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VaniNG LBPGBB-HILADELPirU, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, ldlto
'' ' " '- ' - - "' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' I III llll. 1 ,
,iM" r
CHAPTER I.
nfiflFAin AND INTEUEBT.
fi,. Hood upon the roof Of ft tiondon
Suit Bquare-ono oi t,10( Brlm eheI
tha refuge "I lTIUllUnll tujiuailjf
British penury, na mi- 'f
.... it. (nrmpr race was leaning
sn the fta" r1,sad,n' w,ln B'oomy
itf-Men ftnd eyes set as though In
fljy conttmplAtlorf of tho Uninspiring
iT ml. . H . IIHMtui aI.
firotama. ino )" ,.i..-u........n-
Ri. uncompromisingly English-stood
ii. .? VhJa U(Jdei idea, "unless you
$ confederate belqw,"
KLItl mii . ,' '" " "F iri anu
lM e.1.?' fe Ume Nothing. In fact.
Mia ,2 lrr??le amount pf presence of
BC7:f IBS tnS full .v..nl r at-.u
fjth Us back to the chimney a few feet
Watching Ills companion. me
tot helwtan them was as yet un
ktn,' hkd lasted, Indeed, tlnco sho had
Sim away from the shabby drawing.
m helow, where rt norm may wun a
Seeusvojee had been shouting a music-
ffi' duly. Close upon her heels, but
JgjlSout speech of any sort, ho had fol
IgW. They wcra almost strangers, ox-
B(i for' the occasional wora or two of
fpjitlnj which tho etiquette ot the cstab.
fssmtnt demanuoa. xec sno naa ac
ijftd his eiplcnago without nny protest
rata or loox. no naa louowcu her
JiiJi a very dennlto object. Had she
"iJrailsM It, he wondered? Sho had not
totnti her head or vouclisafed even a
iltfle question or remark to Mm slnco
ki had pushed his way through tho trap.
fJocr almost at tier heels and stepped out
a to the leads. Yet It seemed to him
itit aha must guess.
BtloK them, what seemed to bo the
'MuBtaam of a painted city, a wilderness
M housetops, ot smoke-wreathed spires'
in! chimneys, stretchod away to a
morVr, blooVred horizon. Even as thoy
TtootJ there, a deeper color stained tho
Uir, an angry sun began to sink Into
lh piled up masses of thick, vaporous
:!jtdi. Tho girl vvatcTned with an air
i sullen yet absorbed Interest. Her
companion's eyes were still fixed wholly
Ed critically upon her. Who was she.
ffi wondered? Why had she left her own
country to como to a city where sho
Mimed to have no friends', no manner of
lottrcatf In that caravansary of tho
fj'orl4 sfrlcken ones she had been nn
imrosi unnoucea ngurc, sucnt, Indls
pised for conversation, not In any ob
ilOul manner attractive. He? clothes,
ziiwlUiatana'Ing t'nelr nlr of having come
a first-class dressmaker, wore
ihrtsy and out of fashion, tholr extreme
matness In Itself pathetic. She was thin,
Ijet riot without a certain buoyant llcht-
fiiesj of movement always at varlanco
Wth her tired eyes, her ceaseless air of
csjfcuon. Ana witnal sho was a rebel.
It Vaa written In her nttllmle If ivn.
firldtnt In her lowering militant cxpros-
iloo.the smouldering fire In her eyes pro-
dalmed It. Her long, rather narrow face
was gripped between licr hands; her ol
Wa rested upon tho brick parapet. She
ItM5 at that world or blood-red mists,
ot unshapely,, grotesque buildings, -of
rtrange, tawdry colors; she listened to
Bo medley of sounds crude, shrill, In-
iTlUnt. fiOtllAthlnO" HlfA M,rt irmnnlnr.
a WOrld StrlDCed naked nnrt aha lin.l nil
lie time tho air of one who hateo thn
lag she looks upon.
Tavernake, whose curiosity concerning
ill companion remained unappeased, do-
tMed that the moment for sDeech had
Farrtved. He took n step forward upon
wj oit, pulpy leads. Even then
1 hesitated before ho finally committed
blmstll. About his anoenrnnrn llttla wn
rmrkable save tho general air of de
JtrmlnatlonTvhleh tmvn KhiMinf via
Millstlngulshed features. Ho was some
nang above tho medium height, broad
t, and with rather moro thick black
Mir than he knew how to nrrango ad
Jiataseously. Ho worn a phlrt ivi.ir.li
IV ?mwhat frayed, and nn Indifferent
J'' ".O-O's were Heavy und clumsy;
U,?0,? "'I0 a sult of rondy-mudo clothes
'Si lr of on6 who It,10W that fney
.VI r'?,ay-msdo and was oatlsfled with
itn.i.i '"-..." ".V.""" " yvo
7.k-7T" WDUIU' wunout aouot, have
foondjilm irritating but for a certain
fUf-.f slft-nn almost Napoleonic con
cealraUon upon the things or the passing
JSi iV .hlch waa ln ,tB0lt impressive
iw which somehow disarmed criticism.
j, Ahout that bracelet!" ha said at last.
