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EVENING LEDGES-PHILADELPHIA. SATURDAY, APRIL 3. 1915.
ni'i 1 1. -.
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6.
A TALE OF RED
Copyright, 10H, the Eobbc-Merrlt Co.
The Dawning of a Tender
Passion
CHAPTER I.
A coat wagon, naturally choosing the
tush hour for tho performance, broks
doWn In front of nn extrn-cfowded car,
and traffic wns promptly knotted for
three blocks, A shining big nutomoblte,
following up the hill, catnc so close be
hind that the glaro of tho street car
chono with unpleasant brightness on tho
occupants, a. smiling, red-chcoked girl
at the wheel; by her side, a gray-Van-dyked
man, with sinister lines running
sharply downward from his down
pointed nose; In the tonneau, n. plainly
dressed and modestly pretty black
hatred gill, 'with large and rather timid
eyes, nnd a slender, golden-haired elrl,
whoso chief mission In life, from her'
expression, would havo beontaken to bo
mischievous fun.
"Hollo, Bert!" called tho girl at tho
wheel. "Can you uncrush yourself?"
Tho rather largo youne man In tho
neatly fitting blue suit, who had been
Jammed against tho rail of tho rear plat
form, had already begun to worm his
way outof tho Ill-humored throng on
the streetcar.
"I'll trj It," ho laughed, "although I
don't expect to have a button left."
Tho crowd, Its clothing stilt clammy
from tho recent rain, mado way for him
reluctantly, oven though It needed tho
space ho occupied; for the pompouB
looking Vandykcd man In tho car was
Frank Hurley, by nil odds tho most un
popular man In tho city. Ho was the
president of tho street car company.
Tho young man In tho neat bluo suit,
whoso cheeks wcro flawlessly pink, and
whoso luxuriant black mustache was
curled lit two amazingly perfect ringlets,
picked his way through tho slush, gain
ed tho running board of the touring car
and doted his hat tho occupants.
"Bert, this Js the? treat I promised
you," said the girl at tho wheel, glanc
ing back with a flash of her sparkling
brown eyes and her sparkling white
teeth.
"Miss Fern Burbank," ho guessed,
clasping tho blond visitor's hand, and
at tho same tlmo ho gave his left hand
condescs." dlngly to llttlo Jesslo Teters.
"Welcomo to our muddy city."
"Thank you," smiled the golden-haired
young lady. "Of course, this Is Hand
somo Bert Glider."
"Molly's been telling on me," he lightly
answered, as he took the folding seat Just
behind Mr. Mailey, sitting sldewlse so
that ho could address tho two girls In the
tonneau and still enjoy tho clean-cut pro
fllo of Ethelyn Mnrley, known to her In
timates ns Molly, for no better reason
than that It was a handler name.
Tho lights In tho car ahead suddenly
went out and a groan arose from tho mis
erable passengers on that suffocating ve
hicle. A roughly breathed man, who had
been resting his elbow In the wishbone
of gray-whiskered llttlo Henry Peters,
reached tho point of heroic defiance.
He cursed tho street car company and
demanded, "Why don't they put on more
cars?"
Little Hpnry Peters, who was so short
that his bat was always pushed over his
eyes In a crowd, straightened his derby
and replied as follows:
"If they did evcrybody'd want to take
tho first one. There are probably empty
cars behind this," nnd he glanced back
with secret pride at where his daughtei
Jesslo rode as a guest In the Mnrley car.
"You talk like a stockholder," he
charged, with a deliberate intention of
Insult.
"I am," admitted little Henry, with a
bright cxpiesslon. "It pays mo 7 per
cent."
The conductor crowded back through
A Little Plan for the Good of the City
CHAPTER II.
There arrived on the morning train, es
corted to the platform by a distinctly
worshipful porter, a tall big-boned gentle
man tn a light gray suit of line texture,
n plump cureless man, to whom ono
would Instinctively turn for a tediously
funny story, and a hard-Jawed man, of
a most forbidding expression, who looked
about as communicative as a cabbage
This gentleman loafed about the hotel
with his mouth shut, while the other two
"scouted." Promptly at It o'clock they
returned from their various directions,
and gathered In the room of tho smiling
tall one in the gray suit.
"Well, Timbers, Is it as cheerful as wo
thought?" asked the host, settling himself
In the most comfortable chair.
"Looks gay and merry to me, Bozzam."
replied Mr. Timbers, folding his hands
on his fat knee, and frowning Intently at
a little Blip of paper he held between his
thumb and forefinger. "Slcdgo Is, of
course, the whole works."
"What's the approach to Sledge?"
