Evening star., 1927-11-27

Heavens" ChuCkled MerWyn. The
chuckle changed to a gasp. Helen
will be-delighted-Im sure he raj
lied almost instantly.
"Why don't you speak for yourself,
John?" she said.
"For-myself?" stammered MerWyn.
He started to protest-explain-C
fess, The words choked in his throat.
! "I don't hold so specially with
arguing she warned him, and,
climbing into a cart, ragged with
moths and time, she slapped the relns
across griZZled pony's back and dis
appeared down the green road.
Sinking down on the doorstep, Mer-
wyn mopped his brow.
Cad" he said. Cad
* * X q
4 S though summoned by the Vehe-
mence of the exclamation, the tur'
key came down the hall and, hop
toading across his knees, passed into
the garden beyond Merwyn's gaze
followed the droll little figure.
On the narrow road a splotch OF
blue woke suddenly among the greens.
4 girls figure. He looked at his
watch. 1t was ) O'Clock. With a
grin of self-consciousness, he hurried
down the brick-tiled path to meet her.
"Is-is Heloise all right?' she de-
manded breathlessly.
"Absolutely" atteSted MerWyn.
The girl gave a little gasp.
Not feather scorched?" she ques-
toned mot a single toe - b-blis'
tered?"
The laugh on Merwyn's lips hushed
itself. Something in the girls face
warned him that it was not good
time to tell her about the icy cold
stove. nor tease her in any way what
soever about the utter futility of all
her days worry.
A bit awkwardly, they both started
up the path.
At the edge of the porch the girl
gave a gasp of relief and. sinking
down on the first packing box she
could reach, took off her hat and ran
her fingers through her hair Merwyn
dropped down at her feet.
II didn't exactly know whether
you'd he here" she confided bluntly.
II didn't know-whether you ex-
pected me to be here-or not, coun.
tered Merwyn "One might, l sup
pose. have left the key under the
mat"
There isn't any mat" said the
girl.
Altogether unexpectedly she tilted
up her chin and laughed.
With a feeling of relief, Merwyn
tilted tfp =iis chin and laughed with
her. But what have you been doing
all day." questioneu the girl. What
could you find to do?"
"Well. frankly" he admitted, 81
have been doing something dreadful!
Obtaining money under false pre-
lenses. to be explicit"
WHAT" she said. why, what do
you mean?"
IL admit" grinned Merwyn. that
there was one eXtenuating circum-
stance. This money that / speak Of
it was. at least, obtained for you.
not for me-"
"F'or-me?" stammered the girl.
There was an old lady here" con-
fided Merwyn.
"An old LADY," laughed the girl.
Its impossible. Why. you must be
lightheaded, Faint for lack of food
and the pantry was full OF good
things
Indeed, we found everything good
that there was" insisted Merwyn
doughtily. "Dined. in fact. not quite
wisely out altOgetncr 100 We'll. IHdl
was the trouble, Heloise and |
feasted so we'll that we went to sleep.
And. when l woke up, there was
lady in the room, Your aunt, l
believe"
My aunt?" scoffed the girl. "My
Aunt Eliza beth, you mean? Why, she
hasn't spoken to me since 1 was a
little girl
That's the one. frightened Mer-
wyn. Anyways she took me for your
young man."
OH said the girl.
Having heard. it appears, that you
were to be married" persisted Mer-
wyn. land cleaning that the handsome
stranger had arrived-this description
is hers, not mine--she t1ounced over
to see if she liked .me-or. rather, liked
my looks, the real test seemed to be-
and. being gracious enough" he
grimaced. ''to admit that she did like
'em, flounced off to write new will
and make you her sole heir! Truly"
he roared. cts the readiest money