,6ne moved her head and looked at him.
Jj young man of less assurance would
nil! turned ?hd flea- Not so Tavernake.
?f -df his ground ho was Im
JM. There was murder In her eyes
h was not even disturbed.
B M w ,you ta',, u 'rom 'bo little table
M.r ;. '" iiiuw, us coniinuea.
k.7 ,hr a ra8h tlslnar to do. Mrs.
..!!?'! waa Poking for It before I
S'ui i.th' ,Bta,ra- l C3fPect Bh8 bas
fa i.tht pollc6 ' by now."
Tt,t ,.' . '""" iiujo inio me aepma
K,5'J foeket and emerged. Something
fiiv.,: moment nign over her head.
ru. -.nvman caught her wrist Just In
C "", '? veritable grip, of
froin k7- " n" evil nres nasnea
fe K?.r eye'' her ,oet" gleamed Wnlte.
iarr9 r?f8 and ,e '" a "torm of
ij.j7'.""! f.ered "o- sh was dry
Uak. a '"", PohlesH. but for all
StooTi?. ?! a " strangely-cut
tkr hS",.y'M a background of ompty
". their feet ulnWinr- in ii,. ,.,., i..j.
t go" b'tUr tBk8 '"" h0 Bald'
m"t 5te.rs yldd fne bracelt-a taw-
Em.1. ?1?e? an"r ot r"bles and dla
K' t,iu l0ked at It disapprovingly.
Bff i,V "' '" to go to prison
Its 0e rtmarkofl .unni i. ,... li.
CSikkf lit, '-"r-t ,F''a ! linu ii
ifimv ii ox oouion't navs
fin. ' """ ti--uniess," no aaaea,
1"W 9Tr tho parapet as though
TEMPT
i
NG
OF
TAVE
A TALE
M the full exercise of a strength
.""" continually providing sur-
J
wm tar t,u ..-r.r "A. ''"'""'A ..
. . - r -" ai.uuaiiit2iiirHS. wan hue
LfPt tQ CaVO her. TI.aIp yrrturli. tmAr.
-ji. :v .r""' ""! wvm
Stfc VJ1 ed? of tb roof dlslodgtoT a
Iffni1" ,ne PaHsadlnr. whloh went
JHng down Into the street. They both
t S.l9 ." " h,s arma ""I r'p-
1m ,nd ,on f6ot P-d against
hod Jt M Immediately after
V ,Bn it Pitch harmlessly Into the
LL..i new sensation cam to this
i mh? y0un "'" For ,he flrBt
Biu to .:ri i'A.?".e" 'naL," "
dfu V tloi9 8raBP D( belPS of tho
w Ml. Consequently. aHhauSh bo
wte5Med t I struggle, he kept his
" ;"4 iroqna ner. looking into tier
- w an interest intense enough, but
-M.yiicai man emotional, as
emng to discover tho meaning
Ctinm.M i.av.li a -
k.i- i 1'nuuoing pi uis puises.
,Vnlf as though exhausted, ra-
5it passive, shivering a Utile
wasp, n4 breathing ijka a hunt4
Lt, thea she tore herelf away.
m a Bateim pran," she bI4
dellberaUly. "& hateful, Interfering per
son, I detest you."
"I think that wo will go down now,"
lie replied.
Ho ralspd the trap-door and glanced
at her significantly. Sho hetd her skirts
c ,.u y. together and passed throug-n It
without looking at him. She stepped
lightly down tho ladder and wlthoOt heel
latloii descended nlso n flight of Unoar
piled nttlo stairs. Here, however, upon
tho landing, she awaited him with ob
vious reluctance.
Are you going to send for the police?"
ana asked without looking, at him.
No," 'no answered.
"Why r.ot?"
"If I Had meant to give you away I
l i . Jmvc t0,d Mrs- Fltigeratd t once
that I had seen you take her bracelet, In
stead of following you but bn to the
roof, '
"Do you mind tolling me what vnu rtn
propose to do, then?" She continued still
without looking at him, still without the
slightest nolo ot appeal In her, tone.
He withdrew tho bracelot from 'nls
pocket and balanced It upon his finder.
"I nin going to say that I took It for a
Joke," he declarod.
Sho hesitated.
"Mrs. Fltsgerald's sense of humor Is
not elastic." Bhe warned him.
