Exit Betty

taining hand, and surveying her steadily, the boyish expression in her eyes changing to an amused calc

to classify her into the known and unknown quantities of her world. Her face was absolutely expressionless as far as any sign

efore anybody sees me," whispered Betty e

neered the girl on the sidewalk, with an

e somewhere to go out of sight, and if you will I'd like you to walk a block or so wit

ly, with the look of an inquisitor, and the intolerance o

in her voice. "They're coming! Listen! Oh

lash and a firm young fist gripped her arm like a vise. The girl's keen ears had caught a sound of turning key

te figure, then knelt and deftly turned up the long satin draperies out of sight and fixed them firmly with a pin extracted from somewhere about her person. Q

ered foot and then the other and supporting the trembling Bet

ad, crammed it down hard over the orange-wreathed

n an idle attitude just under the church window, craning her neck and apparently listening to the m

go out of this gate rec

estion, surveyed the usher coolly from the point of his patent leather shoes to the white

ainst the wall with his arms folded, a fine handsome young man with pleasant eyes and a head like that of a young nobleman, and she wanted to make sure of his identity. He looked very much like the young lawyer whose office boy was her "gentleman friend." Just to make sure she gave a little spring from the sidewalk that brought her eyes almost on a level with the

cent. Come on! We'll go to my room and see what to do. Don't talk! Somebody might recognize your voice. Her

er secret, her heart beating like a trip hammer in her breast, her eyes filled with unshed tears, the last words of her stepmother ringing in her ears. Was she making her

her up some stone steps to the door of a tall, di

he small gas taper that blinked from the ceiling. There were suggestions of old dinners, stale fried potatoes and pork

a tiny hall bedroom at the back. A fleeting fear that perhaps the place was not respectable shot through her heart, but her other troubles were so great that it found no lodgmen

d and locked the door. As a further precaution sh

one can hear you here, and you can say what you please. But f

out wrinkles, shaking the lace down and uncrushing it, straightening a bruised orange-blossom, and putting everything in place. It was as if she herself were an artist restoring a great masterpiece, so silently and absorbedly she worked

ther girl pulled and shook and brushed and patted her into shape again. When all was orderly and adjusted about the

Say! Just to think I should pick that up in the street! Good night! I'm glad I came along just then instead o' somebody else! This certainly is some picnic! Well, now, give us your dope. It must've been pretty

yes and drowned them out, and in dismay she brought out a faint little sorry giggle of apolo

and we'll get 'em off. You look all in. I'd oughta known you would be!" She lifted Betty tenderly and began to remove her veil and unfasten the wonder

se to put on!" gurgl

said the o

ou don't need that I could have, and I'll give you mine for them? I don't suppose perhaps a wedding dress would be very useful

but she stopped with it in her arms and sat down weakly on the foot of t

id in an awed tone. "You don't mean you would

y somewhere. I can't go in white satin! You know that! But I don't like to take anything of yours that you might need. Do you

move softly over the satin hem as if she had been offered a plume of the angel's wing. "Sure, I'll take it off you if I've got anything you're satisfied to have in exc

ast went over her in a great wave of agony, and overwhelmed her soul. In soft silk and lace petticoat and camisole with her pretty white arms and shoulders shaking with great sobs she buried her face in the old patchwork quilt that her hostess had brought

u wouldn't eat it,-and you're jest natcheraly all in. Now you lie right here an' I'll make you some supper. My name's Jane Carson, and I've got a good mother out to Ohio, and a nice home if I'd had

air that curled in golden tend

at you've done or ain't done, I'll stand by yeh. I'm not one to turn against anybody in distress. My mother always taught me that. After you've et a bite and had a cup of m

and other dishes appeared from a pasteboard box under the washstand. A small shelf outside the tiny window yielded a plate of butter, a pint bottle of milk, and two eggs. She drew a chair up to the bed, put a clean handkerchief on it, and spread forth her table. In a few minutes the fragrance of tea and toast pervaded the room, and water was bubbling happily for the eggs. As cosily as if she had a chum to dine with her she sat down on the edge of the bed and invited her guest

oiled egg cooked by this wonderful girl on a gaslight and served on a chair. She wanted to cry again over her gladness at b

allowed the last bite of to

must get away. They'll be watching the trains, perhaps. I ought to have gone at once. But

can't do a thing for you till I know. I've got to go into this wi

rouble and doubt. Then the doubt sudden

t it seems dreadful to tell things about my family, even

't he take care of you and keep you from get

clouded with

"but I've always tried to do as he would

hose togs off. I'll find you a warm nightgown and we'll get to bed. It's turning cold here. They ta

y lingerie one before in all her life, crept into it thankfully and cuddled down with a warm feeling that she had found a real friend. It was curious why she