Evening star., 1928-07-02
THE EVENING STORY


dress and a small gray hat. A suit case.
presumably heavy. sat at her feet. Her
face was tired md sad, but Mrs. Bas-
sett thought instantly that It was the
sweetest face she had ever seen. And
her voice matched the face:
Il saw the card in your window" she
said. Room to Let should like it,
please"
Come in" said Mrs. Bassett. She
thought: Probably she won't want to
pay so much, but that is my price,"
The young woman looked around, up
and down, and smiled
1T is very nice. I will take It, please
And may have board as well?"
She didn't seem to mind about the
price at all. In fact, she didn't seem to
mind anything except that she was so
extremely glad to have place to rest
in.
AT dinner appeared and took her
place quietly. Mrs. BaSSett introduced
her to the other boarders, who were all
there except Mr.. Thayer. He didn't
appear until after the roast was served.
I'm sorry, Mrs. Bassett," he said In
his charming way, but there was a
whole dime that had to be accounted
for in order to make the books balance,
and We all had to stay"
Mr. Thayer sat next to Miss Jane
Wells and spoke to her once or twice.
Mrs. Bassett thought: What a nice
looking couple they would makel" She
was fond Of Mr.. ThayeT, who had been
with her for two years. She knew that
he was just what he looked to be-
honest and direct and clean-hearted,
one of those healthy, blond young fell
lows whose characters keep them out of
temptation and whose ambition leads
them to success.
1t was Miss Willows who tried to find
out something about Jane Wells. Miss
Willows always found out about every
body. She prided herself on being able
to size a person up after a half hours
acquaintance. But she could not size
up Jane. Her questions were, evaded so
skillfully that she found herself in the
predlcament Of a person swimming
against a strong current--sl1e- made
endless efforts without getting any
where. Still, it was not in her nature
to give up.
Jane Wells. it appeared, must be
taken or left as they found her. She
had nothing to say for herself. She
was there, and that was all there, was
about it. Where she came from or
why, where she was going and when--
nobody could know. And how she could
af1ord to occupy Mrs. BaSsettss best
room was perhaps the greatest mystery
OF all, for she did nothing with her
time except read and walk. and eat and
sleep. Each day she grew fairer to
behold, and each day Roland Tftaver
looked at her with growing love and
admiration
Two weeks had passed, when one day
MISS willows. found the clue she had
been looking for. Jane Wells was going
out with a letter to post, and she
dropped the letter. Instantly Miss VII
It up, and before she relinquished 1t she
lows, who was just behind her, snatclled
had seen the addreSs-.sN6r. Felix Mar
yel,' with the street number. and town,
the fair Jane had an adrnirer! Wei.
a town not a million miles away. So
sne must tell Roland Thayer, and she
did
Indeed. she went even farther. She
went to Mrs. Bassett and filed, that
good woman's mind, full Of doubt ard
perpiexity.
L am sure" Miss willows said: 'thSt
Jane Wells isn't her name and that she
isn't what she pretends to be-. I am
sure she Is in hiding. Else why doesn't
she get any mail? Everybody else in
this house gets mails except Jane Wells.
Why. she hasn't even had an answer to
her letter."
"oh, dear. Miss Willows, I don't be-
heve any wrong of her." Mrs. BasSett
sighed. And then she was afraid to saw
more. lest she offend her old boarder.
AFTER all. that was the one thing she
must do of all otl1ers--keep on the
right side OF all the people under her
roof.
Mis- willows whispered in every ear.
Roland laughed at her. Mrs. Marcy
snook her head; Julia Lanning stared.
astnnlshet It didn't seem possfhiA but
Miss WILLOWS must know what she was
talking about! 2. dsfUT9fiy
Gradually there came a CHANGE %
ward Jone Wells. A glance. a word. an
act revealed It to her. She withdrew
INTO herself and from everybody except
Roland Thayer. To him she seemed to
turn as II for protection at breakfast.
at lunch. But when dinner time came
she didn't appear.
she had gone. Mrs. Bassett said
paid her bill and gone. She had left
no word She had simply stepped back
INTO the oblivion from which she had
emerged Not single trace was lei
behind her.
That evening Roland Thayer sough.
MIS-. BaSsett where she sat in her tiny
private den" looking over accounts.
DO you think Miss willows had any,
thing to do with Miss Wells soinc?' he
demanded. He looked gray and hsg-
gard. and Mrs. Bassett pitied him. The
dear boy!
No. don't" she answered. II think
she was ready to 90. anyway. She said
TWO or three weeks when she came"
What is your idea of Il all?" pleadeei
Roland. gazing upon his landlady witt
agonized eyes
Why think she came for a resi-
cure, Mrs. BaSSett replied.
Roland knotted and unknoeted h,
hands
II love her" he said. ~I don't know
where she came from or why. I only
know I'm going to follow her aad fnd
ner and win her II she Is to be found
Unless sic Is already married Swea.
broke out on his temples That man
Whcm she wrote To-" He sprang up
4ou are going?" exclaimed mrs.
BaSsett.
"Ncw--to ind him. III rout him on:
Of his bed Ill----s
Mrs, Bassett looked up at him gently.
1 know. knowing her. that you W.T.
md eyerything al right" she said.
Ehe End