"Tom. Bendlx." returned Timbers
promptly, consulting Ida slip of paper.
"He sifts everything before It gets to
the Big Boy, and you don't need any
Introductions. The best plan Is to go
right to his office and give him the
tralght story."
"How about Marley?"
"A. fluff," returned Timbers, contemptu
ously, "Because he's the president of tha
t street car company he thinks he Invented
electricity, and his noodle Is swelled so
wiai it cracks his scalp."
KE lou'a better lead me to this Bendlx
'u. Buggesiea Hoxzam, rising, "come
s vii, juooason,"
Bfv Verv niitirr,olfnll.. ,1.. ..II
& , " -'.tvBiij uio aiicui man utuso
--..-. wvuiiiaiiicu uuani ironi ine room,
wth the air of being Just as willing to
oo that as anything else. Just as auto
rn&tlcallv h fnllrtivrl int it... m,.A
.J0 Bendlx Ave minutes later, and Btood
K I .' "' BO oppressive in bis inertia
wist he removed to himself all specula
"jou about any one whq was In his com
pany. The Boss Issues an
CHAPTER HI.
Yhen Tntll 13nrllv alL.,4 lt..n .! .".
Went Saloon he paused a moment at
uar. out even though his wishes were
Potent here as those of Omnipotence,
GO; he renres?itri thn nmnlnnr.nt
-Ke, he had to wait, for both the choice
"tenders Van In rlMliAit,..! attonrlnnrn
ft careless fat nmn
MVbos tho entertainment committee?"
g Mendlx a trifle sharply, when Phil
ili e over ,1,m' "" erlnnlnff
Mne utmost extent of his. countenance.
ihi stranger by the name of Tlm-
rejoined I'hll. vlcrorouslv momilnjr
n almost Imaginary splash "He's so
i of new ones that every time he ouens
; uth bo spliu a good laugh."
what his business"?" demanded Ben-
f. who was an earnest collector of def-
iniormatlon.
frying hot ones, u far as I can get
answered Phil, laughing reminiscent-
"Bay thU guy tells 'em so fast you
""neraoer 'n. Blondy Just asked
tO fton SO ha could -write 'm ttown
tipped in a funny knock or two about
c. mused Bendlx. "I suddoss you
Oim- tteotfei the car cowbsjj
A Smashing Story of
the solidly packed aisle and tho squirm
ing platform to Jerk hopefully at the trol
ley ropo, nnd llttlo Henry Peters, squoezed
between his opponent and the fat butcher
until bones could stand no more, popped
from between their peripherics like tho
Inside of a grape, landing In the solar
plexus of n tired Hibernian who had en
dured more than enough.
"Get out of my stomach, stockholder,"
he gruffly ordered, and pushed little Hen
ry's derby tightly down over his ears,
Just as another machlno drew out of the
fretting rearward line and stopping by
the ragged gutter, rested abreast of Mar-
ley's machine. The conductor having re
stored the lights, tho attention of tho un
comfortable passengers was now directed
to the newcomer, a heavy-jowled man of
middle ngc, who sat as stolidly lu his
runabout, by the side of his driver, as
if he jitul been nt home dining.
"It's Sledge," said tho man with the
flayed cigar. "He gets his llttlo old rake
oft, too, from Jamming 60 people Into a
0-paBsonger car. Whllo he's running tha
town this rotten old lino won't havo any
competition."
"Mr. Sledge Is a good customor of Tiitne,"
observed the fat butcher.
"Thero's one thing about Ben Sledge;
he always keep1? some big city Improve
ment going on," nnhounccd the Irishman
who had cMlngulshed llttlo Henry Peters.
Llttlo Henry pulled his derby vdlbly off
his head and tubbed the red circle It hud
left.
"Mr. Sledge Is the worklngman's friend,"
he declared,
"Aw, shut up!" ordered tho gaunt Celtic
laborer, and kicked his ankle, by way of
accidental emphasis.
It was strange that, while everybody
on the car kept tho name of Frank
Marley sacred to their hatred, tho namo
of Sledge, who was notorious throughout
tho United Btatcs for his utterly con
sclcncelces methods of public theft, was
received with equanimity.
Meanwhile, Sledge, turning to seo win
his neighbors might be, met the cyo of
Frank Marley? and nodded perfunctorily,
and then bent his entire attention on
Molly, gazing nt her In stolid concentra
tion, with no more change of expression
on his heavy features than If he had
been reading a timetable. Bert Glider
notlcod his rudeness, and tried. In a
mood of Intense aggravation, to catch
Sledge's eye, and rcprovo him with a
savage frown, but ho might as well have
tried to catch the cyo of an oyster.
