MISS ANYBODY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXV, Issue 57, 30 July 1909, Page 7

MISS ANYBODY.

A BKOKEN VAgE AND A SHATA TBRED HEART. By John Barton Oxford. Brophy, swimming leisurely shoreward against the ebbing tide, wa toned sharply the bobbing red cap of the „irl who swam in the same direction some dozen yards ahead of him, jj! the shallow water hear the shore, dost of noisy bathers splashed and screamed ; but Brophy and the girl in the red cap were the only ones who had ventured out to the rafts. It was a long swim back, especially with the tide ebbing strongly, and Brophy noticed that the girl's strokes were becoming shorter and her rests were arowing more frequent, "presently, with a few determined strokes, he was beside her. The beach was yet a long, hard swim distant. -You shouldn't have tried it," said Brophy quietly, "especially with the tide against you coming back. You ar e tired out. Can't 1 help you ?" The g'rl gave him a glance of cold disapproval from her grey eyes, and then, without a word, struck out, resolutely. Brophy shut his teeth at the rebuff gjid swam doggedly in her wake. But B few yards further on the hirl's distress was so evident that he again quickened his own strokes. "You'll not make it," he declared. "You'll have to let me help you, whether you want to or not, for, as ; us ual, the lifeguards are flirting down ' there by the pier,'and you might go uader 40 times for all they'd know of i it. P ut vour h a!l d s on my shoulders; r I'll help you in." i She looked him over thoughtfully,' f as if she were taking his measure, i murmured "Thank you," a bit, r breathlessly, he thought, and the I next minute her hands rested lightly,, oil his big shoulders, and Brophy was taking them through the water with his strong, clean strokes. When they reached the shallow, the hands were withdrawn from his shoulders, and the girl, finding her feet, waded beside him to the beach. She was decidedly attractive, Brophy decided. Her mouth and chin were firm and resolute, but the upturned nose gave a certain piquancy to her small, round face. From beneath the bath- | ing cap a single strand of copper-col-i oured hair strayed rebelliously. "Thank you. You were very good," she said, as they reached the bearh. Then, she walked briskly towards the bathing pavilion. A hall-hour later, as he strolled aimlessly along the beach, he saw her sitting in the sand ; a green parasol was raised above her head and an open book was in her lap. As he passed her, she looked up from herj book. A twinkle of recognition came ' into the grey eyes ; a hint of a smile lilted the corners of her mouth. Her head was inclined in a half-nod.

Brophy lifted his hat, fully intending to walk on; but somehow his feet refused to carry him further. He stood looking down at her, somewhat embarrassed, somewhat uncomfortable, but with a certain distinct pleasure taking sudden and unexpected possession of him.

"I—l hope you are none the worse ior the swim," he stammered awkwardly.

"A'ot a bit," said she. Brophy looked doubtfully at the and beside her. A slow red crept Mo his face. It was a homely, good-natured face—the sort of a faco to inspire confidence. May 1 sit down ?" he suggested. Tlie girl looked at him again, with that same measuring glance she had given him in the water ; then she smiled and inclined her head in asSent.

They talked—rather haltingly at first—of the weather, the water, the crowd at the park ; and Brophy, his eyes ostensibly on the ocean, but in reality covertly scanning the girl beade him, was aware of a most pleasing sense of contentment.

"I was just going to lunch at the cafe," he said, tentatively, at length. 'ld like—that is, if you don't mind—--1 thought perhaps you'd come too." Ttagirl laughed. "Oh, I don't mind,'- she said. "I*ll go on ona condition-that you'll let me pay my own way."

'"Oh, all right," Brophy laughed, 'l'll accept it. My name " The girl held out a warning hand. ( 'Don't spoil it all," she said lightly. iou are Mr Somebody and lam liss Anybody, and this is the country oi anywhere. We ' can have a jolly tinie'lor the rest of the day, if you'll feave it like that." Brophy grinned his amusement. "1 a ?ree. Come on, Miss Anybody," said he, jumping up and helping her to her feet.

