Evening star., 1927-04-22

Walking slowly along the opposite
sidewalk was a short, stout man with
a long black beard. If he were not a
clergyman the janitor's mistake was
pardonable, for his clothes were of the
severest black and on his head was
a low-crowned hat such as ministers
wear. She thought a moment, then:
"Will YOU ask him to come over,
Iones?" she said.
A few minutes later the stage door.
keeper returned, ushering in the
bearded stranger. His hat was off
now, and his tonsured head lent sup
port to the view Jones had taken
of his calling.
Are you Miss Care1?" he asked.
His voice was very gentle and soft.
and there was a kindliness in his
brown eyes which was very likable.
Yes, I'm Miss Carew. You wished
to see me?"
His voice was strangely familiar.
She had heard it before somewhere,
but. raelxing her brains, she could not
recall q meeting.
"Yes, l wished to see YOU" He
hesitated. my name is" again he
paused. Brother John. At least I'm
called Brother John by my friends"
American accent, she thought. And
she knew him! She was certain they
had met somewhere. but for the life
of her she could not remember.
The janitor had discreetly retired to
his box.
You are DR.. Laffin's ward, are you
not?"
She nodded.
"And you are an actress, too, Miss
Carew?"
'Yes, I am an actress" she said.
wondering what was coming next.
"Am I wrong in believing that you
were the lady who appeared as lately
as yesterday in the window of store
on Duke street,"
He spoke very slowly, seemed to be
measuring every word before he gave
it expression.
Betty flushed.
Yes, / am that unfortunate individ-
ual" she said with a little smile. II
hope you haven't come to buy
des<?"
He shook his head
mo. Miss Carew, l have come on
no such mission; but l would like to
ask you, if it is permissible-and /
realize that / may be going beyond
the bounds of pertinence-why you
undertook that extraordinary work?"
Her first inclination was TO return
a discouraging reply, but there was
such a queer anxiety In his face that
she changed her mind.
Il went there at the request of DIR.
Laffin." she said.
did DR. Latin take you into his
confidence?" he asked. And then, has
fly. Il mean, do you know why you
were so Employed"
'I haven't the slightest idea," she
answered, shortly. THE only thing |
am certain about is that in no cir
cumstances would I again endure
such misery as ! suffered during the
very short time 1 was on exhibition"
He bit his lip, his eyes never leav.
ing her face.
WAS there-was 1t part of your
duties to give a message to somebody
who calIed?" he asked.
Without hesitation she nodded.
II fear you think that / am an
impertinent man." said Brother John,
"but this matter touches me very
nearly, and involves the peace and
happiness of one for whom j have
very deep affection. and I am sure
that, when you realize this, you will
forgive what may seem the unparuon-
able liberty / am taking"
Perhaps you will tell me some
thing?" she replied. What was in
DIR. Laffin's mind when he asked me
to undertake that work."
He shook his head.
II am afraid / can't tell you that,
he said.
And then:
You are a priest, aren't you?" she
asked.
He shook his head sadly.
mo. madam, l am not a priest. l
was an ordained priest of the Episco-
pal Church, but / was unfrocked for
holding views which met with the
of my bishop
He held out his hand and she took
1t.
II am very glad that you knew |
he said simply, and before |
she could frame another question he.
was gone.
When she came out into the street |
she saw his broad shoulders vanish |
round the corner OF the block.
The mystery of the desk. selling |
proposition had become SO intensified !