WMPr -v; : AJ - t-1 f , $" rm.. f""-. V ,.jk,Vjiji.ii r-4 '- "THtmimnW0wt -nr -i$wr irn(riiMMMSMs. tyrAtettexOia EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1920 ' '7'fiH -v-f fy .MX B The Phantom Lever By Ruby Ayrcs THIS STAIITS Tlin STOtlY Micky Mcttewcs, matrimonial catch, diverts Ifte miwf 0 n plrl he finds prying oil tlui sired from the thoughts of suicide with which she had ieratlctl. Returning te his apartment, he nnit his friend, Ashton, mho says he Is leaving town and his sweetheart at his mother's request and asks Met' lewcs te deliver a letter te the plrl. Micky discovers the plrl, Ksther Bhep Bhep stene, te he the one he had met crying en the street. Instead of delivering the Utter Zion gave him he writes another, a kindlier ewe, and signs Ashton's name te It. The letter com forts Ksther, One day when she re turn te her roep she finds June Masen, another boarder In the house, there, June expresses the wish that they should he friends. She learns that June and Micky are old friends and that Micky Is wealthy. Micky writes another letter In Ashton's name In Esther, premising her C.t a week. She scekt employment through an agency and Is Introduced te a lady who Is looking for a com panion or amanuensti. 'What haic jeu rfeiw up till new," sha asks Btshtr, "I was In the workroom at Eldrcd's," she replied And itr.nr. it continues MJULDnnD'S '" the sharp gain wav- k'erecl a little. "Ai.d why did jeu Icave thorp, may I nslt?" "T left te get married, 1U " "Hut you ere net married, of course." "Ne." ' "Ner going te be?" "Net for the present, but--- " She was cut short again. "I don't want te pet used te you and te get you used te my ways and then for you te leave me," she was told. "And I don't want a young man con stantly dangling round the house." Her volce was sharp, but net unltlnd, nnd (here was a smlle In her keen eyes. "Ne," said Esther, "t qulte under stand." There wm a little silence "Well," said the owner of the lor gnette then, "what de you think about It? De you think you would like me? nether smiled, there was something In her blunt Questioning that reminded her of June Masen. ..... ,., "Yes," she said, "I think I should, "I hate that w6rd," she was tetd promptly "I don't want there te be any "buts In the question. " oil cither wish te come or you de net. I will give 'i veu 50 a year, nnd your keep, or ' course. It's tee much for an Inexper - venced girl like you, but I think I shall 'rather like you. Well, what de you Esther did net knew what te say. The offer was tempting enough, but she thought of June Masen and the room with the mauve cushions where she was nettling down se happily, and her heart ""l" should like te think It ever." she nald. stammering. "I have a fr end I ..i.. ,!,i in, tr, tnllc It ever with If you don't mind. If y', will give me Just a ' "'Take a week by oil means. I nm going away myself for a few days, and I shan't want you till I come back Wrlte me and tell me what you decide te de. Here Is my card She took cne from a heavy silver case and aid I 11.. nKifl 3hn looked nt Lamer nulzr'tcaliy. then suddenly she held out 1,c.rJl-'.i-i,.. -Ml-. Shenstone. I hope I iin see veu again," nnd the next me ment Bhe had gene. m. .tiff nnd Btntely owner et the agency was smiling, well pleased. "Yefi are most fertunate. Miss Shep stone!" she said. "Yeu have secured Z nf the best pests I have en my hooks If you tate my advlce you will net hesitate. Make up your mind at ""iSs'ther did net answer. Bhe took up the card from the table, then "he drew In her breath with a hard sound, for the name printed there was Mrs. Ha- mend Ashton. . , . , Ksther never knew hew she get Inte thn street. She wnlked along llke some nne In a dream: her cheeks were burn- '" Mrs0l'Raymend Ashton? Raymond's jrethcr! The woman of whom lie had spoken se often and se bitterly. The woman who had raised Mich a fierce ob jection te her marriage with Raymond. There was net much resemblance bo be tween mother and son ; they were both handsome, but there wna a sort of humor In Mrs. Ashton's face which Raymond s lacked. Esther tried airily te find eme likeness between them. "Geed afternoon I" said a voice, ana. turning hurriedly. Esther found Micky Mollewes beside her. He looked as If he were net quite sure of hf receptien: but today Esther had iithcrMheughtH te occupy her which were mere Interesting than he was and the smile the gave hlni was almost frlendly. "Geed afternoon! Isn't It oeld? (tr. a Wharn ar vrtll nilf. I t ,.... ...w -" ..