"She will bo very angry, of course,"
ho assented, "but she will not believe
that I metint to steal It."
Tho girl moved slowly a few steps away.
"I supposo that 1 ought to thank you."
sho said, still wlt'n averted face and sul
len manner. "Ifou have really been very
decent. 1 am much obliged."
"Aro you not coming down?" he asked.
"Not at present," she answered. "I
am going to my room."
He looked around tho landing on which
they stood, at the miserable, uncarpcted
floor, the lll-tmlllted doom nn tvhlxl, tha
long-forgotten varnish stood out In blis
ters, the Jumble of dilapidated hot-water
cans, a mop, and a medley of brooms nnd
rags all thrown down together In n cor
ner. "But tticso nre the servants' quarters,
surely," ho romarked.
"They are good enough for me; my
room Is here," sho told him, turning tho
handle of one of the doors and disappear
ing. The prompt turning of the key
sounded, ho thought, a llttlo ungracious.
With the brncolet In his hand. Tav
crnako descended threo more fllgYHs of
stairs and entered tho drawing-room of
tho private hotel conducted by Mrs.
Ilalthby Lawrence, whose husband, one
learned from her frequent reiteration of
tho fact, had onca occunlcd a dis
tinguished post In tho Merchant ScrUce
of his country. The disturbance following
upon the dlsappearanco of tho bracelet
wns evidently at Ita height. There were
nt leaBt a. dozen pooplo In tho room,
most of whom were standing up. Tho
central figure of them all was Mrs. FIU
geruld, largo and florid, whose yellow
hair with Its varied shades frankly ad
mitted Its indebtedness to peroxide; a
lady of the dashing type, who had once
made her mark ln tho music-halts, but
was now happily married to a com
mercial traveler who was seldom visible.
Mrs. Fitzgerald was talking.
"In respectable boardlntr-'nouses. Mrs.
Lawrence," sho declared with great e'm
phasls, "thefts sometimes take place, I
will admit, In the servants' quarters,
nnd with nil their temptations, poor
things, it's not so much to be wondered
at. But no such thing as this has ever
happened to me before to have JOwelry
taken almost from my person ln the
drawing-room of what should be n woll
conductcd establishment. Not a servant
In fne room, remember, from the mo
ment I took It oft until I got up from
tho piano and found It missing. It's your
guests you'vo got to look after, Mrs.
Lawrence, sorry to say It though I am."
Mrs. Lawrence managed here, through
sheer loss of breath on tho part ot her
assailant, to Interpose a tearful protest.
"I am quite Bure," she protested feebly,
"that there Is not a person In this house
who would dream of stealing anything,
however valuablo It was. I am most
particular always about references."
"Valuable, indeed!" Mrs. Fltsgerald
continued with Increased volubility. "I'd
Yiavo you understand that I am not one
of those who wear trumpery Jewelry.
Thirty-five guineas that bracelet cost me
If It cost a penny, and if my husband
were only at home I could Show you
the receipt."
Then there enme an Interruption of al
most tragical Interest. Mrs, Fitzgerald,
her mouth still open, her stream of elo
quence suddenly arrested, Btood with her
artificially darkened eyes riveted upqn
the stolid, self-composed figure In tho
doorway. Every one olse was gazing In
the same direction. Tavernake was hold
ing fne bracelet In the palm of his hand.
"Thirty-five guineas!" ha repeated. "If
I had known that it was worth as much
as that. I do not think that I should
have dared to touch it."
"You you took Itl" Mrs. Fitzgerald
gasped.
"I am afraid," he admitted, "that it
was rather n clumsy Joke. I apologize,
Mrs. Fitzgerald. I hope you did not real
ly Imagine that It had oeen stolen."
One was conscious of the little t'nrlll
of emotion which marked the termination
ot the episode. Most ot the people not
directly concerned were disappointed;
they were being robbed of their excite
ment, their hones of a tragical denoue
ment were frustrated. Mrs. Lawrence's
worn face plainly showed her relief. The
lady with tho yellow hair, or? the other
hand. Wno had now succeeded in work
ing herself up Into a towering rage,
snatched the bracelet from the young
man's Angers and with a purple flush In
her cheeks was obviously struggling with
an Intense desire to box his ears,
"That's not good onough for a tale!"
she exclaimed harshly, "I tell you I
don't believe a word of Jt. Took it for
a Joke, Indeedl t only wish my husband
were here; he'd know what to do."
"Your husband couldn't do much more
than get your bracelot back, ma'am."
