Evening star., 1927-07-24

nodded to Renshaw and hurried up
stairs. At the door he paused.
He wanted a first glimpse of her be.
fore she saw him. He pictured her
as she sat there. absorbed in her
work, so demure in her golden set
ting. He entered the room, then
stopped suddenly. 1t couldn't be!
That girl . at Miss Tuck's desk.
| Can l do something for you?"
II should like to speak to Miss
Tuck" he said. catching a note of
| fear in his tone.
Miss Tuck? She was my prede.
cessor. 1 would be glad to show you
anything you want to see"
| You don't mean Surely .
it cannot be that she is no longer
here.
Left a week ago."
But where where has she
gomez"
II don't know. Perhaps they could
| give you an address"
| He went to Renshaw.
That young man explained that
Miss Tuck had been dismissed. I'm
disgrace" he added.
''Oh, but there must be some mis-
take"
Not at all. my dear sir. Nothing
incredible about being dismissed for
stealing. Caught red-handed trying to
walk off with a Renoir."
"Oh, but YOU mustn't say that.
There is an explanation. l must see
| her"
Shouldn't bother, if 1 were you.
Quite a clear case
A few minutes later. DR.. Pelanc
rang the bell at Mrs. Pennington s
boarding house.
she amt been here for a week" :"
said the maid.
But she left an address for
her letters >.
Never got no letters, never since
been here
PACK in his own living room in
Sniffen's Court. Dr. Pelanc paced
up and down. He cursed himself
for bungling fool. What fool he'd
been not to make her understand
But he couldn't hurry her. She was
so different. So sensitive So unlike
any one he'd ever known. He wanted
to surround her with peace and bring
her to a slow consciousness of his
love for her. And now look what
he'd done? Women usually terrified
him. She made him feel strong and
competent. Competent! He snorted
with scorn of himself. "Competentw
She was alone, somewhere out there
in New York-a New York she'd
never even dreamed of Without
money, perhaps. or food. Or protec-
ton. What could he do? All day
Sunday he haunted the Museum on
the chance that she might go there
On Monday he began the round of the
galleries. Then he tried the shops.
Rows and rows of women. Women
of every type. but she was not there.
At night, when the galleries were
closed, he walked the streets in the
cheaper boarding house districts.
n At the end of two weeks he was
still no nearer a clue. One evening
Renshaw appeared at his door. The
habitual suavity of that man had de.
parted
IT'S about Miss Tuck I've come" :"
he said abruptly.
Thank heaven! Then you've seen
her Where is she, man? Is she safe?
Is she well?'
got to find her. I've got just "a
hours to do it. thought perhaps you
could help"
DR.. Pelanc dropped dejectedly into
the nearest chair.
Explain. please. l don't under
stand" he said duly.
Its Earney. He's mad as a hornet.
I'm to get the sack if she isn't found
tomorrow"
"Mr. Varney is back, then?'
Got in today. He's up at the Gal.
leries now. 1 never saw him so upset
about anything
How do you propose to set about
finding Miss Tuck?"
II haven't the remotest idea.
Thought maybe you'd know something
about her.
After Renshaw had gone, DR.. Pc
lanes spirits lifted. At least, he was
no longer alone in his pursuit. Hope
rose again. AS he started for the Gal
leries. he felt more nearly happy than
he had been since that day when he
had come back to find her gone.
The street was almost deserted The
theater crowds had already passed. AS
he neared the Galleries, he saw ahead
of him a slight, tottering figure He
qulckened his step. Then stopped.
something familiar i. 1t couldn't
De she. Yet The figure
disappeared. 1t seemed to evaporate
under his very eyes.
oWs. In doorway just across from
the Galleries he found her. She was
looking up at the windows opposite
the windows Of her old room. He
stood. there, pulling himself together.
Her pale face was ghostly. In her
eyes was wistfulness he could not
bear. Then, even before he had time
to take the few steps that separated
them, she crumpled into heap in the
corner of the doorway.
"Oh, my sweet" he cried.
She was in his arms A cold terrible
fear gripped his heart. Surely It
couldn't be that he had found her only
to lose her again. He lifted her. How
light she was! Across the street to the
Varney doorway he hurried. He held
her against him with one arm and he
fumbled for the night bell. Varney
himself opened the door.
y X X
TOGETHER they took her, still un
conscious, up the stairs to the gold
gallery. They laid her on the settee
in the center of the room. Neither
spoke. DR.. Pelanc fell on his knees
beside her and began chaflng her
hands. The older man looked down at
them, his face a study of bewilder-
ment, battling with rage at the white
ness of her.
Miss Tuck was already coming to.
DR.. Pelanc was still on his knees be-
side her. His head was close to hers
and he was pleading with her to open
her eyes. Her eyelids fiuttered and
lifted SLOWLY Her Inns parted almost