-. k.'rvlntr nff te?" He tried te speak casually, hut his ht,rt wfl In lllllll I" JUiil I llllll "I'm Just gelngST." Esther said. "I've been te, '. .-.lcy. looking for a; berth." "A berth!" A frown came between his eyes. "What sort of a berth?" he asked quickly. Ksther laughed. "Well, I'm thinking of taking your advice and going as companion te an old lady net that she's very old, she added doubtfully, with sudden memory of Raymond's mother "I wonder If it Is likely te be any one I knew. I have qulte an extensive ac ac c'VJIntance In Ixjnden." f "'.Yes," said Esther. "But I don't sup- fa you will knew these people any- l HIIO IIUUCU Willi ill! mimiMviuiie of loftiness In her voice. 'T,no la Ashton Mrs. iiaymenn vbii- n?" he said. "Oh. yes, 1 knew Ashton cry wen no was her with jealous eyes nnd alie lit- head sharply unu loeucu up Jus ness civ moment a traitorous eager- M. her face: he could alme-H see the 01 u.S& question en her lips, then she lfttiched VReally ! Hew funny! Rut, of course, .as ou say. you must knew a great many people " "I have known the Ashtens for years. Yeu will llke Mrs Ashton." There was a sort of quiet Insinuation in the words, and Ksther bit her lip. "And the Ben?" she asked, "1 think you said ou Knew the son " "Ys,l knew lilm he Is In Paris, I belle vn." Micky was conscious et a queer tight ening about his threat; It was a tre mendous cffeit te foree himself te speak lightly. "And shall I llkn him as well, de you a think?" Esther asked deliberately. MicKy aid net answer. "De you llke him?" shn persisted. Micky's restraint breke Its. bends , If he had died for It he could net haw eheeked thn words that rushed te his If 1ID3. " "I detest the fellow I" he said "He's beastly eutsider: He dared net leek at her. He held his breath, wultlng fur the storm te break, but If he had lest his self-control she kept hers admirably. Really," she said, ller olce was a llttle breathless, but qulte calm. "What does a man mean when he calls un un ether JMsucli a name?" 1 I'erjjBSe was qulte colorless, een te the IIMPIuid bar hands were clenched In 1-, 1), r? 1 -M i'ZJIC IK the shabblness of the cheap llttle muff LVUihe carried. 1 He blunderingly tiled te make amends, ! VI ought net te have said that, Just Because ne s nut 1110 son or man 1 care about," he said stammerlngly. "He's qulte all right It all depends from what point of view you regnnl him. 1 hepe you will forget that I said that, Miss Shepstenc. It It was unpardon able." "It's a matter of complete Indifference te me what you say ubeut Mr. Ashton," he told him, She stepped. They had been walking along together. "Which way are you going?" she asked. Micky flushed up te the eyes ; he knew iilhls was a dismissal. ' N "I was coming along te see June," he said. "I hoped you would allow me te walk along with you If 1 11m net In- trudlnc." Esther forced a srcUe, but her llpsj snld. Her volce sounded ns It it were cut In lee. "He I won't detain you. Ooed-by." It was nearly supper time when Mie get In. She paused for a moment In the hall and looked anxiously at the rows nf reats mid hats hanging there. She thought she would knew Micky's If she saw them there. She forget that he might have taken them un te June's room. She turned away with a little sigh. The deer of the room opened before she reiched the landing, and June cama out. "Well, nnd what success?" June asked. "Yeu don't mean te say that the old dear at the ngencw really had something te offer you this time?" Ksther nodded. "Tell me," she said, "De you knew any people named Ashton?" "Ashton I" June wrinkled up her nose. "I knew some Ashtens who live In Dry Dry anstenc Square," she said at last. "A mother and eon. A very handsome wom an she Is, with white hair. "It must be the same Mrs. Ashton," she said eagerly, "This Is her card she gave It te me today Mrs. Ray mond Ashton," June glanced nt the card and nodded briskly. "Hhe's a widow, Isn't she?" Esther ald hesitatingly. "At least she didn't