Mrs. Lawrence replied with acerbity,
"Such a fuss and calling every ono
thieves, fool I'd be ashamed to be so
auspicious," ,
Mrs. Fitzgerald glared haughtily at her
hostess,
"It's all very well for thoea that don't
possess any jewelry and don't know tho
value ot It, to talk," she declared, with
her eyes fixed upon, a black jet ornament
whICn hung from the otjier waWn'a
neck, "What I say Is this, and you may
just aa well hear It from me now
as later. I don't believe this cock-and-bull
story of Mr, Tavernaka's. Them as
took my bracelet from that table meant
keeping Mi only they hadn't tho courage.
And I'm not referring- to you, Mr. Tav
ernake." tho lady continued vigorously,
"because I don't believe you took it, for
all your talk about a Joke, And whom
you may be shielding it wouldn't take
me two guesses to name, and your mo
Uvo must bo clear to every ono. The
common hussy!"
"You aro exciting yourself unneces
sarily. Mrs. Fitzgerald," Tavornako re
marked. "Let me assure you that It
was I who took your bracelet from that
table."
Mrs. Fitzgerald regarded Wm scornfully-
"Po you expert me to believe a tale
Ilka that?" she demanded,
"Why not?'' Tavernake replied. "It Is
the truth I am sorry that you have
been so upset"
"It la not the truthl"
Moro sensatloal Anatiier unexpected
Oh LOVE, MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE
By E. PHILLIPS .OPPENHEIM
RNAKE :
vsw' ff wsf.s rA ' "iu wwriu
"SO YOU THINK I AH1 AN ADVENTURESS." SHE MURMURED
of their tragedy. An old Indy with yel
low cheeks and Jot black eyes learned
forward with 'ner hand to her car, anxi
ous not to inlss n syllable of whut was
coming. Tavemnko bit his lip; It was the
girl from the roof who had entered the
room.
"I have no doubt," she continued in a
cool, clear tone, "That Mrs. Fitzgerald's
first guess would havo been correct. I
took the bracelet. I did not tako It for
a Joke, I did not tako it because I ad
mire It I think it is hideously ugly. I
took It because I had no money."
She paused and looked around nt them
all, quietly, yet wlfn something In her
face from which they all shrank. She
stood where the light fell full upon her
shabby block gown and dejected-looking
hat. Tho hallows In her pale cheeks, and
the faint rims under her eyes, were
clearly manifest; but notwithstanding 'ner
fragilo appearance, she held herself with
composure and even dignity. Twenty
thirty seconds must have passed whilst
she stood there, slowly finishing the but
toning of her gloves. No one attempted
to break the silence. Bhe dominated them
all they felt that bTio had something
more to say. Even Mrs. Fitzgerald felt
a weight upon her tongue.
"It was a clumsy attempt," she went
on. "I should have had rio Idea where
to raise money upon the thing, but I
apologize to you, nevertheless, Mrs. Fitz
gerald, for the anxiety which my re
moval of your valuable property must
have caused you," she added, turning to
tho owner of the bracelet, wfoose cheeks
were once more hot with anger at the
contempt in the girl's tone. "I supposo
I ought to thank you, Mr. Tavernake,
also, for your well-meant effort to pre
serve my character, In future, that
shall bo my sole charge. Has any one
anything more to say to nie before I
go?"
Somehow or other, no one had, Mrs.
Fitzgerald Was irritated and fuming, but
she contented herself with a snort. Her
speecTt was ready enough as a rule, but
there was a look In this girl's eyes from
which she -was glad enough to turn
away. Mrs. Lawrence made a weak at
tempt at a farewell,
"I am ouro." she began, "we are all
sorry for what's ocourred and that she
must go-not that perhaps it Isn't bet
ter, under tho circumstances," she added
hastily. "Aa regards-"
"There Is nothing owing to you," the
girl Interrupted calmly. 'Ypu may con
gratulate yourself upon, that, for It fnere
were you would not get It. Nor havo I
stolen anything else,"
"About your luggage?" Mrs. Lawrence
ftfilCfid
"When I need It, I will send for It,"
the girl replied.
Sho turned, her back upon them and
betoro they realized It sho was gone,
Bhe had, Indeed, something of the grand
manner. She. had come to plead guilty
to a theft and she had left them all feel
ing a llttlo Uk snubbed children. Mrs.
Fitzgerald, as oon as the spell ot the
girl's) preaence waa removed, was one
of the first to recover herself. Bhe felt
hernolf beginning to grow hot wilh re-
cewea inauinaiion.
sntransoP Qneo. wjo, Interest in ym M "A thief!" ah exclaimed Jookls aroona
fahf fU revived jiftw eW th looker-' U room. "Just n oWIaary e!f-eo
orf fh tbt tby were BOt to po jrobbod "rioUS tMeli That's what I call haiiad
not'nlng else. And hero wr nil stood like
a lot of nlnnlcs. Why, If I'd done my
duty I'd linvo locked tho door and sent
for a policeman:"
"Too lato now, anyway," Mrs. Law
rence declared. "She's gono for good,
and no mistake Walked right out of the
house. I heard her slam the front door."
