No. 13 Washington Square

-gloved hand he swung a jaunty wand of a cane; a slender, lithe young gentleman, with a keen face that had an oddly wide but yet attractive mouth: a young man emanating an es

stroll. But never for longer than an instant were the frank gray eyes of this young gentleman away from the splendid sto

iftly, but without noticeable haste, he was across the street. T

?" he inquired easily, merging

knew all the fellows," added the speaker, a middle-age

eplied the agreeab

ave a grunt of contempt. "And you'v

es

dently the old reporter, whom the others addressed as "colonel," had by his long service acquired the privilege of surly o

araderie seemed unruffled by the colonel's blunt contempt, and though they all

seeing in the reception-room beyond a group of newspapermen about a servant,-Matilda making her first futile effort to rid the house of this pestilential

our size-tackling a servant!"

sappeared into the reception-room. The young gentleman, very politely, half pu

," he remarked with plea

the basement door. When I hea

the regular servants had not been gone. Now, I'd say," smiling eng

al gentleman,-that, despite the unexpectedness of his overture, t

od one, sir; that's

nth?" estimated th

correcte

is open, engaging smile,-"pardon me for not knowing your proper name,-co

t-wh

be exact, say one minute. Light work," he added with a certain

nd before she could gasp again one surprised b

Gardner-alone. It's all righ

y inquired this mistress

e room where nob

est, sir," pointing up

range matters so that no o

, I don't

the reporters to tell Miss Gardner that you want to speak to her and will be waiting in the library. When you've said that, you've earne

a gesture in which there was no hesitation she slip

the world is home, and seemed not one whit abashed by the exclusive grandeur of the great chamber. With a watchful eye on the door, he glanced at the rows and rows of volumes: well-bred authors whom time had elevated to a place among l

cessed French window. Miss Gardner entered, saw upon the embarrassed edges of none of the shrouded chairs a plump and

la

ng gentleman, who had stepped forth, s

ed. Then in a husky frightened wh

At this repulse the young gentleman winced, then smiled gravely, the

e answered, and t

e belonging to t

excellent old friend

ngerous places in the world for you?" she cried in a low voi

ung man gave a start. But the

pers about Thomas Preston-! Don't you know

door or outdoor sport I've ever indulged in-dodging eruptions. Besides, i

d to see you again!" she flamed

I wrote you begging you to meet me somewhere to talk things over. I read that Mrs. De Peyster was sailing to-n

ize myself as such!

dear, you

d plausible, but that shows just how foolish a girl can be when s

, you reall

idn't know who you we

about this young gentleman; he seemed to be just quietly, pleasantly, whimsically, unsubduably his natural self. "But, Clara, you must remember that it was as sudden

pect me to accept as my husband

never admitted I was such an undraped, un

The business of those forged letters of Thoma

ld not help his wide mouth tilting slightly upward to th

understand that business-and yo

I don't!" she

d, but I'll confess I'm no chromo of sweet and haloed rectitude to be held up for the encouragement and beatification of young John D. Rockefeller's Bible Class. Still, I get my living quite as worthily as many of t

nything seriously?" sh

, what is there t

d then with sudden suspicion: "See here-you're not here to

re till the police become infatuated with some other party. A fashionable hou

es, Mrs. De Peyster's h

s housekeeper would n

talk another minute,

easantly. "Oh, I'm not really asking the favo

care for your own danger, t

ou

s. De Peyster's atti

with me till the police resume their interrupted nap-still, you can have

adford,-I'm going to hav

. "Come, Clara: give me

him up sharply. "And will you fix up

o be done. As to the first-but, really, Clara,"-smiling again ap

-I'm through with you! That's final! And I d

to me direct; the police, you know. Address me in care of the Reverend Mr. Pyecroft." Tense though the moment was to him, the young man could not restrain his odd whimsical smile. "The Reverend Mr. Pyecroft has taken an interest in me; like you he is trying to mak

ere'll be no message!" Her voice was raised; she trembled in

said firmly. "And I'm go

h the reporters, was passing without, and it was these last words that she ov

d Miss Gardner. "The French windows there,

ss Gardner beside him. But in the back-yard stood Willi

Gardner, pointing at a door, "a

leaving Miss Gardner in the middle of the room, with heightened color, breathing

Peyster's manner. "Miss Gardner, I be

stiff, proudly erect, for sh

re i

ugh the window,"

t about you. But by chance I overh

sband or no husband, Mrs. De Peyster,

when you applied for your present position two months ago, I told you that I made it a rule to have no servants or employees of any kind who were married. As I desired that you should understand my reasons, I informed y

not, at t

no desire to pass judgment upon you. I try to be fair and just and generous with all my employees. If you had been what you declared yourself to be, and remained such, you could have stayed wi

ne-none

, and perhaps the impulse to hide the slight confusion that suddenly had seized upon her, prompted her to bend over and secure this bit of litter. She glance

ight to be married or unmarried. I have the perfect right to have the sort of employees I pre

ner bowed

one month in advance. And telephone about until you can find me a maid-do not bother about

the proud Miss Gardner, who gave a swift glance at the study door