Sledge, perfectly contented with the pleas
ing picture which sat before him. con
tinued to stare calmly until Molly, dis
cerning from Bert's countenance that
something was wrong, turned to meet the
small gray eyes of Sledge flxed thought
fully upon, her. She wheeled abruptly to
her father.
"Isn't that the scandalous Sledge?" she
asked, annoyed and still amused.
Her father nodded his head, and smiled,
his noeo becoming still more pointed in
the process.
"Well, Introduce him. I can make him
stop staring then," she ordered. "He
can't drive on."
"I say, Sledge." called Marley, leaning
forward "This Is my daughter, Molly."
Sledge tugged at his hat, and smiled his
acknowledgment of the introduction.
"Glad to meet you," he told Molly. "I
didn't know jou had ouch a flnc-looklng
girl, Marley. She's a corker," and -once
more he viewed Miss Molly with quiet
approbation. In which theie was a dawn
ing glimmer of quite un-Slcdge-llke en
thusiasm. "I think so myself," laughed Marley.
"First thing I know she'll be getting
married.
"Sure!" ngreed Sledge, contemplating
her earnestly In this new light. "I'd
marry her myself."
The street car ahead gave a forward
lurch, and the flamlngly indignant Molly
darted Into the opening.
"The ugly brute!" she gasped.
"I want to talk electrical transportation
wllh you." began Mr. Bozzam cheerily,
as he laid the cards of Mr. Moodson and
himself on the desk, "I am Charles W.
Bozzam, of New York, nnd this Is Mr.
Alvln Moodson. of Philadelphia."
Bendlx shook hands non-commlttally
with the lu'o gentlemen, and invited
them to have seats.
"I don't know that I caro to talk elec
trical transportation, but I'm willing to
listen," he smiled.
Bendlx was like any other prospeious
middle-aged man well fed, well clothed,
well shod, round faced, short-Topped
mustache turning slightly gray, and Mr.
Bozzam studied him with great Interest,
"There Isn't much to say," he stated.
"We think your city needs new and bet
ter street car facilities, and we are here
to give them to you, If you will let us.
Tho company I propose to form will be
bona fide, and will be Incorporated for
a million dollars In regular money. Mr.
Moodson will take a quarter of a mil
lion of the stock himself. It might be
some satisfaction to you to been re a, re
port on Mr. Moodson from Pun or Brad
street." Mr. Bendlx grinned,
"It sounds like a high-grade proposi
tion," he acknowledged. "I'll spcrk to
some friends of mine about it this noon,"
"Thank you," observed Mr. Bozzam,
rising. "Vou might state to your friends,
it you And It convenient, that we repre
sent the most competent organization,
possible for the handling of -a bon&-flde
street car proposition, Mr, Moodson Is
a capitalist of top-potch rating. Mr, Tim
bers can hand you enough references to
stuff a mattress, from people who still
have the same addresses. lie knows the
street car "business from trouble shooting
to clubbing a witness."
"And how about you?" asked Bendlx,
smiling.
"Just tell him you've seen me," sug
gested Bozzam softly.
"I will," agreed Bendlx-, and shook
hands most cordUlly.' I
Important Order
"No!" denied Phil, Indignantly. "He
tried It twice, but there was no come
back and he quit."
"fp . belongs to a, wise family," ap
proved Bendlx, with a smile. ''Let him
have anything he pays for, By the way,
Phil, if Schooner Kelly shuffles In here,
slip him. a five-spot, but tell him to drop
dead outside. Don't let him buy a drink,
and don't let him back to see the. chief."
Bendlx walked thpughtfully into the
little back room, the bareness of which,
kept to Its former crudenesg by the wish
of the, boss, yas In strange contrast to
the elaborately mirrored and mahogany
carved Occident. Here, at an extremely
plain round tab'e, he found, the huge and
Impassive 'Sledge gazing moodily out the
dusty window, while Fra,nk Marley, with
a half-emptied whisky glass In h(s hand.
sat regarding him with a puziled expres
sion. Marley turned with relief when lie
saw Bendlx
"I've Just been suggesting that we build
the proposed Itldgwoo4 avenue extension
out pf the company funds, rather than
mak a new Issue of stock," he explained,
n nrtriinrr slftrhtlv ta our bonded In.
deHedness we can do this, and keep the I
additional net earnings among tho present
stockholders," and he stroked his neatly
cropped gray Vandyke with tho almost
smirking complacency of a man who Is
sure he Is earning a reputation for su
perior Judgment.
Bendlx looked nt him a moment In
aggrieved wonder.
