Newspaper Page Text
-n7VfG7,r'rT "rwr- -w'wi?WT 'SwpPff1'' 4 THE BEAVER HERALD. HEAVER, OKLAHOMA r "W" 0 0 I V ' ft ' The VALLEY ! o the GIANTS ! By PETER B. KYNB, ; Author of ' "Cappy Rlck" I N . runnirTTiitirmiiiini Oorrrtf ht r puf b. irit CHAPTER XIV. 15 Tho dictograph which Shirley had asked Ilryco to obtain' for her In San Francisco nrrlved on tho regular pas lecnger steamer on Thursday morning 'nnd Ilryco called her up to ask when tfdie desired It sent over. "flood morning, Mr. Cnrdlgnn." fhe 'greeted him cheerily. "How do you feel this morning? Any tho worse for lliavlng permitted yourself to bo a hu man being last night?" "Why, I feel pretty fine, Shirley. I '(think It did me a lot of good to crawl out of my shell last night." "You feel encouraged to go on llv tng, oh?" "Yps." "And fighting?" "Ily nil means." "Then something has occurred of 'late to give you new courage?" "Oh, many things. Ily the wny, Shir ley, roil mav Inform Your undo at fB'renkfast Friday morning about my f connection with tho N. C. O. In fact. i iiiiiik u woum do lar nouer lor you If you made It a point to do so." "Why?" "Because both Ogllvy and myself have a very strong suspicion thnt your undo has a detective or two on our trolls. I Judge your uncle will learn Jiuuny mm you uincu wiw uguvy, Molrn and mo Inst night." "Oil. llonr! Tlinl'a forrlliln " fin could sense her distress. "Ashamed of hnvlng been seen In my company, eh?" "Please don't Arc you qulto serious In this mntter?" "Quite." "Undo Seth will think It so so strange." "noil probably tell yon about It. Jletter beat him to the Issue by 'fcsslng up, Shirley. Doubtless his suspicions nre already aroused, and If you Inform Mm thnt you know I am the renl build ar of the N. C. O., he'll think you're n smnrt woman nnd thnt you've been lolng a little prlvnte gum-shoo work of your own on behalf of tho Lagunn Ornndo Lumber company." "Which Is oxnetly what I have been doing." she reminded him. "I know, nut then, I'm not afraid of you. Shirley thnt Is. nny more. And nftor Friday morning I'll not he frnld of your uncle." "I feel as If I were a conspirator." "I believe you ore one. Your dicto graph has arrived. Shall I send George Sea Otter over with It? And hnvo you somebody to Install It?" "Oh. tMitfct-r! Does It have to bo In stalled?" "It does. You plnce the contraption bide It, rather In the room where tho conspirators conspire; then you run wires from It Into another room I where the detectives listen In on the lecelvers." "Could George Sen Otter Install It?" "I think be could. There Is n print ed card of Instructions, nnd I dure sav feorgo would find the Job no more hnflllng than tho Ignition system on the Napier." "Will he tell nn.vbnd.v7" "Not If you nsk him not to." "Verv well, then. Please send him over. Tnnnk you so much, Ilryco Cnrdlgnn. You're nn nwful good old sort, nfter nil. Iteally, It hurls mo to hnvo to oppose you. It would be so much nicer If wo didn't hnvo all those redwood trees to protect, wouldn't It?" "Let us not nrguo the question. Shir ley. 1 think I bnve my redwood trees protected. Good-by." Ho had scarcely finished telephon ing his homo to Instruct George Sea Otter to report with the express pack' age to Shirley when Iluck Ogllvy strolled Into the nmco nnd tossed n document on his desk. "There's your little old temporary franchise, old thing," he announced; and with many ,n hearty laugh he related to Ilryce the Ingenious menns by which he hnd ob 'tnlned It. "And now If you will phono up to your logging enmp and Instruct the woods-boss to lay off about fifty ;men to rest for tho day, pending n Ihnrd night's work, nnd nrrnnire to Mend them down on tho Inst log train jtoday, I'll drop nround after dinner nnd 'we'll fly to thnt Jump-crossing." I "111 telephone- Colonel Pennington's jpanngcr nnd nsk hi in to kick n switch jmglne In on tho Laurel creek spur nnd pnnko those flat cars with mv mils Aboard out to the Junction with the t EEP FIRE BURNING 50 YEARS Watch Fire of Cherokee Maintained Half Ceiftury as Memento to the Great Spirit Aflnmf nktn . T"rwn In Ihn Rnnrn. slnxugh hills, near tho llttlo hamlet of Mur(,hy, Okla., there burns nn Indian tamp flro that has not been quenched for CO years. It Is the watch fire of fpJtu Chcrokces, a flro that