l should have
known what to expect, and, anyhow,
should probably have been dead by
now"
She shifted and made a desperate
gesture.
"Oh, Henry. l can't find it! Haven't
you got one, or don't you care whether
my hearts broken And I haven't
even got a handkerchief to cry with
l,nr IL ,So% 4
gave 1t to her without attempting to
speak. Years of experience had
taught him that to stay his moth RS
first food of words was an impossi-
bility.
Jane felt rather sick. Mrs. March
was so very large and pink, and the
whole affair SO very undignified that
her one overmastering desire was to
get away. She heard Henry's This
Is Miss Smith, mother She came to
see me on business: and then Mrs.
March's wall, Your father always
called 1t business. too. and I didn' t
think-no, I didn't think you'd bring
girl in here wien my back was
turned"
Jane stood up very straight. but
Henry had taken her hand again.
beg your pardon" he said, In a
very low voice. "She-she had a rot
Ten time when she was young; then
IN tone that cut through Mrs
March's sobs as an East wind cuts
the rain, he said:
Ally dear mother, you are making
some extraordinary mistake. The
last time that / saw Miss Smith was
three years ago. l then asked her to
marry me, and she refused. I would
go on asking her every day from now
to kingdom come IL I thought that it
was the slightest good. AS 1t isn't, !
am anxious to be of use to her in any
possible way. She came here tonight
to ask my advice on an official mat
ter"
Mrs. March fixed her very large blue
eyes upon her son. They were SWIM
ming with tears. but behind the tears
there was something which suddenly
went to James heart-something be-
"iidered and hurt, and rather un-
grown-up.
You always were good boy.
Henry" said Mrs. March, and Henry's
instant rigid embarrassment had tho
effect of cheering Jane. She came
forward and took the limp white hand
that stu clutched a. borrowed hand
kerchief.
I'm sure he'll always be a good son
to You, and 1 wouldn't take him away
from you for the world. He's just a
very kind friend. ood-night, Mrs.
March,"
She went out without looking back.
out Henry followed her into the hall.
You're not really going to plunge
INTO this foolish AFFAIR."" he said as
they stood for a moment by the door.
1t was Jane who opened 1t.
Yes. l am, Henry. You can't stop
me, and you know it,
James eyes looked straight into his,
and Henry did know
Very well, then Read the agony
column in the Times. If you want
to have message, 1t will be there,
signed with the day of the week on
which 1t appears. You understand?
II the message is in the Times of
Wednesday, it will be signed, Wed
nesday.' And If there are directions
In the message, you win obey them
implicitly"
How thrilling" said Jane.
rs it?"
Henry looked very tired.
'I don't know il I've done right,
but 1 can't tell you any more just
now. BY the way, Molloy's fiat will be
watched, and I shall know whether
you go to Luttrell Marches or not
Good bye, Jane"
Good bye, Henry"
Henry watched the lift disappear.
CHAPTER ~.
"This," said Arnold Todhunter,
'is the fire-escape." His tone was
that of one who says, This is our
Rembrandt" Proud proprietorship
pervaded his entire atmosphere.
Ssh" said Jane.
They stood together in a small back
yard. 1t seemed to be quite full Of
things like barrows, paving stones,
old tin cans and broken crockery.
Jane had already tripped over a meat
tin and collided with two chicken
coops and a dog kennel. She reflected
that this was just the sort of back
yard Arnold would find.
Everything was very dark. The
blackest shadow OF all marked the
wall that they were to climb. Here
and there a lighted window showed,
and Jane could see that these win
dows had rounded parapets jutting
out on a level with the sill.
Arnold. meanwhile, was tugging at
something which seemed to be a short
plank.
what on earth?" she whispered.
eve shall need it. I'd better go
hrst."
And forthwith he began to climb.
clutching the plank with one hand
and the iron ladder with the other.
Jane let him get a good start. and
followed.
The ladder wa quite easy to climb;
It was only when one thought of how
Immensely far away the skyline had
looked that it seemed as IL 1t would
be very uncomfortable to look down
instead Of up, and to see that horrid
little yard equally far below.
Jane did look down once, and every
thing was black and blurred and
shadowy. 1t was odd to be clinging