"I don't Mipposo you remember that we
first decided on the Itldgcwood avenue
extension for tho express purpose ot re
organization, new Issue of stock and read
justment of shares," 'ho chillingly ic
mlnded Marley.
"I know," persisted Marley, "But after
mature deliberation. It seems that to
make the extension from the company's
carningB Is the more legitimate business
method. I am not In favor of the modern
practice of watering stock. Tho earnings,
after all, aro not Increased by stock Jug
gling." Tho llttlo Becrctlvo waiter with the grln-
nlng black mustache, came to the door
and called Bendlx. Schooner Kelly was
outside, and tho only way to comfort him.
unless he saw Bendlx, was to kill him.
and Phil did not care to muss up t)io
place on Tuesdays.
Sledgo turned ponderously from his In
spection of tho dingy llttlo arcaway as
Bendlx left tho room.
"Your girl's a peach," ho delicately
hinted.
"Molly?" smiled Marlcy's nose. "She Is
a beauty. Isn't she? The boys are crnzy
about her. It looks like a college conven
tion out at my house all the time."
"You don't have to prove It," allowed
Sledge. "I'll bet she's busy. Whou you
want to see her ourself you have to
make a date." t
"It's almost like that," agiecd Marley,
stroking the beard which It had taken
him many jears to perfect.
"I want to get acquainted with her,"
ordered Sledge, much as If he had been
sending the happy word to soino rising
new politician.
A shade of annoyance passed over Mnr
ley's brow.
"That Is a matter which Is cntliely up
to Molly," he stated, with a trace of stiff
ness. V'A1I right. Put It up to Molly," said
Sledge, and looked out of the window
again.
Marley hesitated and half arose. He
knew that his call was over, and yet he
had something else on his mind.
"By tho way, Sledge," he observed, try
ing to speak as If the matter had Just
occurred to him. "That note of mine
at the First National-It falls due next
week. I am afraid I shall have to have
an extension."
Sledge nodded Imperceptibly.
"Tell Davis I said It was all right," ho
directed.
Bendlx returned, and with him was
Bert Glider, redolent of the odor of bar
ber shop, and with his curly black
mustache waxed and brilllantlned until It
was filled with nlmost painful reflection
He greeted Mr. Marley with much more
effusiveness than that gentleman did him
"Hello, Marley," he said, grasping the
street-car magnate's hand with tremen
dous man-to-man heartiness. "You're
Just th'e one I want to sec. I've been
trying to get Molly on the phone, and
they tell me she'll be In at your ofllce
some time this afternoon. Will ou carry
her the happy news that Dicky Reynolds
Is In town, and that T Invited him to
her taffy pulling tomorrow night? Tell
her tq Invite Jessie Peters."
Sledgo turned slow 'questioning eyes on
Marley.
"You going to be hone tonight?" he
inquired,
"Well, yes, I rather think so," faltered
Marley.
"I'm coming out to see ou," decided
Sledge.
"I'll be glad to have you." admitted
Marley. "i suppose I may see Davis to
morrow?-
Sledge nodded assent, looking stonily
out. meanwhile., at the hand-hole In the
high board gate at the end of the area
way. "Well, Glider, tell us about It." Invited
Bendlx, as Marley went out,
"I want you; to tell me," laughed Glider,
in happy unconsciousness that be was a
deadly offense to Sledge, who called him
''pretty"; "Is the rtldgewood avenue ex
tension a sure go?"
"Why do you .want to know?"' Inquired
Bendlx. -
"I have a little speculation In mind
which depends prf It." confessed Glider,
"Subdivision at the end. of the line,
I suppose," guessed Bendlx,
"Well, yes," acknowledged Glider-
"Foxy of you to think of It." applauded
Bendlx. "Your only fault Is that you
don't guess those things first. Who do
you suppose would'acqulre a deed to1 that
land before the extension was publicly
announced?"
I know the answer." returned Gilder,
crestfallen, but still handsome. "You
fellows."
"Certainly not,"' .denied Bendlx "Byt
some friend. st the family yes, may be.
How rauch'wlll you give lor the land?"
"I'm not at liberty to state." replied
Glider uncomfortably. "The owner made
me a price on It this morning, but It was
confidential."
"The owner didn't know he was
tagged." retorted Bendlx dryly. "You
may have the land. I think, for M.0.
Love and Politics : t0jfQt!tSer
Gllfler, but you'll have to speak quick."
"Twenty thousnnd!" gasped Gilder.
"Why, old Porson offered It to mo for
eight"
"That's what wo Intend to pay him."
"Give mo a day or two to think It over,"
begged Glider.
"All right; vou'ro on," ngreed Bendlx.
nnd hurried out of the room
Bert was nbout to follow him when
Sledge called.
"Glider," was his peremptory sum
mons, "what kind of flowers docs Molly
Marley like?"
Bert Glider almost stuck tho ash end of
his cigar In his mouth, thon suddenly up
braided himself for a fool, as ho men
tally complimented Slcdgo on deserving
his reputation of bolng the most nstuto
politician In tho State.
"Bed roses," ho promptly returned, nnd
twirled tho right-hand curl of his
mustache. He stopped that pioccss
i
V , - ..
ENTER MR.' SLEDGE
abruptly, nnd felt of tho curl with deep
concern. Om of tho halls was disar
ranged, nnd he fled It with the old or
a vest-pocket mirror.
"Thanks!" said Sledge, and icsumcd his
Interested Inspection of the hand-hole
in the gate.
Gilder was gone when Bendlx returned,
and Sledge, with n half-smile nt tho
corners of his big lips, sat In tho same
lmmovablo pose, except that his huge left
hand now tested on tho handle of a big
sk'in.
'T Just telephoned Porson to hold that
land for us nt eight thousand, until I give
him woid that he can put It on tho
market," observed Bendlx. "Wo ought to
Molly Invites an
C II A P T
"Where aro tho red roses. Molly?"
asked Bert Glider, ns he walked Into the
reception parlor of M.irlpj's pretentious
big house that night.
"I don't know," icpllcd Molly, much
concerned. "Did you send some?"
"No, but I thought some wcro to bu
sent to you," laughed Bert. "It's too good
to keep. Fern. Hy the way, that 'Fern'
Just slipped, and vou'll have to pardon
me for It. It's Molly's fault. She never
called you anything ele."
"Who s It?" demanded Mollj more
eager to hear tho news than ho liked to
see. "Tho information Is highly Impor
tant, If true, and I must not be kept in
suspense."
"Hold on to something, then." he
warned her. "One, two, three Sledge!"
"Sledge!" sho repeated. 'What? That
great big " She paused for lack ur
words, nnd her face flamed suddenly,
scarlet with Indignation.
"Sledge," he Joyously Insisted; and then,
to the puzzled Fern: "You remember tho
big fellow whose car stopped Just abreast
us last night."
Mr. Glider, who, as a boy, had been an
expert lu pulling the wings from fllej,
went straight on with the slaughter, seiz
ing Immediately the glorious opportunity
which presented Itself when Mr. Marley,
brave In smoking Jacket and pumps,
sauntered Into the parlor.
"Great news, Marley!" hailed Bert,
beaming with delight upon the Joyous
laughter of Fern, "Molly has captured
a new honor for the far-lly. Whose do
you suppose Is the latest scalp at her
belt?"
"It might be almost Anybody," returned
Marley. who felt that his motherless
daughter's popularity reflected somehow
on himself. "Who is the particular vic
tim you have tn mind?" and he laughed
In advance,
"Sledge!" exploded Bert. "By tho way,
Marley, he gave you a hint of It, too.
Didn't ho ask you today, while I was
there, for an Invitation to Molly'a party
tomorrow night, or something like that?"
"Well, not exactly, but he did throw
out some pretty strong hints," acknowl
edged Marley with a grin, entering Into
the Joyous spirit of the occasion, "He
asked permission to call on Molly, I told
him that was up to her,"
"How unusually considerate." nhm-rvea
Molly, biting her lips to suooresa the ris
ing fury which had driven the blushes
from her cheeks, and left them almost
waxen.
The Marley butler, a thin-faced and
- Molly Rearranges a Morning Program
CHAPTER V.
Molly Marley flurried positively past the
foyr successive guardians who barred
from the common mortals the way to
her father's ofllce. and drummed impa
tiently ot) the window-pane while he rid
Himself ot a dlgf Ifled supply man.
"Really, my dear." expostulated Marley,
ivhen his visitor had gone, "I do wish
you would find out It I have callers be
fore you come In "
"X simply couldn't this time, daddy,"
she Insisted, busy w 1th her own perfectly
logical grievance of hiving been kept
waiting "I was in a hurry. 'ou. have
to come right out with me and get
Smash. He slipped his collar last night
and they have him in the pound, with
no tellies what kind of doff' '
VffiiifiHlIwi I
clean up homo pocket change out or that,
no matter whether we put through tho
street car reorganization or not."
"I thought that waiilclnchcd," grunted
Sledge. "What's in tire way?"
"Tlicie's u. new twist to It," explained
Bendiv. "A high-class clean-up crowd
dropped In today, and they want to run
thiough n franchise game. I think well
of them."