Is kept burn ing as a memento to the Great Spirit that tho Indians remember his -good main line." Ilryce replied. And h called up the Lngunn Grnndo Lumber company only to bo Informed by no less n person thnu Colonel Pennington himself that It would be Impossible to send the switch-engine In until the following afternoon. Tho Colonel wns sorry, but the switch-engine wns In the shop having tho brick In her firebox renewed, while the mogul thnt limited tho log trains would not hnve time to attend to tho. mntter, nlnco the flats would have to be spotted on the side track at Cardlgnn's log Inndlng In the woods, and this could not be done un til tho Inst tnnded log train for the cloy hniLbeen hauled out to make room. "Why not switch bnck with the mogul after tho log train has been hauled out on the mnln line?" Ilryce Ccmnndod pointedly. Pennington, however, was not trapped. ".My dear fellow," he replied patronizingly, "quite Impossible, I ns suro you. That old trestle across the creek, my boy It hnsn't been looked at for years. While I'd send the light Dwltch-englno over It nnd hnve no fears" "I happen to kno7. Colonel, Hint tho big mogul kt"ked those flats In to loud the rails 1" "I know It. And what happened? Why, thnt old trestle squeaked nnd shook nnd gave every evidence of be ing nbout to buckle In the center. My engineer threatened to quit If I sent him In ngnln." "Very well. I suppose I'll have to wait until the switch-engine comes out of the shop," Ilryce replied re signedly, nnd hung up. Uc turned n troubled fnco to Ogllvy. "Check mated I" ho announced. "Whipped to n frazzle. The colonel Is lying, Iluck, nnd I've taught him nt It. As n mat ter of fact, I ho mogul didn't kick those tints In.nt nil. The switch-engine did nnd I know It. Now I'm going to send n man over to snoop around Pen nington's roundhouse nnd verify his report about tho switch-engine being In Iho shop." He dlil sc. Half nn hour Inter tho messenger returned with the Informa tion thnt -not only wns the switch-engine not In the shop but her fire box had been overhauled the week be fore and wao reported to be In ex cellent condition. "Thnt settles It." Iluck Ogllvy mourned. "The Colonel Is ns suspicious as n rhino, no doesn't know nnythlng, hut he smlls danger Just the snme." "Exnetly. Iluck. So Jie Is delaying tho gnmo until he rnn lenrn something definite," rin drummed Idly on his desk for several minutes. Then; "Ilurk. can yon ran n locomotive?" "With one hnnd. old mnn." "Fine business I Well, I guess we'll put In thnt crossing tomorrow night. The switch-engine will be In tho round house nt Pennington's mill tomorrow night, so we can't stenl that; hut we can stenl tho mogul. I'll Just send word up to my woods boss not to hnve his train loaded when the mogul comes up Into tomorrow nftemoon to hnu! It down to our log Inndlng. Of course, tho engine crew won't bother to run down to Sequoia for the night thnt Is. they won't run the mogul down. They'll Just lenve her nt our log Inndlng all night nnd put up for tho night nt our camp." 'Tint how do you know they will put up nt your enmp nil night, Ilryce?" "My men will mnko them comfort nble, nnd It means (hey can lie abed until seven o'clock Instead of having to roll out nt five o'clock, which would be the ense If they spent the night nt this end of tho lino. There Is n slight grade nt our log Inndlng. 1 know t:.nt, because the nlr leaked out of the brakes on a log (rain I wns on a short time ago, and tho train ran nwny with me. Now. the engine crew Will set the airbrakes on the mogul nnd leave her with steam up to throb all night ; the.-'ll not blow her down, for Hint would mean work firing her In the morning. Our tnk, Iluck. will hi to throw off the airbrakes nnd lot her glide silently out of our log land ing. About a mile down the road we'll stop, get up steam, run down to the Junction with the mnln line, hack In on tho Laurel Creek spur, couple onto thnso tint cars nnd breeze mer rily down te Sequoln with them. They'll be tended wnltlng for us; our men will bo concregnted In our dry ynrd Just off Wnter street near P.. waiting for lis to arrive with the rails nnd bingo we gn to It. After wp c.rop the tints, we'll run the engine bnck to the "woods, lenvo It where we found It. return n-flylng. Yon enn get bnck In ample 'Imp to superintend the cutting of the crossing!" "Spoken llko n mnn!" quoth Thick Ogllvy. "You're the one mnn In this world for whom I'd stenl a locomo tive. 'At-a-boy!" nnd either of the conspirators known of Pennington's plnns to enter tnln Mayor Poundstone at dinner on Thursday night. It Is prnhnble they would not hnvo cheerpd until those Hut cars were out of tho woods. Mayor Poundstone nnd his wife nr rlved nt tho Pennington homo In Tied wood boulevard at six forty-flvo Thurs dny evening. It wns with a profound feeling of relief thnt his honor lift ed tho lady from rhelr modest little ness to them and that their henrts are true. No one knows when the flro was kindled, not even Chief Charlie Tee Hee, but II. F. Aberoathy, a white man who lives In Murphy, says It wns burning 33 years ago when he took up his residence there. It does not nhvnys show signs of life, but down In tho cone of ashes that has accumu lated until It Is threo feet high, are embers that are kept alive by Introduc tion of n gum that Is taken from a tree. Many of the Indians believe the "flivver," Tor once Inside tho Penning ton house, he felt, ho would bo free from n pccullnrly devilish brand of persecution Inaugurated by bis wife nbout three months previously. Mrs. I oundstone wnnicd n new nutomobllo. And she hnd entered upon a enm pnlsn of nngglng and cnmplnlnt, hop ing to wear Pnundstnne's resistance down to the point where ho would be willing to barter his hopo of snlvn Hon In return for n guarantee, of pence on enrth. "I feel like n perfect fool, ending upon these people In this filthy rattle trap." Mrs. Poundstone protestpd. Mnyor PouniNtone pnused. "In pity's name, wnmnn." he growled, "tnlk nbout something else. Give me one night of pence. Let me enjoy my dinner nnd this visit." "I enn't help It." Mrs. P retorted tvlth nsperlty. She pointed to Shirley Sumner's cur parked under the porte cocherp. "tf 1 hnd n sedan like that. I could die happy. And It only cnt thirty-two hundred and fifty dollars." "I paid six hundred nnd fifty for the rattletrap, nnd I couldn't nfford thnt," he Hlmost whimpered. "You were Iwippy with It until I wns elected mnyor." "You forget our snclnl position, my dear." she purred sweetly. lie could hnve struck her. "Hang your social position," he gritted sav agely. "Shut up, will you? Social position In n sawmill town I Dam mit, you'll drive me crazy yet," Pound stone gurgled, nnd subsided. The Pennington butler, a very su perior person, opened the door. The Poundstines entered. At tho entrance to the llTlng room the butler an nounced sonorously: "Mnyor Pound stone nnd Mrs. Poundstone." "Glnd to see you nhonrd the ship," Colonel Pennington boomed with his best nlr of henrty oxpnnslvenoss. "Well, well," ho continued, lending Mrs. Poundstone to n divan In front of the fire, "this Is certnlnly delightful. My niece will be down In two shakes of a Inmh's tnll. Hnve n cigarette. Mr. Poundstone." In tho midst of the commonplace chatter Incident to such occasions. Shir Iry entered tho room ; nnd the Colonel leaving her to entertnln the guests, went to n sninll sldchonrd In one cor ner nnd brought forth tho "ranterlnls," as ho Jocularly termed them. James appeared llko mnglc with a trny, glasses nnd tiny serviettes, and the Colonel's elixir wns pnssed to tho coin pnny. "Dee-llclous." murmured Mrs. Pound stone. "Perfectly dee-llclous. And not strong!" "Hnve nnother." her hospitable host suggested, and ho poured It, quite ob livious of thp frightened wink which the mnyor telegraphed his wife. Pound stono prayed to his rather nebulous gods that Mrs. P. would not discuss automobiles during the dinner. Alas! The Colonel's cocktails were not unduly fortified, but for all thnt. tht two which Mrs. Poundstone had nsslmllnted contained Just sufficient "kick" to loosen tho Indy's tongue without thickening It. Consequently, nbout the time tho "piece de resist ance" made Its appearance, Mie threw caution to the winds nnd adverted to the subject closest to her henrt "I wns telling Henry ns we came lip the wnlk how greatly I envied you that benutlful sedan. Miss Sumner." she gushed. "How nn open car does blow onp around, my dear!" "Yes, Indeed," snld Shirley Inno cently. "Heard tho McKInnon people hnd n man killed up In their woods yestrr dny, Colonel," Poundstone remarked. Imping ngalnst hope to divert tho con versation. "Yes. The fellow's own fault," Pen nington replied. "He wns one of those employees who held to the opinion that every mnn Is tho captain of his own soul and the sole proprietor of his own body hence that It behooved him to look nfter both. In view of tho lilgh cost of safety appliances. He was warned thnt the logging cable was wenk ut Hint old splice nnd liable to pull out of the heckut and sure enough It did. Tho free end of the cable snapped back like n whip, nnd " "I hold to the opinion," Mrs. Pound stono Interrupted, "that if one wishes for a thing hard enough and Just keeps on wishing, one Is bound to get It." ''My dear." said Mr. Poundstone Impressively, "If yon would only con fine yourself to wishing, I nnuro you your chances for success would be In finitely brighter." There wns nn mistaking this rebuke; even two cocktails were powerless to render Mrs. Poundstone oblivious to It. With the nicest tnct In tho world.- Shir lev adroitly changed the subject to some tailored shirtwaists she had ob serve.' In the window of a local dry goods emporium that day, and Mrs. Poundstone subsided. About nine o'clock, Shirley, In re sponse to n meaning glnnce from hei relntlve, tnctfully convoyed Mrs Poundstone upstairs, leaving her unch alone with his prey. Instantly Pen nlntrton got down to business. "Well," he queried, apropos of noth Ing, "whnt do you henr with referenci to tho Northern Cnllfornln-Oregou rail road?" "Oh, the usual Jtnouut of wind. Colo- flro cannot die on account of It being a symbol of a covennnt between God nnd man. On special occasions." such as stomp dances, one of which Is going on now, the fire Is allowed to become n good sized camp Are nnd then tho braves sit nround It nnd smoke a pecullnr pipe, an act thnt renews the Inilfrrldunt covennnt of each. Hut be It great or small, tho flro Is kept alive b,v nn at tendant, the present ono being George Potato, pii whoso land tho ceremonies are held. net. Nobody knows whnt to tnnke of 'that outfit." Pennington studied the end of his cigar n moment. "Hnvo they made any ninve to get n franchise?" ho asked bluntly. "If they hnve, I suppose you would be the first man to hear nbout It I don't mean to he Impertinent," he added with a gracious smile, "but the fact Is I no ticed Hint wlndhng Ogllvy entering your office In the city hall tho other nftemoon, nnd I couldn't help wonder ing whether his visit wns social or of llclnl." "Social so fnr ns I could observe," Poundstone replied truthfully, wonder ing Just how much Pennington knew. "Prellmlnnry to the olllrinl visit, 1 dare say." The Colonel pufTed thoughtfully for n wlille for which tho mnyor was grateful, since It provided time In which to organize himself. Suddenly, however, Pennington turned townrd his guest and fixed the latter with a serious glnnce. "1 hadn't anticipated discussing this mntter with jou, Poundstone. nnd you must forgive me for It; but the fact Is 1 might as well he frank with you I bid very grently Interested In the operation of this proposed railroad. If It Is built. It will have a very distinct effect on my finances." "In Just what way?" "Disastrous." "I am amazed, Colonel." "You wouldn't he If you bad given the subject very close consideration. Such n road ns the N. C. O. .contemplntcs will tnp nbout one-third of the red wood belt only, while a line built from the south will tnp two-thirds of It. The remaining third enn bo tapped by an extension of my own logging rond; when my own timber Is logged out. 1 will wnnt other business for my road, nnd If the N. C. O. parallels It. I will he left with two streaks of rust on my hands." "Ah. I p-'icelvc. Fo It will, so It will !" "You ngree with mo, then, Pound stone, Hint tho N. C. O. I.i not designed t foter Iho best Intprpsts of the community. Of course you do. I tnko It, therefore, that when the N. C. O. nppllesfnr Its franchise to run through Sequoln. ni-ltli" you nor your city council will consider tho proposition nt nil." "I cannot, of course, spenk for tho city council" Ponndstnno began, hut Pennington's cold, nmuscd smile froze further ntternnce. "Tie frank with me, Poundstone. 1 nm not n child. Whnt I would llko to know Is this; will you exert every ef fort to block thnt franchise In the firm conviction thnt by so doing you will accomplish a Inudahle public service?" Poundstono squirmed. "When I have hnd time to look Into the matter more thoroughly " "Tut-tut, my dear man! Let us not straddle the fence. Business Is n game, and si Is politics. Nelthei knows nny sentiment Suppose you should favor this N. C. O. crowd In n n.Istnkeu Men that you were doing the right thing, nnd that subsequently i.uniherless fellow-cltlzens developed the Idea that you had not done your public duty. Would some of them not lie likely to Invoke n recall election and retire you nnd your city council In disgrace?" "I doubt If they could defeat me. Colonel." "I have no such doubt," Pennington replied pointedly, Poundstniip looked up at him from under lowered lids. "Is thnt n threat?" he demanded tremulously. "My dear fellow I Threaten my guest!" Pennington Inughed pntronlz Ingly. "1 nm giving you advice. Pnwidtnnp and rather good odvlre. It strikes me. However, while we're on the subject. I have no hesltnncy In telling yon thnt In the event of n dis astrous decision on your part, I should not feel Justified In supporting jam." lie might with equal frankness, hnve said: "I would smash you." To his guest his meaning was not nbsrure, Poundstone studied the pnttern of the rug. nnd Pennington, wntchlng lilm sharply ww that the mnn wns dis tressed. Hi resolved on n bold stroke. "Let's not bent nbout tho bush, Poundstone," he .nld with the nlr of a father patiently striving to Induce his child to reennt a lie, tell the truth, nnd save himself from the parental wratl., "You've been doing business with Ogllvy; I know It for n fnct nnd you might as well qilmlt it." Poundstone looked, up. red nnd em l-nrrnssed. "if I hnd known" he he gnn. "Certnlnlv. certnlnly! I renllze yon acted In perfect good fnllh. You're like the majority of people In Sequoln. You're till so trazy for rail connection with the witMdo world Hint yon Jump nt the first plnn that seems lo promise you one. Hnve you promised Ogllvy n franchise?" There wns no dodging Hint ques tion, A denlnl. under tho present clr runistnnces, would be tantamount to an ndmlsslnn; Poundstono could ns: guess Just how much the Colonel really knew, nnd It would not do to lie to htm, since eventually tho He must bt ENRICHED BY DEED OF 1848 Finding of Ancient Document Raises Woman From Comparative Pov erty to Wealth. New York. The finding of nn old deed, dated November 21, 1818, has elated Mrs. Mary A. Harney of Jag gar nvenuc, Flushing, from compara tive poverty to wealth. Her fortune Is cstlmntcd well Into flvo flgun. The ancient document has been lost for more than 20 years. It gives owner discovered. He resolved to "corae clean." i "Tho city council has nlrendy grunt ed tho N. C O. a temporary fran chise," ho confessed, Pennington sprang furiously to his feet. "Dnmmlt," ho snarled, "why did you do Hint without consulting mo?" "Didn't know you were remotely In terested," Now thnt the Ico was bro ken, Poundstone felt relieved nnd was prepared to defend his net vigorously. "And we did not commit ourselves Ir revocnbly," ho continued. "Tho tern pornr; franchise will expfro In twenty-eight dnys nnd In thnt tlmo the N. C O. cannet even get stnrted." "Hnve you any understanding ns to nn extension of that temporary frnn clilsp. In enso the N. C. O. desires It?" "Well, yes not In writing, however. I gave Ogllvy to understand that If he wns not ready In thirty dnys, an ex tension could readily bo arranged." "Any witnesses?" "I nm not such n fool, sir." Pound stone declared with nsperlty. "I hnd n notion I might ns well admit It that you would have serious objection to having your tracks cut by a Jump crossing nt II nnd Wnter streets." And for nn reason In life except to Justify himself nnd Incnlcnte In Pennington nn Imprpsslnn thnt the Intter wns dcnl Ing with n crafty nnd far-seeing mayor. Poundstone smiled boldly nnd knowingly. He lenned bnck nouchnt nntly nnd blew smokp nt the celling. "You oily rnsrnl I" Pennington solilo quized. "You'ro n smarter man thnn I thought You're trying to piny both ends ngnlnst the mlddta." He recalled the report of his prlvnte detective nnd thu Incident of Ogllvy's visit to young Henry Poundstone's ofllco with n stnnl! leather bng; ho wns more thnn ever convinced Hint this bng had contained the bribe, In gold coin, which had beni productive of that temporary frnnitilro and the verbal understanding for its r-welble exten sion. "Ogllvy did bustnsM with yoa through your son Henry," ho chnl tended, Poundstono stnrted violently. "How much dhl nenry get out eC UT" Pennington continued brutally. "Two hundred nnd fifty dollars re tainer, and not a cent more." Pound stono protested virtuously nnd truth fully. "You're not so good a buslncw mnn ns I gave you credit for being." iho Colonel retorted mirthfully. "Two hun dred and fifty dollars I Oh, Lord I Poundstone, you're funny. Upon my word you're a scream." And the Colo nel gnve himself up to a sincerely hearty iHUgh. "You call It n retainer," ho continued presently, "but grand Jury might cull It something else. How ever," ho went on nfter & slight pause,, "you're not In politics for your bculth; so let's get down to brass tncks. Uow much do you want to deny the N. C. O. not only an extension of tt.atr tem porary franchise hut also n permanent franchise when they apply for It?" Poundstone rose with grent dignity. "Colonel Ponnlngtcn, sir," ho said, "you Insult me." "Sit down. You've been Insulted that way before now. Shall we sny one thousand dollnrs per ench for your three good councllmen nnd true, nnd for yourself that sedan of my nlecp's? It's a good car. I Imagine It will plcnso Mrs. P. Immensely nnd grant you sur cease from sorrow. Of course, I will not give It to you. I'll sell It to you flvo hundred down upon tho signing of tho agreement, nnd In lieu of the cash I will take over that Jitney Mrs. Poundstono finds so distasteful. Then I will employ your son, Henry, ns the nttorney for the Lagunn Grando Lum ber company and give him a retainer of twenty-five hundred dollars' for one year. I will leave It to you to get this twenty-five hundred dollnrs from Henry nnd pay my niece cash for the car. Doesn't Hint strike you ns a per fectly safe and snno proposition?" Hnd' a vista of paradise opened up before Poundstone, ho could not hnvo been more thrilled. He hnd been abso lutely honest In his plea to Mrs. Poundstone thnt ho could not afford n tlilrtytwo-hundrcd-and-tlfty-dollars se dan, much ns ho longed to oblige her and gain a greatlyto-be-deslrod peace. And now the price wns dangling before his eyes, so to speak, At nny rate It was parked In the porte-cochero not fifty feet distant! 'TO IJE CONTINUED.) Cloth for Hard Wear. A new textile fabric which. It Is claimed, will tend to lower the pres ent high cost of men's clothing Is be ing placed on the market by a Pud sey (Yorkshire) manufacturer, writes Henry V. Grady from l-ondon. The London ngents of tho manufacturer stnte that the new cloth Is mnde en tirely of silk noil (or short fibers) ; nnd Hint, while superior In wenrlnf properties to n pur worsted. It cna bo sohl at tho price of the best wool fabrics. It Is snld to be strong nnd almost untenrnblo, very suitable fof hard wear, and enn be obtained Is. grays, browns nnd blacks. Not at All. "Did you ndmlro ttva nuances td. that singer?" "Why, everything ah hud on was as old M th bUW ship rights to 10 acres of property nt Oyster bay, L. I., overlooking tho sound. Tho deed, which was found among some old papers, conveyed tho prop crry to Daniel Tlaymon, Mrs. Tlnrney's grandfather 72 years ago,' but ns It had been fnlslnld, Mrs. Harney was unable to obtain possession of tno property. Upon Its discovery, however, tho present occupants agreed to va cate, and ns soon as the legal techni calities have been fono thrpugh Mrs. Harney will become undisputed owner. LITTLE MOTHER By EDNA DOUTWELL. !, by iUCIun Niw.imp.r HnJlct.) Tho old-fashioned clock chimed 0. As. If It were a signal, tho Wlnsomo Lady opened tho door, nnd peered down thu dusky hnll, her eyes filled with welcome for tho little tlguro hastfly approaching. "Oh, I'm so glad you ciimc," whis pered Hie Wlnsomo Lady, drawing tho tiny figure' within tho room and clos ing the door. The frail hands caressingly stroked tho brown hnlr. For a moment there was silence, then tho Littlest Mother Epoke: "You nro n dear girl, Ituth, and I lovo you. I'm sorry you'ro going. Hut It's better, as you weren't nmilo for settlement work. Aro you going to marry thu Doctor Man?" The girl raised her bend quickly. "Marry him?" shu scoffed. "I'd sooner diet" "You sny things so beautifully. Hut talk to me," begged tho Winsome Lndy, us sho resumed her former position. "I think you need n lovu story. It sometimes proves u cure for a certnln Blckness. I'll tell you my own lovo story." "Yours I" smiled tho girl, her brown eyes tilled with a tender light. "It was long ago," begun tho Lit tlest Mother, bending her white head, "when I wns n girl. 1 lived In Ire land, by tho sen, I loved nnd wns loved by Tammas Wynne. Ono lovely moonlight night ns wo strolled hand In hand up I told Tumi the sldu of a woodland hill, 'nmmns that I was suru there were fairies about" " 'Fairies little men I' " mocked he, ""there nro no such things 1'" "Wo heard a penl of shrill laughter, hut could see 'no one. Then Tnmmas turned boyishly to mo and said: 'Walt for me, l.llcii, wait for met With this ho, was gone. I waited for a long time and then, being childishly nfrald, I went nfter hlin," Here the speaker's voice broke, but shu continued gravely as If grown weary with thu telling: "At thu top of the hill I found Tain inns ilpml. Demi, with n smlln nn bis ! face, nnd In his hnnds a tiny sliver button I Tho fairies hud punished him and left their sign." Tho girl's eyes wcro luminous with unshed tears. 'Hut you don't bcllcvo thatdo you?" queried the girl as they both urose. "Of course I Everyono believed' It I' Hut It's children I've always wanted. iw.AtJilsht. I dream of them, with their ' Iltjlt'hanttf'thnt they hold out'tofrife. ' lvent to night school for long years rf to bo n teacher ;"but I came here, out of pity. ' I think today Is my birth- day, and I've t-uved enough to 'buy u ticket to Ireland. I don't feel llko denning In fnct I don't feel very well " She hesitated ns tho door opened and revealed thu handsome, debonair doctor. "1 heard tho story," he announced, flushing, "und ltuth, forgive mo I I'm not In thu bcrvh;c, because I belong to tho secret service. "Oh, my dear," nnd the girl kissed him. "Why didn't you tell mo? I thought you were: a slacker I" And thu Llfllest Mother, being worldly wise, slipped quietly out, Into the crowdeil street . Suddenly shu heard her nnmu cnllcd. Shu turned nnd confronted a big Irish policeman known ns Tim ltcllly. Ily tho nnn hu held n girl with painted lips and wide, frightened eyes. In his rich brogue ho narrated to the tiny lady, how tho "slick un," ns the girl was famed, had been caught btealltig ngnln. "An' It's me s will give 'er her doos." ho grinned. "Let mo whisper In your enr, Tim," commanded tho Littlest Mother, as If shu did not mind thu curious throng. "Sure nn' I will," shouted Tim, straightening up; "ye nirn sulnt Take her1 If ye can find good In thu lolkcs of her." The weo Indy's eyes twinkled like stars as she drew the girl Into a door way, whllo Tim dispersed tho crowd. "Take this," she snld, giving tho girl a roll of bills, "und try to be a better girl." The girl looked shrewdly nfler tho disappearing figure. "God what a fool 1" she sneered, and fled. The Littlest Mother reached her cheerless room nt hist, and sank wear ily down In a chair facing thu distant sunset. liclow the window stood a wanderer, his violin tucked lovingly beneath his chin. Seeing the weary figure, lip start ed to piny n haunting melody. Thu wenry look fled, nnd the Littlest Mother, chancing to rnlso her eyes, gave a cry of rapture. For there, hung on the faded wall, was a picture of the Madonna and Child tho birthday gift of her friends. "Tammas," whispered tho Littlest Mother, "see the baby and look tho mother smiles nt inc." She stretched out. eager, trembling hands toward the plcturo and almost unconsciously repented theso sweet old words she loved so well: "Do you think whnt tho end of n per fect day Can mean to a. tired heart " Well, this Is the end of a perfect day. Near tho end of a Journey, too " Her volco broke as the wanderer ceased his playing, and sho bowed her bead on her hands, murmurln;: "I've 1 wnlted long, Tammas I'm coining I I'm coming!" I And the dying sunset touched with a I lingering caress the bent head, and, 1 the clory of It filled tho room.