say anything about a husband." "Yes, she's a widow right enough," June said. "And delighted te be, I should think," she ndded bluntly, "I never knew the departed spouse, but from all accounts he was a perfect ter ror." Esther said nothing. Raymond had always spoken of his father as being a "ram old sport." After a moment "Thcre's a son, tee," June said. "A kind of Adenln te leek at, beautiful eyes and all that sort of thing," "Yes," said Esther. She tried te keep the eagerness from her elce. "I)e you de you knew the son, tee?" she asked nervously, June gave a queer little laugh. "Oh yes, I knew him. That Is te say, I say "Hew d'ye de" te him when I have the misfortune te meet him" Esther's hands were clasped In her lap. "Why why misfortune?" she osked. June Masen shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, I don't knew lt' hard te ex plain he's never dene me any harm, but there are some people one hates by Instinct, nnd Raymond Ashton Is one et the people I hate." She smoothed a crease In the skirt of her frock, "He's such a such an awful outsider," she added, unconsciously cheesing the word Micky Mollewes had used net half an hour age. Esther sat very stiff. Twice she tried te speak, but no words would come. She knew that It was unfair te June te sit there nnd nllew her te go en talking about Raymond, but something In her heart seemed te have set a seal en her lips. "He's that Insufferable kind of crea ture who thinks himself Irresistible," June went en. "Mlckv haa often told me the way he brags about his 'se-called 'conquests.' Conquests Indeed I what are they but a few noer Ignorant clrls heed winked by his handseme fnce and smooth tongue? Dozens of girls he's had, my dear, literally dozens! Only the ether day peme one told me thnt Mrs. Ash ton had te threaten te rut him 01T with a shilling If he didn't give up some little person he was supposed te be going te marry! I don't knew hew true it Is, mind you, but that's the sort et man he Is I've no time for him at all," she finished vigorously. She went away shutting the deer quietly, and Esther hid her face In her hands, She hardly knew why she was crying, she only knew that she was utterly mis erable. She took Ashton's last letter from her dress and read It through again hew could any one, reading It, doubt that he loved her? She kissed the. signature passionately; nobody In all the world counted but this one man. She get up nnd went ever te June's desk, which both girls used ; she felt that she must write te him and tell him hew much she wanted him. When she had finished writing she looked te the head of the paper en which she had written for the address, and then she saw a postscript scribbled In a comer which she had net noticed be fore. "Don't write te me here I shall have left this hotel by the time you get my letter. I will write again as seen as possible." It was like a deer with Iren bars being closed In her face ; shn could net write after all ! She could have no relief for all her longings nnd unhapplncss ; shn must Just wait and wait, eating her very heart out. till he wrote again. She tore up what she had written and threw It Inte the fire. She went back te June's ceueh nnd curled up among the mauve pillows ; life was se hard, se disappointing; It gave se little of all that ene desired; the tears fell again and presently she cried, herself te sleep. June came back en tiptoe; she stele across the room and looked nt Ksther, then she went back te the hearthrug te keep Charlie company. The flre had died down nnd she re plenished It ns quietly as she could, put ting a knob en nt 11 tlme with her fingers As she leaned ever te peke them seftlv together she caught sight of a Fcrnp of paper lying In the grate It, looked like part of a tern letter, nnd without think ing, June picked It up -the one word "dearest" stared up at her In Esther's writing. June looked nt It for a long moment then she turned her hend and glanced at Esther, still sleeping. June frowned ; she hunched her shoulders Impatiently. "Some phantom lever, I suppose," she told herself crossly; she thriw the little scrap of paper Inte the lire and watched It burn with a sort of vixenish delight. cir.u'Ti.u i. "Mlckv Mellewcs H coming