Sledge looked out of the window for
long moments of thick silence, and then
he expressed his thoughts on the plot In
hand in this fashion:
"Sav, BeudK, send a load of roses out
to Molly Marley for her party tomorrow
night. The reddest ones they've got."
Additional Guest
E R IV,
thin-legged voung man. with a painfully
intellectual countenance, .stalked past the
hallway portieres In answer to a below
malrs ring, and returned from the front
door, with
"Mr. Sledge, blr, to see Mr. Marley."
"Show him Into the llbrnrj." has"l
directed Mnrley, suddenly contrite, hnd
feeling a sinking horror, ns did all tho
others In the room, of having this man
face to face with Molly, especially after
the crimes against her of which they had
themselves been guilty.
The Instructions were too late, however.
"Good evening," rumbled the deep voice
ot Sledge, who Just then appeared directly
lu tho centre of the opening lu the
portieres. He wore an Inverness top
coat, the open front of which disclosed
a marvelous expense of white Bhlrt front,
spaced with diamond studs, the glitter
of which paled, however, by contrast with
the enormous solitaire which Illuminated
the solid gold watch-fob presented to him
by the Young Men's Marching Club of
ward i. tint nalr was pressed ns
smoothly to his skull as an earnest Italian
barber could plaster It, and various angry
specks ou his cheeks told how micro
scopically he had been Bhaved. The
crowning tilumphs or his toilet, however,
he carried. In his right hand he bore,
held by a wide velvet ribbon. In the same
huge fingers which clutched the gold
headed cane presented by tho Capital City
Sledge Club, a thirty-dollar box of candy,
two feet across, wrapped with six berlb
boned layers of fancy paper, and provided
with an absolute maza of drawera nnd
partitions. In his left hand he carried u
specklcss silk hut of the latest Trench
shape, and that arm encircled a conical
parcel, so big that It would have Btag-
gereu a small man, while from the upper
end of tho cone protruded a square yard
of screaming red roses.
"Good evening, Miss Molly," he added,
becoming more specific. "I brought these
for you myself." and ho beamed his
cordial good will upon the entire assem
blage. It was In this breathless crisis that
Molly Marley, aggravated beyond en
durance, took her merciless revenge.
"How perfectly delightful!" she cried.
and she swept joward him with more
eager cordiality than she had ever be
stowed upon Bert Glider himself. "We've
Just been talking about you," and then,
to the intense consternation of her father
and her foremost suitor, she added; "I
want you at my party tomorrow night.
Won't you come, please?"
Shu rushed to the, cupboard, where he
kept his hat and coat, and handed them
to him, and hy sheer force pf her strotfger
personality Inserted hfm Into them.
Weakly be se nt worft to Mr. Hooker that
he would see him that afternoon, canceled
two other engagements lor within tho
hour, and took 3b bis walking stick.
They were just about to leave when Hunt
came in, a pale-faced young man with
prematurely scant hair, and a fondness
for overly arllstio -four-ln-hands.
"I beg your pardon." said Hunt, with
an aggravatingiy deferential cow to Mis
Marley "Mr Sledge wants to see you
at the Occident "
The president of the street railway
company underwent an instant ibange
ROSES
of manner. Both the smile and the in
decision faded Tram his race, and lines
or business enre came on his roiehead.
"Tell Bendlx I'll be right ovor," lie
directed, and Hunt, bowing again in Miss
Mollj's direction wllh that exasperating
deference, promptly withdrew.
"Call him back," Insisted Molly hastily.
"You forgot that you were going with
me. 1 guess."
Her father tinned to her in wonder.
"MoII, this Is business," he sternly in
formed her. "You are detaining inc.
You might have Bert go with jou," and
he hurried out, leaving her to stand
there alone, perplexed, bewildered, angry.
She snt nt her father's desk, and took
up his telephone, called Bert's number,
anil waited in disturbed thought. She
still felt the necessity of rescuing her dog
from his uncomfortnble surroundings, but
she hail lost the joy or Imperious in
sistence. "Hello, Molly." ho returned. "What
did you forget for the party-""
"The party's all light, but Smash Is
lu the dog pound," sho briskly Informed
him. Judging, even from his modified
tone, that he was very busy.
"1 forgive him thnt piece he took out
nf my leg, nnd I'll send right up for mm.
Shall I'"
"No, I think not." she hesitated. "I'm
going niBtlf. and I wanted jou to go
with me; but you'ie dreadrully busy,
nien't you?"
"I wasn't too busy five minutes ngo,
but I Just got word from Sledge nnd was
leaving the office when you called, I'm
dreadfully sorry, Molly," and his voice
told tho sincerity of his regret. "If ou
can wait I'll call for you as soon as 1
leave Sledge,"
"Thank you, but I can't wait," she
sweetly informed him.
Sledge! What was there about this man
which made other men hurry when he
sent for them like a maid answering u
bell?
Suddenly her white teeth flashed In n
lough, nnd, with wickedly ap-r kllng eyes,
she grasped the telephone, leafing lapldly
through the book with her disengaged
hand for the Occident Saloon. She called
for that number and wulted with a traui
of trepidation. It was a shocking place,
no doubt, Infested by gruff people. To
her ugreeable surprise a well-modulated
voire answered.
"Is this the Occident?" she asked.
"Yes. madam." replied the voice, thor
oughly respectful, which was shock num
ber two.
"May I speak lo Mr. Sledge, please?"
"I'll see. Who Is It?"
"Must I give my name?" she worried.
"No, I guess not," replied Phil, nfter u
moment of hesitation, "I'll try him out,
anhow."
Phil hurried back to the little office
where Sledgo sat in earnest conference
with Bendlx and gave the third astounded
glance ot the morning at tho amazing
spectacle of a beer pitcher filled with red
roses which stood on the bare table.
"Telephone for you," he curtly Informed
Sledge, his method of showing deference
tq that great man consisting In extra
gruffness,
"Who is H?" demanded Sledge, without
turning,
"Lady."
"Not here,"
"1 know," agreed Phil. "But this one's
different- Just from her voice alone I'd
go to Jail, especially If she said 'Please.' "
There, was something In Phil's imitative
enunciation of that last word ' which
brought the ponderous Sledge to his feet
at once, as If he had been raised by an
invisible denlck. and he went to tte tele
phone beaming In a manner to render
speechless the nabltues of the Occident.
"Hello'" his base tone pt tempted to coo
Into the telephone, "is this Molly?"
"It's a good guess," she acknowledged,
really a, little taken aback by It.
"Phil described i our voice." he told bar.
leaning a big elbow on. the back bar for J
a coniiortaoie cnat and smiling awe
somely Into the Instrument
"Phil," she repeated, u trifle frightened
at her unknown circle of acquaintances.
"Who's Pblir'
"You don't know Wm," he assured tier,
"He.' a bartender here "
"Oh!" ejaculated Molly falutly, ana
then stern resolve came to her rescue.
'Are: you very busy. Mr. Stedgel"'
"Naw! ' he cordially reassured her
"I was afraid that ma be y were
tou busy, she faltered, regretful oow mat
he was not. However, she was not on
to turn back from nn enterprise once" be
gun. "My dog, Smash, Is In the pound,"
she hurriedly explained. "I want to Rd.
after him myself, but I don't Ilke,to go
there alone. I thought maybe"
"Where aro you7" Interruped Sledge.
"In my father's ofllce," she told lilm.
"If you're too busy, Mr. Sledge"
"I got a machine ohtslde," he hastily
Informed her.
He hurried back lo the little room
"Tell Marley and Glider that III be
back In an hour or so," he directed .Ben
dlx, and then. In the lapel Of the coat
which had never known a decoration, he
placed a large red rose!
Smash Approves
CHAPTER VI.
Molly wns a storm centre of self-reproach
for a numbor of reasons, not tiie
least of which was her misleading en
couragement or Sledge, and mingled with
this wns a nervous dread of what crude
advances he might feel himself entitled
to make.
Ho handed her Into the machine With
much the same caro he would have used
In protecting a pocketful of eggs, and
seating himself beside her at the wheel,
calmly pulled out from tho curb In front
of an approaching street car, nnd let It
wait while he maneuvered tho turn.
Arrived at the dog pound, ho gave a
demonstration of how little red tape there
really la In a municipal Institution.
"Let's see your dogs," he observed
Tho chief dog catcher himself rushed
from behind the desk, leaving the beieft
citizen In tho very midst or a heartfelt
description.
"There's only one In, and' you can.
have that," returned the official, with
a wince. "Ho chewed a leg oft of Joe,"
and chased Jerry into the big kennel
bofore we clubbed him Into his oath. He
hasn't let a yelp out of him since. He's
Just laying right there with his eyes
open, waiting. If he belongs to tho
young lady I guess wejjl lock ourselves
lu tho noxt cell and let her open his
door. Is this the dog?"
There was no need to ask that, for the
sleek white animal, which had been ly
ing motlonleasly on the straw, with Its
muzzle on Its paws, waiting unblinking
ly for tho time when he could get put
and find the man who put him there,
nt the sight of Molly forgot that there
wns u screen In front of him, and tried
to como straight through.
Sledge, knowing dogs better than the
chief dog catcher, whose Job had been
secured through political fitness alone,
stooped down nnd turned the latch and
opened the door, and. In a second more,
40 pounds of muscle had knocked Molly
Marley off her feet, nnd Sledge knew
better than to help her up. He walked
stolidly back to the office, and when
Molly and the overjoyed Smash rejoined
him, he was giving orders.
Smash was at first Inclined to dispute
Sledgo's right to enter his own automo
bile, but Sledge rudely thrust a huge
hand within accurate biting distance, and
held It there steadily; and Smash, nfter
deciding twice to snap nt It, changed Ids
mind nnd sniffed It carefully to remem
ber the man, and curled up contentedly
at Molly's feet. In spite of the fact that
Sledgo was Sledge, she could not repress
a tiace of admiration for at' least this
quality in him.
"That was a daring thing to do," she
acknowledged, as Sledge once more t6ok
tho wheel nnd spun away. "Suppose
Smash had bitten you?"
He turned to her Impassive eyes.
"Then I lose," he simply expjan
nnd leaning down, he carelessly pulled
pno of the cars of Smash, who merely
blinked. ''Any place else?"
"But vou'ro very busy." she objected
suppressing a giggle ax she thought ot
her rather nnd Bert. They would pre
fer an engagement with Sledge to her.
eh? "Besides." she Insisted, seriously
this time, "Smash hasn't had his beer
steak yet." j
"How much do you let him have?'
asked Sledge, as he turned sharply over
a cross street.
"Only a pound and a half," she re
plied. "He's lu great condition," he admired,
looking down at the dog's sleek coat and
the beautiful muscles under It, 'You
ought to seo my Bob." ,
"I'd love to," she graciously returned.
'Til bring him out. I'd like to match
'cm."
Molly almost Jumped out or the. car
"Never!" she gasped, and under her
breath, added: "You big brute!" She
positively loathed him.
They stopped, with u decisive Jerk. In
front nf a clean looking butcher shop,
and Sledge got out.
"I'd like to feed him a cow," he ob
served, patting Smash roughly on the
head as he alighted; "but ir jou sav a
pound and a hair, that goes," and he left
Molly laughing with another unaccount
able reversal of feeling as he stalked into
the shop.
He came out presently with a pink sir
loin, which It was a sin not to broil, and
held It up temptingly to Smash,
"It's jours. Smash!"
There was a flash of white though the
air, hnd Sledge found his solid big arm
sustaining a dog at the end of the steak.
Ho lowered them both to the ground, and
looked down with profound satisfaction
at the ensuing proceedings.
"Now where?" he asked when Smash
had cleaned the bone and had crunched It
for exercise,
"I had thought of going to the florist's
to pick out my flowers for this evening'
"What kind?" he anxiously Inquired
In spite nf herself, Molly giggled
"lied roses." she confessed, and laughed
her laugh out
"rteally, you shouldn't have done that.
Mr. 81edRe," she chlded, trying to be very
serious about It, and to Insist on the for
malities. Sledge looked at her with much concern.
"I don't want to queer myself." be wnr
ried. "It's too late to call It off The
wagons mutt be out to your house by
this time."
"The wagons!" she half shrieked
"Yes," ho nervously confessed. 'Dll
lerey's only had eight dozen. I ordered
the rest from Beck's."
"How many Is the rest?" she faintly
Inquired,
"t don't know till Beck gives me the
count I told him to clean up the place.
I hope there'll be enough."
"I'm sure there will be," she replied,
with, tho giggle all gone out of her. Some
how, she had not the heart to make pljtu
to htm Just -why he must not be an
lavish. "That was tremendously kind of
you, Mr- Sledge, and I thank you very
much,"
There was a florist's wagon at the rear
porch, and red roses were being unloaded
In bales whan she arrived there, also,
the driver, a bent and shriveled man, with,
whiskers on his face In the most unex
pected places, was handling his wares
with unusual care
"What beautiful roses!" Fern exelalmsd
as Xolly Joined her "And such masses
of them."
"And vases, too!" cried Molly, peering
into the front q( the wagon.
"Sledge's orders," explained the smm)'
old man, with warm pride, "He ilwa-r
has 'em sent up that way to hi mmft
Wo took her $ dosen chrysanthewKsu
her last birthday '
"Sledge"' choked Fern
"Sleds !" repeated Mollj soberiy ''
to be the life or m party."
"Wrtl." admitted Fern, with ogttl.
"fee's ho piker."
ContiHuad in
M0ttdy'&i Evening Lidya
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