Evening star., 1940-04-26
CHAPTER Nv.

thought Anne might be tired after
the long journey and the shock of
what she had seen. won't you
sit DOWN." he said, and indicated
a chair. "You might as we'll get used
to the place If you are going to be
the editor"
She took the chair, for the first
time conscious that she was weary.
To rest her head, she drew out
the long pins and put her hat on
the desk Jim thought he had never
seen such hair. 1t was crisp and
curly, tawny gold shot with cop
per.
Anne picked up a letter on the
desk. why, this is for me-" she said.
mo, it's just report on the Sen
tinel," the writer of it said quickly,
and stretched out his hand for it.
''Now you are here can tell you just
as we'll"
The girl did not give him the
letter. 1t seemed to her that he
was little too anxious. "Since it's
just business letter I might as
well keep it," she said.
I'D rather have it )" Jim told her.
"But it has my name and address
on It," she protested. 1T belongs to
me-"
He differed, firmly. 'It doesn't
belong to you until it has been
mailed and reaches you"
We'll, it has reached me-"
Anne Returns the Letter.
Anne realized she was being alb
surd. But she wanted to read the
letter. Her eyes had fallen on
document beside it, partly covered
by her hat, on which was written,
Last Will Of James Silcott." He
had drawn It up tonight, she be-
lieved, in the same hour he had
written her this letter. Yet she
knew she had no right to read it;
it was probably meant for her only
In case he fell victim of the venge-
ance Of Mosley's ruf11ans.
Anne gave the letter to him. I'm
sorry was stuffy about it," she said.
"Of course, it isn't mine"
Silcott put the letter in his pocket
He was surprised at the sudden
softening in her manner, but more
at what he thought he saw in her
eyes. the mist of unshed tears.
I'D better stay with you a few
days till you get the hang of run
ming the paper" he said. "I pay a
tramp printer ten dollars a week
to set type. He's good man-quick
and doesn't make many mistakes"
I've never worked on a paper"
Anne admitted. II can't run one
unless you'll start me right. I sup.
pose you think it's unladylike of, ME
to want to earn my Iving-that
ought to fold my hands and wait
for man"
She flung out the last as a chal-
lenge. Neither of the men took
1t up. The idea of an attractive
woman, not more than a year or two
out OF her teens, editing a news
paper was revolutionary. If she was
forced to work, why not be a school
teacher like other girls? She could
do that without losing caste.
Forecasts Many Offers.
Rufe Jelks chuckled. "You won't
have to wait for a man long out
here, Miss Eliot" he promised. "This
is Thursday. You'll not get more
than one or two proposals this week,
but right soon you can count that
day lost whose descending sun views
from some man no earnest offer
won"
THAT sounds too poetical to be
true, Mr.. Jelks." Anne said fitting
a smile at him. "You wouldn't fool
q poor lone spinster, would you?"
Lady, It's going to be a stam-
pede," Rufe prophesied. But you
can depend on me to keep the herd
away from you as much as I can."
"It will be so nice of you," the girl
murmured. "And now If you'll take
me back to the boarding house,
please"
Silcott led the way through the
front room, but before they reached
the door he stopped. They heard
q troop of men coming down the
street outside.
Somebody banged on the door