directly," June said tartly 'If you don't want te sen hlni jeu'd. better g". I knew you hate hlni. Ksther turned srnrlet. Shn took off the npren she had lien owed from June and tinned te the deer Hefere she reached It June followed "I'm a nig I apologize humbly Please Blay Whv don't jeu box mv enrs when I speak te you like this'''" She dragged Esther back te the lire. "I'm wllit because you've made up your mind te leavn mn Our friendship does net mean anything te you. Them's Allcky he'II want te knew why lye been erlug. Amuse him for fle minutes, there's an nngel, nnd I'll conie back." A smiling I.ydla showed Micky Inte the room ledla liked Micky, he was alwas courteous, nnd he had been gen erous with his tips en each occasion that he had visited the house. Micky looked a little embarrassed when he saw Esther. He glanced quickly round the room. "June "She's coming In n moment." Esther explained "Won't you sit down?" mJU0.11)' Hat " ,'.lln ,nrm of ,h" hlg chair ; he was cold ; he leaned forward, rubbing his hands Mgoreusly. Esther watched him critically. Shn had told June that she did net consider hlni In the least geed looking, but new thn thought crossed her mind that this had net been qulte a fair thing. ' He was tall nnd well marle, and he had brown hair that grew well about his temples, and waxed slightly where t parted, His nose was nothing particular and slightly crooked, and his eyes were non descript In color, but kind Jf kind I Esther remerhbered It was the S5ht,VhWv:w,nol,ceunbeuth,mR Iln looked up. eiiWVthVt'r ' "hnve you ,eund nn' said,"1 BUl"K ,0 Mrs' ABhten'3." lather She was nmazed nt the sudden change In his face; a leek of furious anger flashed Inte his eyes: he rose te his "YP" re ,""' serious?" he said quietly. Ksther nughed; shn felt painfully nervous without knowing whv. """" "Serious' Indeed I am!" she an doing?' .-J""' ,Mell0WI"' wha' "e "?u Micky had caught her hands. .ti. eusy wa driving him with whips et whom he himself had created) ... jwmwuB, vi nun uunniem ma THE GUMPS-Juat Hinting, Net Asking 0A AHteV V!KU MVC MOVT ONPERFUL lUC BfcG YJrrH A SILVER FRAME- WAV m MOST BEArrV)t TIO-ST OOUGfcOUS THINS i SAW 6?e ttMlKtl ROtA $70 f. Mil SOMEBODY'S STENOGIt Will Be a Party of Live HELLO, CAM- A "- LTVAIflLU, there y "Jats AM uaiusualN. MOR&TlME.??? MO MADAMNJ f VOU LET ME HAVE.) Yes. ADAm ( WILL BE F6UR ) ( T.A B T f VJ1ATfrHE ,DEA J Th IS OflSfife A I A BOK FOR y WHAT$.ZEJOF US. y Ar TtSeV VJ 7 T C UNDERTAKIWflfJ v vniyMcei i uumc ; , , i ww ...-,,, . . 1-.ARLORS . I MtArv Ortllnr.fTA. The Yeung Lady Acress the Way , The young lady across tlie uay says thnt anyway (here's lesTs promiscuous drinking than there used te be nnd she dnr-sn't. suppose it's quite se had for one when tnken straight. PETEYJust for That He ( -en sa V, , -n r ,T WAS 3vjst ( ciesw. r me s rz. say-leek a here!) C - KiiTT ) - TPie LeveuEsr uh?; vewderfulc f.ttedJ Veu wmen quite cheap J tee Deu't expcct J g f 7 SATkE COAT Ue PERPECTWr-J W0UTS0ME U QQQf "' f I 1WAT WHv f ) Te-dayPeTcvdear- ' I l .-i 5uCTte miwts. I -tZZ-J WEToCNtNey J, s T3(XjCHT Vy THE CLANCY KIDS A Tale of the Hills : i 7 '. ZZ T . . : : : By Percy L. Cresby NOW I'M NOT WR.VT- JUST WvNY YOU TO 60 "POVJN KHP SCE. IY re PMT?N'T xTrC NOV) TO BUT T- feyrR. JOST V.00K TJOWH jfpSf T7f gr (Your premise- IAtxVI? A M IFtI 0fRE WAlt,N ( J 1 IM W 1 you vieuuvn-t mA tfHr wSi !vfir 3 br-ath .at1 Little Sister Blocks the "Jca-Bcterc-Xmas" Grandstand Play Won't Give Her Anything ATJKiNG VOU AT Y- Ones Z' X Vtl7 I I v-., e I H I Utri.1? N -s x. -- v. , " PtteMlfc'E-- """'w) VNORt Yeu SAY- L,Ke te oe mietic y y V I ?&. Te THE MOVIE 3UT a -" (WLS v TT7 ; 3EZ ) VOU CAN tff MQl UU- J -"" " MiNine CAST -TV w "5L I l V By Fontaine Fex SCHOOL DAYS Ceprrlfht, !0, by Publle IWi I teT feftf "seu" Hf ? t . nf I P0" ' Bg Sidney Smith By Hayward tar C. HEY.' COMt OAi, LETS HEAP k tlTTUt TICK- TICK OH THE MkCWHt ITS$AJlCTLKeATZA1B 15 EVERYBODY DEAD ROUAlb By DW1G By C. A. Voight vi- ;' N I u J a A 1 l t.l M lll SUIT, "Oh. btrtr i wm c gote fcacir," J,e (CONTINUED TOMORROW) , (GepvrlDhl, mt.,bv ptll avndkatt, tne,) ii.i"U. --. J, I 'J V i' ? ' 1 e f .) ., . p .i: V -v L t iszd&Atef 'i-t't I "J
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers