Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-15
Continued From Yesterdays starr
TWENTY-FIVE INsTALLMENT.


= OMETHING stirred family in Lila
Smiths memory as she heard
Annals voice She did recall
~ something. But the recollection
went almost as quickly as it
came, leaving her more bewildered than
ever. Very gently she disengaged her
self from the trembling woman'S arms.
sit down. won't you?" she urged.
But the woman chung to her tear
fully.
Don't you remember the old house.
and that dreadful night of the fire, and
her ladyShip? Her ladyships dead,
Lila"
The girl strove hard to think, but
her memory would not function. She
looked appealingly at Mr.. Oaks, and he
nodded
ITS quite right, my dear. She did
know you, years ago. She was your
nurse"
THAT'S true" sobbed Anna. God
bless you for telling her that. I was
her nurse, and they told me that she
was dead-that she had. died in the
awful fire. They showed me the little
pieces of her clothing. But I said she
was alive. and told her ladyshlp so.
She believed me. 1 knew I should find
you some day. I knew twas sure OF
it! But it was dreadful to have to
wait. Sometimes I got tired, and then
they put me away in that big house,
and they wouldn't let me go out"
She fell into fit of shuddering that
was painful to witness. But it did not
seem to pain Golly.
"Crool to be kind" he murmured
"That's me, Lila. Nobody can ever say
I wasn't gentle with a female. If l
had to hurt 'em it was over in second,
and It was all for the best"
Now something of the past seemed to
return to Lila. Anna began to emerge
from haze Of memories, to become
reality.
you'll let me stay with you?" the
woman was saying. Il must stay with
you. I'll look after you-get your
clothes for you, darling I suppose
you aren't baby. And must tell her
ladyship."
shes dead" murmured Golly.
Eyes, she's dead. OF course, she'll
'I'll leave you two together" said
Golly, and went out, after making a
polite bow. 1t was his boast that he
knew how to behave.
He locked the door of the little room
and went down the uncarpeted passage
to a rather cheaply furnished dining
room, where Capt. AiknesS sat, glass
of whisky at his elbow, the stub of
cigar between his teeth.
She's all right" said Oaks.
Capt. AikneSs rose and looked into
the mirror and dabbed a scratch on
his right cheek with his handkerchief
Took me by surprise he grunted.
You took her by surprise, said
Oaks sharply. II told you these balmy
people had long memories"
shes changed" said Aikness. "She
used to be fairly pretty girl"
Oaks grunted something, poured some
whisky into a glass, and turned In the
contents of the syphon.
you used to be a pretty cookbook
ing fellow, too, didn't you, AikneSS?
If you hadn't been, you wouldn't have
been told of to make love to nurse
maids. We haven't got good-looker
left
She was good-looking," unused the
captain. II got quite soft with her.
BY the way, what are you going to do
about Lane?"
Golly lit a cigarette and smoked for
q long time in silence.
Get him out" he said finally.
do you think he'll squeal?" asked
Aikness, but Golly did not reply, and,
thinking his question had not been
heard, Aikness repeated 1t.
HE won't squeal," said Golly, star
ing out of the window, but I know
others who might"
Capt. AiknesS forced a smile.
Not me, Golly. I'm too deeply in
volved in this thing"
80 was Mum" said Oaks briefly;
''yet she was ready to squeak"
Another long and painful silence,
which the captain finally broke.
"Lilas becoming bit of problem"
he said
us she?" asked Golly coolly.
There's no problem about Lila. She'll
marry and settle down. But she won't
marry sea-faring man. I'll see to
that"
He leaned across the table and look
ed steadily at Aikness.
1--WE humored you. Capt What's
your-name. I'm always willing to
humor anybody. I've let you play papa
to that kid, give her little outings, dress
her UP in nice clothes. And you're
going to stay papa. Mum thought
this idea of letting the girl go out to
dinner with you, when you came back
from q long sea voyage was silly, but
Mum never had foresight-that'S why
she's dead. I have foresight" He
tapped his chest gently. II never knew
that there was any money coming to
Lila, but always knew she was lady
born and bred, and I thought that,
sooner or later, she was going to be