"And a good Job, too," Mrs. Fitzgerald
affirmed. "Wo don't want nny ot her
sort horc pot those who've got things of
value about them. I bet she didn't leave
America for nothing."
A llttlo gray-haired lady, wfto had not
as yet spoken, and who very seldom took
part in any discussion at all, looked up
from her knitting. She waa desperately
poor but she had charitable Instincts.
"I wonder what made her want to
steal," sho remarked quietly.
"A born thief," Mrs. Fitzgerald de
clared with conviction, "a real bad. lot,
One of your sly-looking ones, I call her."
The little lady sighed.
"When I was better off," she continued,
"I used to help at a soup kitchen In
Poplar, I 'nave never forgotten a cer
tain look we used to see occasionally In
the tapes of somo of the men and women.
I found out what It meant It was
hunger, Once or twice lately I have
passed the girl who has Just gone out,
upon the stairs, and she almost fright
ened me. She had Just the samo look
in her eyes. I noticed yesterday It was
Just before dinner, too but she never
came down."
"She paid so much for her room and
extra for meals." Mrs. Lawrence said
thoughtfully. "Sho never would have a
meal unless she paid for It at the time,
To tell you tho truth, I was feeling a bit
uneasy about her. Sho hasn't been In
the dining-room for two days, and from
what they tell me there's no signs of net
having eaten anything In her room. As
for getting1 anything out, why should
she? It vrpuld be cheaper for her here
than anywhere, It (he'd got any money t
all."
There was an uncomfortably silence.
Tho little old lady with the knitting
looked down the street Into the sultry
darkness which had swallowed up the
girl.
"I wonder whether Mr, Tavernake
knows anything about tier," some one
suggested.
But Tavernake was .not In the room.
CHAPTER II.
A TETE-A-TI5TE 8UPPEH.
Tavernake caught her up In New Oxford
Street and fell at onco Into atep with her
Ho wasted no time whatever upon pre
liminaries "I should be glad," he said, "If you
would tell roe your name."
Her first glance at him was fierce
enough to havo terrified a different sort
ot man. Upon Tavernake it bad abso
lutely no effect.
"You ned pot unless you like, of
course," ho went on, "but I wish to talk
to you for a few moments and I thought
that It would be more convenient It I
addressed you by name. I do not re
tneraber to havo tieard it mentioned at
J3lwintlm House, and Mrs. Lwrn&a, as
you kcow, does notlntroduee her guests."
By this time tbsjt '4 walked a score
or $o pf oaew together, a?h firl, after
her first furious glance, had taken abso
lutely no notice nt him except to quicken
her puce n llttlo. Tavernake remained
by her side, however, shoeing not the
slightest senso of embarrassment or an
noyance. He seemed perfectly content
to wait and ho had not In Vita lenst the
appearanco of a man who could bo easily
shnkon off From a fit of furious anger
sho passed suddenly und without warning
to a state of half hysterical amusement.
"You aro a foolish, absurd person," she
declared, "Please go away, I do not
wish you to walk with me."
Tavernake remained Imperturbable. She
remembered suddenly his Intervention on
her behalf.
"If you Insist upon knowing," she said,
"my nnme at Blenheim House was
Beatrice Hurnay. I am much obliged to
you for What you did for me there, but
that is finished. I do not wish to have
any conversation with ou, and I abso
lutely object to your company. I'lcuee
leave me at once."
"I am sorry," he answered, "but that
Is not possible."
"Not possible?" she repeated, wonder
Ingly. lib shook his head,
"You havo no money, jou havo eaten
no dinner, and I do not believe that vou
have any Idea where you are going,' he
declared, deliberately.
Her face was onca more dark with
anger.
"Even If that were t'ne truth," she In
sisted, "tell me what concern it Is of
yours? Your reminding ma of these facts
Is simply nn impertinence."
"I am sorry that you look upon It In
that light," he remarked, still without tho
least sign of discomposure. "We will, it
you do not mind, waive tho discussion for
the moment, Do jou prefer a small res
taurant or a corner In a big one? There
Is musio at Frascatl's but there are not
ad many people In the smaller ones."
Bhe turned half around upon the pave
ment and looked at him steadfastly, Hs
personality was at last beginning to in
terest her. His square Jaw and meas
ured speeCn were indices of a character
at least unusual. She recognized certain
invincible qualities under an exterior ab
solutely commonplace.
"Are you as persistent about every
thing In life?" she asked him.
"Why not?" he replied. "I try always
to be consistent,"
"What Is your name?"
'Leonard Tavernake," he answered,
promptly.
Aie ou well oft I mean moderately
wen off?'
