The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1931-02-20

bothered with 1t now, though. All she
wanted to do was dance.
She forgot the letters again when
she came home from the Alhambra,
but Martin remembered them and
went downstairs with the key to bring
them up. When he came back he'd
merely said, after looking at her a
minute, "Good night, Rhoda," and
gone away, although the idea of kiss
had hung palpably between them for
an instant. She wouldn't have mind
ed his kissing her good night, but she
got real thrill out of the fact that
he didn't, although he evidently want
ed to. She realized that when he did
kiss her he'd mean more by it, and
there was a touch of real Scotch thrift
about Rhoda that appreciated the
economy.
1t was the same quality in her that
made her put off letting herself drift
away into a pleasant day-dream over
the hours just passed until she should
have finished her evening tasks and
got into bed. Otherwise she wouldn't
have looked at the letters at all.
One Of them was addressed, in an
angular feminine hand she didn't
know, to her, Miss Rhoda White.'
1t was with a rather Indifferent feel
ing of perplexity that she sliced open
the envelope. But with her first in
credulous stare at what was written
+Ln OF; aho -
paper it contained, she felt fright
ened wish that Martin hadn't gone
home, for the thing began: Dear
Miss Mcfarland"
She was trembling so that she went
over and sat down on the couch be-
fore she read any further. She felt
as if things were closing in on her
somehow; the way bird feels, per-
haps, when the beaters are driving it
toward the wall behind which man
is waiting with gun.
81 hope l haven't frightened you,
beginning like that" she said, but
you do not know me-you may never
have even heard of me-and wanted
to make sure that you would read this
letter, because it is important to me
whether it is to you or not.
Il am going to ask you great ia
vor. 1t has got nothing to do with
money. 1 have got money enough,
thank heavens! to put this through
even if it costs whole lot. But
am simply desperate for something l
am sure you can help me find 1t was
a paper that 1 asked your father to
take care of for me when was work
ing for him in his laboratory.
1T makes too long story to tell
this way and want you should have
my whole confidence in this matter.
Will you come to lunch with me to-
morrow in the Tip-Top inn? 1 will
be there from twelve o'clock on, at the
table to the right of the door in the
Dutch room. l will be wearing black
hat and dark blue dress.
"Yours most sincerely,
CLAIRE CLEVELAND.
"P. S. / want to say this in addition.
l think it will be as much for your
advantage as mine if you come. The
man who treated me so shamefully is
the same man who played a mean
and treacherous trick on your father
and practically ruined his life in order
to make himself rich; and 1 think if
you and l work together we can force
him to make things right for you as
we'll as for meat least as far as
money can make anything right. Let
me warn you of one more thing, and
I hope it is not too late. Do not an
swer any communication of any sort
from any stranger until you and
have had our talk. have reason to
believe he now has designs on you,
too. You may not have found out
yet what some men can be like, but
believe me (not slang) 1 know!
"Yours, CLAIRE"
tTO BE CoNTINUED.)