Picturegoer (1922)

40 THE PICTUREGOE-R MAY 1922 Mary ' il you would only listen " Oli, I have listened, I know, I have listened to another voice than yours — a voice within me that was never, never silent and — I cannot ! Thank you -oh ! 1 thank you, but — please go." She ro.se, and he saw that it was the end. " I shall--! must know where you go and what becomes of you. Some day " Good-bye." Good -bye He went slowly from the room, and walked with dragging footsteps to his own But he did not so much as look at the bed. He sat where he had been sitting before, by the dying fire, with his head on his hands, staring dully into the flames, wondering. " I must keep track of her somehow. 1 must jgfry know where she goes I may meet her again. And her— husband ' Next morning he left the house ■ before t he other guests were astir Mut he was not the first. He was unable to say good-bye again to Mary. She had been gone an hour when he came down. Mary had returnee to the unspeakable misery of the " home that sheltered her husband' and herself She had had her dream of lover and happiness her Cinderella's holiday. She had met and loved Prince Charming, but now the clock had sounded the knell of her romance, and now she must return to drudgery and despair. On the first day of her return home, Mary received a visit from Mrs. Mallory, who besought her not to acquaint Nelson with the details of their plot. in any case," urged Mrs. Mallory, you will be well advised not to see Mr. Rogers again. It is best that you should remain apart," \nd Mary, with bitterness in her heart, assented. I ."'or live days Nelson tramped New York looking for a face The address that he had obtained from the Mallorys had proved an emptv nesl He had called there ; but though Steve Maddock was well enough known at the place, he was gone now, A\)i\ for keeps, as the neighbours informed Nelson. Ill di spaii . he turned away. In ;ill_New York's teeming millions was. somewhere, the woman he sought. But -where The chances were millions to one against him ; yet he kept on. From early morning to long after the last street prowler was abed he searched the streets, looking at each face with the sunrise of hope, turning away with the sunset of the hope shattered. It seemed that he would never find her. Fool he had been to let her go ! Not to have watched her like a faithful dog ! Dog ? Less than a dog was he. A fool— thrice a fool. He was crossing Central Park at one of the quiet times, when the paths were deserted, and he thought lie was alone. He wanted to sit in some sheltered place and think. Suddenly he was aware that his own footsteps were echoed by others. He turned, again well advised vol to sec Mi buoyed with hope. But, no ! Only a man— some loafer of the park nobody ! He walked on savagely, cursing fate. Soon the man came alongside and seemed to walk with him. Nelson stopped and looked at the fellow. The man stopped, too. " Don't know me, boss, eh ? " 1 neither know wish to know you,'' Rogers. " No ? Don't go makin mistakes, boss. Don't pay. look the way a thing's going eh ? Business man Nelson ain't it ? " " Well " Am I it ? I asked ver. That is my name." i iood, Where can w e talk don't look that way at me, We met bclore. Old friends You know you nor do I retorted Nelson any fng Always to pay, Rogers, Now , boss like He gunned again, and then proceeded "In a certain lady's bedroom in a certain house in a certain avenue Fifth, wasn't it ? Shockin' incmon yer got. too, boss, Nelson started. Her husband " You bet ' livery time ' Nelson motioned the man to a secluded bench, and then sat beside him, " Well ? " Well You thinks a bit about my missus, eh, boss "J If that is what you intend to discuss " Oh. well, please yerself. 1 was only goin' ter tell yer. It this way. km a bit of a lad myself— a bit of a goer. Not many folks know that Mary s my wife see ? Oet what I'm drivin' at ? The police are pretty fond o me give anything to gel me, police would " 1 in mustard and pepper, when it comes to hot \n ll it got about that Mary was hinged to vours truly in lawful wedlock, it d mess up her good name some. Gel mc \nd then, ii the word went round that you was sort of see ' sweel on the goods. Well. I mean to sa_\ . I m no credit i" any body, I'm something to he married to, 1 am ' You see w hat I mean 1 in the sort i heerful soul it d pay anyone to shut up, Arc \ er gettin me '■ "■ Nelson'.-, lip curled " I low much do von " Ah, now we're talkin Answer me. Ten thousand What ? " Please your little sett, boss NeNon thought n over. \nd no funny bits," the man went on. 'Try any funny bits an' the nastiest scandal will fly about New York all about Mary and you, and a hot little pepper pot like me ! I tell yer. it'll be some disgUStin' • Mary'll never dare show her face again. You neither Don't matter very much il it's true or not. do it ? I mean from my point o view. Anv way, I in warnin' you. Don't try put tin the cops wise to little Wilfred, oi Ten thousand ? ' That's the \ erv noise " Hut \in l anv butS in it, is there. boss " I was going to say that 1 haven't it with me, now That s allfrighl Always oblige ■< comrade. Dvou know Brickfield Place i " You .,/// hi lit . • i s again.'