"I hate quite a sufficient Income."
"Have you any one dependent upon
you?"
"Not a soul," he declared. 'I am my
own master In every sense of the word."
She laughed ln an odd sort ot way.
Then you shall pay for your persist
ence," she said "I mean that I may as
well rob you of a sovereign as the res
taurant people."
"You must tell me now where you
would like to go to." tie InsUUd. "Jt !
getting late."
"I do not like these foreign plci,"
she replied "I should prefer to go to
the grill-room of a gud restaurant."
"We will tk a taxlsU" he an
souncod. "You havo no objection?"
Sho shrusged her shoulders.
"It ion have the monoy nnd don't
mind spending It," she said, "I will ad
mit that I havo had alt the walking I
want. Ilesldes, tho toe of my boot la
worn tlirougVi and I find It painful, Yes
terday I tramped ten miles trying to find
a man who wns getting Ub n concert
party for the provinces,"
, "And did you find him?" he asked, halt
ing n cab.
"Yfs, I found him," she nnawered, In
differently. "We went through the usual
programme, lie heard mc sin, tried to
kiss me nnd promised to let me know.
Nobody ever refutes anj thing In my pro
fession, you see. They promise to let
Jou know."
"Ate you ft slnscr, then, nr an actress?"
"I nm neither," she told him. "I said
'my profession' because It Is the only
one to w'nleh I have over tried to be
long. I havo never succeeded In obtain
ing nn engagement In this country, t
do not suppose that oven If I had per
severed I should over have had ono."
"You havo given up tho Idea, then,"
he i emnrked.
"I have given It up," she admitted, n
little curtly. 'Tlease do not think, be
cause 1 am allowing you to be my com
pnnlon for a short time, that you may
sk me questions. How fast these tables
gn!"
They drew up at their destlnatlon-a
well-knnun restaurant In Tteitent Street.
He paid t'ne cabman nnd thev descended
a flight of stairs into the grill. room.
"I hope that this place will suit ou,"
he Sdld. "I have not much oxporlenco
of tcstnurants."
Pile looked around and nodded.
"Yes," she replied, "I think that It
will do."
Sho wns very shabbily dressed, and he,
although his appearance was by no
menus ordinary, was certainly not ot the
type ttlilch Inspires Immediate respect
In oven tho grill-room of a fashionable
restaurant. Nevertheless, they received
prompt and utmost ofnetous service. Tav
ernake, as ho watched his companion's
air, her manner of Beating herself and
ncceptlng tho attentions of tho head
waiter, felt that nameless impulse which
wns responsible for his having followed
her from Blenheim House nnd Which he
could only call curiosity, becoming
stronger. An exceedingly matter-of-fact
person, lie wns also by Instinct and hublt
observant. He never doubted but that
she belonged to a class of society fiom
which the guests at the boarding-house
whore they had both lived were seldom
recruited, and of which ho himself knew
little. He was not In file least a snob,
this young man. but he found the fuel
Interesting. Life with him was already
cry much the same ns a ledger account
a mutter of debits nnd credits, and he
had never failed to Include among the
latter that curious gift of breeding for
which he himself, denied It by heritage,
had somehow substituted a completo nnd
exceedingly rnro naturalness.
"I should like," ifiie announced, laying
down the enrto, "a fried "iolc, some cut
lets, an Ice, nnd black coffee."
The wnlter bowod.
"And for Monsieur?"
Tavcrnnko glanced nt his natch; It was
already ten o'clock.
"I will tako the same," he declared.
"And to drink"
Sho seemed Indifferent.
"Any white wine." she answered, care
lessly, "white or red."
Tnvernnko ' took up the wine" llsr-nnd
ordered sautcrne. They were left alone
In their corner for a few minutes, almost
the only occupants of the place.
"You are suro that you can nfford
this?" sho asked, looking lit 5ilm critical
lv. "It may cost you a soveiclgn or
thirty shillings."
He studied tho prices on the menu,
"I can afford It quite well and I have
plenty of money with me," he assured
her, "but I do not think that It will
cost more than eighteen shillings. While
we aro waiting for the sole, shall we
tnlk? I can tell you, If you choose to
hear, why I followed jou from the board-Ing-house."
"I don't mind listening to you," she
told him, "or I will tnlk with you about
anything you like. There Is only ono
subject which I cannot discuss; that sub
ject Is myself nnd my own dolnns."
Tavernake was silent for a moment.
"That mnkoa conversation n bit dif
ficult." he remarked.
She leaned back In her chair.
"Alter tnis evening," sho said, "I go
out of jour life ns completely and finally
as though I had not or exlBted, I 'nave a
fancy to take my poor secrets with mc.