Mophy had never spent such a wholly enjoyable time in his life as that afternoon proved to be. After per they went the round of Willow «rks varied and hair-raising amuse- ; they strolled together on the « a m: they watched the bathers tumbling about in the surf; they shared Peanuts and popcorn and amazing, Btlck y confections done up in gay-col-°wed paper. And every time her gay ™ghter rang out, or her nose upWedl in that wholly adorable fashion, wophy was aware 0 f a s t r a n g e and growing disturbance in the region of Ine roofs and towers were outlined llh twinkling lights, when the girl Jounced she must return to the uii° U " let me K° back on the train . '"> you-as far as the station, at «}' V oll '* you ?" Brophy urged. to tar as the station," she con-

jAU the way up, .the impending partS with her loomed like some great »« Portentous disaster in the backg>und of Brophy's mind. But it into i\ m[[ the train was P ullin S boa h i gloomv &tation tnat tte ha™! . t , hc sub J e ct uppermost in his passed thoughts. hetvu here ' Miss Anybody," said with conviction, "I thought this CurfT ~t he wav we P lamed i 4 2Jd be all right. But it isn't. You f h f ' ne see you again—you must.' DaJw n had come t0 a stop ; the rtX g6rS Were min S out of the a bea„r[ S ; T he g irl ' s fa ce took on "Weft 1 eo,our - Shoull; She , challen ged- over her <Wn t \! as she moved before him ■IS 1 &o crowded aisle. „Jf me call," said he. "May I?" un ' yes," she. laughed, -*'U you

like." "Where ?" said Brophy, eagerly. "What is the address ?"

r They had reached the platform now. The girl's head was turned from him. 'At home, of. course," she answered, ; with a nepyous giggle. "And home—where is homo?" Brophy pleaded. "In the country of Anywhere," she mocked.

At that moment a card-case slipped from her belt and landed on the platform at their feet. Brophy bent to pick it up, and as he 'did so, his eyes fell on a bit of paper with a name and address upon it, which had jolted out of one of the pockets of the little leather case. He crushed it in his hand as he handed the card-caso to the girl. "Thank you," she said. "It has been a splendid afternoon, hasn't it V Good-bye, Mr Somebody." The next minute she had slipped into the crowd and was gone; but Brophy was smilffig serenely as he unfolded the bit of paper in his hand and read :

"Miss Elizabeth Carter, 22 Thorndike street."

It was written in ink on an ordinary bit of note-paper. In one corner, in pencil, was the further information: "Wed., 5.30."

Brophy chuckled delightedly. "5.30 Wednesday, is it ? No fear; I'll be there, Miss Anybidy alias Elizabeth Carter.'''

Still chuckling, he stalked out of the station with quickened pulses, and a feeling that he had been suddenly elevated to the clouds. The display in a florist's window caught his eye. Brophy entered and ordered with discrimination.

"Send them to Miss Elizabeth Carter, of 22 Thorndike street," he instructed : "the roses to-day, the, pinks Monday, the violets Tuesday, and the orchids Wednesday."

It was just 5 o'clock Wednesday afternoon when Brophy left the office of the Electric Switch Company, of which he was head bookkeeper, and caught a car that would take him past Thorndike street. At precisely 20 minutes past the hour he stood in the vestibule oi an apartment-house, with a chuckle of anticipation at the card over the bell of Suite 8, which bore the name : "T. F. Carter."

He rang the bell and pressed his ear to the tube.

"AVho is it ?" came a faint voice presently.

Brophy grinned. "Mr Somebody," he replied.

"Who ?" the voice inquired. "Mr Somebody," Brophy repeated, raising his voice. "Oh, is it you, Tom?" The smilo died a swift death on Brophy's lips. "No, it is not Tom," said he. "It is Mr Somebody, otherwise Edward F. Brophy." "Whom did you wish to see ?" the voice at the other end of the tube inquired with some asperity. "Miss Elizabeth Carter. Is she in?" For answer, the latch on the vesti-bule-door began clicking its invitation to be opened. Brophy pushed open the door and went "up the stairs three at a time. At the top of the third flight a door was open, and framed in the doorway stood a girl. "Is Miss Carter in ?" Brophy panted.

"I am Miss Carter," said the girl. Brophy fumbled his hat and stared his incredulity. "Did you have a message for me ?" Brophy ran his hand through his hair. He coughed. Then he thrust his hand .into his pocket and drew out a crumpled bit of paper. "Maybe you can teil me something about this," he suggested, holding itj out to her.

The girl took the paper and glanced at it.

"Oh, yes, I see," she said. "They have sent you. Step in. please." Utterly bewildered, Brophy followed her into a cosy living-roomj but scarcely had he done so when the bell iri the hall whirred.

The girl stepped to the tube in the hall.

