Mary Louise Solves a Mystery

nly, and the second flitti

ally interested in him or the picture, but there was nothing else for her to do. She stood with her slim l

think of it?" he as

icture?"

cour

she asserted, with

t like it? Wh

, "that cow's horn isn't on straight-the red cow's

pressionless, but Alora had begun to observe that whenever anything irritated or disturbed him he scowled, and the measure of the scowl indicated

the picture from top to bottom, this way and that, until it was a mere mass of shreds. Then he k

t?" he asked, lookin

the destruction of the cow picture. So she he

now I never realized how stiff and unrea

o, sir," s

the canvas and the remains joi

sion on his usually dull features. Only pausing to light his pipe, he brought out one

ather must have passed many laborious hours on them. But now that it had dawned on him how utterly inartistic his work was

been contemptuously flung into the corner he turned to the child and

tudio is no place for us, Lory. Doesn't it seem de

m. Later in the day they went to a picture show and finally entered a down-town restaurant, quite different from and altogether better than the one where they had

t you like that better than you w

ed," respo

oxes. The lady nearest the rail, dressed in an elaborate evening gown, was Janet Orme. There was another lady with her, conspicuous for

r he, too, had noted the box-party. But neither of the two mad

, laughing and chatting gaily. Both father and daughter silently

s, when they had mounted the stairs

irring in the studio. She went to him and was surprised to find hi

and then I'll help you pack your own duds. Only one trunk, though, girl, for the

" she inquired, hop

ng a long way, my

on, for he had never considered her in the

er. She could not remember ever to

'm leaving it. For good, this time. I was a fool to ret

k. She was not quite sure what she ought to take, and her father was still more ignorant concerning a little girl's wardrobe, but finally both trunks were pack

k of interest in her happiness or even comforts. For the first time in her life she lacked a maid to dress her and keep her clothes in order; there was no one to attend to her education, no one to amuse her, no one with whom to counsel in any difficulty. She had been somewhat afraid of her peculiar father and her natural reserve, derived from her mother, had deepened in his society. Yesterday and this morning he had seemed more human, more companionable, yet Alora felt t

ft the flat and boarded a street car for down town. On lower Broadway Mr. Jones entered a bank and seemed to transact considerable business

still in high spirits and seemed more eager an

eed for the trip, tell me what it is and I'll buy it. No frivolities, though," qualifying his generosity, "but j

, Paris and Rome, but all her wants had been attended to and it was so lo

hem off or to wish them "bon voyage." It saddened the child to hear

nial man whom fate had imposed upon her in the guise of a parent. As they steamed out to sea and Alora sat on deck

we going?

know, but took the first ship sailing to-day. Having made up my mind to travel, I couldn't

said

d, "for it wouldn't have m