If you wish to talk, tell me about your
self. You have gone out of your way
o bo kind to me. I wonder why. It
doesn't seem to be j"our role,"
He smiled slowly. His face was fash
ioned upon broad lines nnd the relaxing
o; his lips lightened It wonderfully.' He
had good teeth, clear gray eyes, and
coarse black hair which he wore a trlflo
long; his forehead was too massive for
good looks.
"No," lie ndmltted, "I do not think that
benevolence Is one of my characteristics,"
llnr dark ej'es wero turned full upon
him; her red lips, redder than ever they
aremru HHainii uia pitnor oi ner cneeKS
and her deep brown hair, curled slightly.
There was something almost Insolent in
her tone.
"You understand, I hope," she con
tinued," that j'ou have nothing wVintevor
to look for from me In return for this
sum which you propose to expend for my
entertainment?"
"1 understand that," he replied,
"Not even giatitude," she persisted, "I
really do not feel grateful to you. You
are probably doing this to gratify some
selfish Interest or curiosity. I warn you
(hat I am quite Incapable ot any ot the
proper sentiments of life."
"Your gratitude would be of no value
to me .whatever," he assured her.
Bie was stilt not wholly satisfied, Hln
complete stolidity frustrated every effort
she made to penetrate beneath the sur
face. "If I believed," she went on. "that you
were one of those men the world Is full
Of them, you know who will help a
woman with a reasonable appearance so
long as It does not seriously Intcrfero
with their own comfort"
.our sex has nothing whatever to do
with It," he Interrupted, "As to J'our
appearance, J have not even considered
It, I could not tell you whether you are
beautiful or ugly t am no Judge of tneae
matters. What I havo done, I have done
because It pleased me to do It,"
"Do you always do what pleases you?"
she asked.
"Nearly always."
She looked him over again attentively,
with an Interest obviously Impersonal, a
trifle supercilious,
"I supposs," she remarked, "you con
sider yourself one of the strong people
of the world?" .
"I do not know about that." he an
swered. "I do not often 'think about
myself." ,
"I mean," .she explained; "that you are
one of those people who struggle hard to
get juat What they want In life."
His Jaw suddenly tightened and th saw,
tho likeness to Napoleon.
"I do more than struggle," he affirmed.
"I succeed. It I make up my mind to
do a thing, I do it. If I make up m.y mind
to get a thing I get It- It means hard
work eorpetimts, but that la all."
For the first time, a really natural In
terest shone out of hr ys. Tk half
sulky contempt with whh she had re
ceived his advances pasted away. She
beeara at that moment . UutnH being
cif-for-ettlng, tt heritage gt her
charms tor sho restly had a curious but
vry poignant nUrnctlveness suddinlV
evident. It waa only . momentary lapsa
and It -was entirely wasted. Not evert
one of the waiters happened to be look
ing tliat wny, and Tavernake was think
ing wholly of himself,
"It Is a good deal to eaj that," she
remarked, refleettvely.
"It Is n. good deal but It Is not to
much," ho declared. "Every man who
take life seriously should say It."
Then alio laufthed-acttihlly laughed
and ho had h vision of flashing whltfc
teeth, ot a mouth breaking Into Trieastint
curves, of dark mirth-lit ej-r. lustreleas
no longer, provocative, Inspiring.
Vague Impression ns of somciYiIng pleas
ant warmed his blood. It was a rars
thing for him to be so stirred, but even
then It was not sufficient to disturb the
locus ot his thoughts.
"Tell m," she demanded, "what do
Vou do? What Is your profession or
work?"
"1 am with a firm of auctioneers and
estate agents," ho ansnered readily, -"Messrs.
Dowllng, Speilce A Company
the name Is, Oue offices Are In Water-,
loo Place."
"You find It Interesting?"
"Of course," hi answered. "Interest
ing? Why not? I work at it."
"Are you n partner?"
'No," he admitted. "Six years ago I
was n carpenter: then I beeatno an errand
boy In Mr. Dowllng's offiee I had lo learn
flie business, jou see. Today t am a
sort of manager. In eighteen months'
tlme-perhnps before that It they do not
offer mo a partnership I shall start for
myself.
Ones more the subtlest ot smiles flick
ered nt the corners of her lips,
"Do they know yet?' she asked, with
faint Irony.
"Not jet," ho replied, with absolute)
seriousness. "They might tell me tb go,
and I have a few tilings to learn ytt, I
would rather make experiments for some
one elso than for myself, I can use the
results later, they will help me to make
mcme"
She laughed softly nnd wiped tho tears
out of her eyes. They were really very
beautiful eyes notwithstanding tho dark
rims encircling them.
"If only I had met you before!" 'She
murmured,
"Why?" he asked.