"Yes?" Brophy heard her call. ''WJ}° ? Oh, it's you, Tom. Come

He heard her open the door and the sound of footsteps on the stairs. "Did you get my letter, Tom?" he heard the girl say to the newcomer. "I'd never, never in the world have forgiven you or written you to come it it hadn't been for what you did. It was perfectly dear of you. They' came every day. Oh, you needn't—look so innocent. I'm talking, of course, about the flowers you sent. Ihe 'first ones came the very day we had the tiff—not an hour after you left the house."

"Aha '■" muttered Brophy under his' breath, so the truth began to dawn. "Go into the den," the girl was rattling on, "and smoke if you like. There's a man."

The next minute the girl entered the living-room, bearing in her arms a large Canton vase, one side of which was badly shattered. Before Brophy could protest she had placed it in his arms.

"All the pieces are inside," said she. "Tellthem to be sure not to have the rivets shown. And ask them to drop me a line when I may call for it.'

"But—but " began Brophy., Before he got any further in his stammering protestations, however, the bell was whirring again. Again the girl stepped to the tube in the hall.

"Well ?" Brophy heard her say. "Oh, yes.—The man has just called for it.—What ? You didn't send any man ?—Well, he is here, anyway, and I have just given him the vase.—Perhaps you'd best come up and see about it."

Brophy, listening, felt the hot blood in his cheeks. What sort of a mix-up was he in for, anyway ? He set the vase on the floor and squared his shoulders.

Then someone came through the door, looked at him, gasped, and crimsoned beautifully, and Brophy jumped to his feet, and stood there beaming beautitudes; for there was. the girl of Willow Park ! "It's all right, then, is it, Miss Bolan ?" the other girl was saying. "You sent him, did you ?" "No; I didn't send him; but it's all right." She stepped towards the vase at Brophy's feet, "I'll take it back with me."

Brophy grinned. "I had best carry it. It's pretty heavy," said he,

| The beautitudes were still radiating i from his countenance as he followed Miss Dolan in the hall and che door of the flat closed upon them, leaving! them there alone. "Well '!" she said, shortly, and with a flash of fire in hei; eyes. Brophy began to laugh. "Let's begin at the beginning," said he. "It , was this that made all the trouble." He drew the bit of pappr from his pocket and held it out to her. She glanced at it with a puzzled , frown. did you get it ?" she asked. "It fell out of your card-case at tho station,'' said he, "and I thought —■ "What was it you thoughtf?" sha asked, coldly. "That it was your way of letting me know who you were and where you' lived," said he. "I'm glad, though, now, that I was. wrong," he ended*, thoughtfully. I Her face was very grave, but in the! grey eyes that looked at him steadily was something very like a twinkle. "And you came up here to-day expecting to find me ?" she asked. ( "Morc than that," said he, boldly. "I've sent up flowers every day, to sort of pave the way for the event." Her lips curled. She caught her breath. on," she commanded. "But the flowers I sent weren't wasted," he explained. "It seems they served to patch up a row between Miss Carter and Tom, whoever he may be ; or at least they will patch if up, if he has the good sense to keep tjuiet, as I've no doubt he has." She was plainly struggling to keep down her mirth. "Well," she said, "you had better give me the vase now." Brophy gripped it more tightly. "Never," lie declared. "Anyway, not until this matter is cleared up a bit farther. My name is Brophy - Edward F. Brophy." ' The girl smiled. She drew the card case from her belt, and opening it, silently handed Brophy a card. "The China Mending Shop. China, Bric-a-brac, and All Fragile Wear Made as Good as New. Mary K. Dolan, 178 Travers St." "Now give me the vase," she said. "You'd best let me carry it for you," replied Brophy, leading the way clown. At the corner, where they waited for a down-town car, he drew out the cardhe had slipped into his pocket, and; fell to studying it with an absorbed I frown. I " 'Ail fragile ware made as good as\! new,' " he read, musingly. "I think I've something that needs the atten- ' tion of your shop," he obesrved. "Yes !" she asked. He looked at her gravely, and then came a step nearer. "Ever since that day at the park," he said, in a low voice, "yes. ever since the minute you put your hands on my shoulders when I was swimming in with you, my heart has been busted into moro smithereens than any bit of China you ever mended. It strikes me it's up to you to mend it. ' Will you - please ?" "I have never undertaken any work of that kind," she said, her head turned from him, "but I suppose perhaps—l might try.''.