"Don't ask me," she begged. "It would
not be good ror jour conceit, if you have
any, to tell jou,"
"I have no conceit and I am not In
quisitive," he said, "but I do not see
why you laughed."
This period of waiting enme to an end
at this point. The fish wns brought and
their conversation became disjointed, ln
tho sllenro which followed, the Old
shadow crept over her face. Once only
It lifted. It was while, t'ney were wait
ing for tho cutlets. Sho leaned towards
him, her elbows upon the tablecloth, her
face supported by her lingers.
"I think thut It Is time we left theso
generalities," she Insisted, "nnd you told
me something rather moro personal,
something which I am very anxious to
know. Tell nie exactly Wny so self-Centered
n person as yourself should Inter
est hlnifv' ln a fellow-creature at (ill.
It seems odd to me."
"It Is odd," ho admitted, frahkly. "I
will try to explain It to you but It will
sound very bald, nnd I do not think that
you will understand. I watched J'ou a
few nights ago out on the roof at Blen
heim House. You were looking acrors the
house-tops and you didn't seem to bo
seeing anything at nil really, und yet all
the time I knew that jou wero seeing
things I couldn't, you were understand
ing and npptocintlng something Which T
knew not'nlii? of, nnd It woirlcd inc. t
tried to tnlk to you that evening, but
you weie rude,"
"You really are a curious person," she
remarked. "Are you always worried,
then. If you find that some one elso is
seeing things or understanding things
which nre outsldo your comprehension?"
"Alwnj-s," ho replied promptly,
"You are too fnr-renchlng," she af
firmed. "You want to gather everything
Into jour llfo. You ennnot. You villi
only bo unhappy If you try. No man
cun do It. You must learn your limita
tions or suffer all your days."
"Limitations!" lie repeated the words
with mensurelcss scorn, "If I learn
them at all," "no declared, with Unex
pected force, "It will bo with scars and
bruises, for nothing else will content
me."
"We are, I should say, almost the same
age," sho remarked slowly.
"t am tvieiity-flve." hr told her.
"I nm twontj'-two." she enld. "It seems
strange tlmt two people whose Ideas of
llfo nre ns far apart ns the Poles should
have come together like this even for a
moment. I do not understand tt nt all.
Did you expect that I should tell you
Just what I saw in the clouds that
nlsht?"
"No," he answered, "not exactly. I
have spoken of my first Interest In you
only, There are other things. I told a
He about the bracelet and I followed
vou out ot the boarding-house and I
brought you here, for some other for
quite n different resson."
"Tell me What It wns," she demanded.
"I do not know It myself," he declared
solemnly. "I really and honestly do not
know It. tt Is because I hopod that It
might come to nie while we wero to
gether, thnt 1 am here with you at this
moment. I do not like Impulses which
1 do not understand."
She laughed at him a tittle scornfully.
"After all." she said, "althoug'n It may
not have dawned upon you yet. It la
probably the same wretched reason. You
are a man nnd you have the poison
somewhere In your blood. I am not real
ly bad-looking, you know."
He looked at her critically. She was a
little over-slim, perhaps, but she wa cer
tainly wpnderfully graceful, Uven the
poise of hor head, the manner In which
sne leaned back In her chair, had Its In
dividuality. Iter features, too, were good,
though her month hud grown n. trine
hard. For the first time the dead pallor
Of I er cheeks was relieved by a touch ot
color. Kven Tavernako realized that there
were great possibilities About her. Never
theless, he shook his head,
"I dq not agreo with you In the least,"
he asserted firmly. "Your looks have
nothing' td do with It. I am sure that
It Is not that."
"Let me 'cross-examine you." she sug
gested. 'Think carefully now. Does It
give you no pleasure at all to be sitting
here alone with me?"
He answered her deliberately; U was ,
obvious that lie was speaking the truth
"I am not conscious that It does," he
declared. "The ontjC feallng I am aware
qf at the present moment In eonnectlon
with you, Is the curiosity of which I
have already spoken."
She leaned a little towards him, extend
ing her very shapely (Insert. Once moro
the smlla at her lips transformed hor
face.
"Look at my hand." sue said. "Tell
me would't jou like to hold lUJust for
a minute. If I gave It J'ou?"
Her eyes ehallenged his, softtr and yet
Imperiously. His whole attention, how
ever, seemed to fa absorbed by hM'
rtnger-nalla. Jt seemed strange to him
that a gtrl In ber straits should havo de
vpted so raueh care to her lundt,
Wo," be answered deUoeratel, "I
have no wish to uold sour bund. Wny
should IT"
"Look at me," she uislstrd.
He did no without mbarraseeaw or
Imitation. -it was moie ti ever
parent thst he waa entirety trwUtful Me
leaned back in her chair, tavtthir softly
to herself- ';
Continued la U&aday'e XrSf
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