The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7871, 13 July 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

THE GIRL FROM WELDON'S She was certainly pretty. Archie Newport had said it, and Archie Newport- was an artist and knew all about these thiogs. When she visited Portadown mansions he used to stand at his window am) waich her •right from a car, trip across the pavement—holding np her dainty skirt the while daintily, whereby he got a peep at the most fascinating petticoat, to say nothiag of a pair of ankles the hike of which could not be scon in the neighbourhood—and so on into the huge building in which ke occupied a modest fiat. By the time she was in the ball, and had nodded to the janitor, Mr Newport had generally reached the door of his flat, which she had to pass, for the elevator was jnst opposite, and was pulling on his gloves preparatory to sallying out. He discovered that she visited the people on the third floor, and he set himself to learn as much as he could about them. There seemed (0 be some kind of mystery about them. They were an Kalian couple, ami the janitor, whom he interviewed remarked that he didn't know that "they were mack good." Mr Newport provided his informant with the kind of refreshment which latent mesmerism generally demands, ami returned to bis studio. ".Strange thing," be reflected, as he gayly painted "Venice by Moonliuht." with the confidence of a man who lias never travelled farther than New York. "Can't imagine why a nice girl like that can want to have anything to do w-ith such people. Hope it's all right." He had no particular reason for doubting that n was all right, but he took a great Merest in her. and had reached that stage when a man thinks that a girl needs someone lo look after her. She generallv came in the evening, and never appeared earlier than J o'clock. From this it may be gathered that be bad studied her habitk closely. One night his chance came, thou»h it cannot be said that be availed himself of Ut o aB . gj nt extent. Sne—he bad got the narrow-minded Way of thinking of her aa "she" apparently having lost sight of the fact that there are other people rn the Worhl of the female sex—arrived as usual a( about a qearter past 7, ami try the most extraordinary good fortune he was, as usual, just going for * w ?[*: tomwioaitly they met in the hall. The'ianltor happened to be ouf, and the elevator bor was likewise absen; so Archie Newport stepped into the breach. "I'm afraid the hoy who looks after the elevator is not here to-day" he said, raising his hat, "Can I do anything for you 1" "Oh. no, it doesn't matter," she sard with a smile and a blush. "I can easily run up the stairs " ' If you will allow me, 1 shall b>glad to put you up in the elevator " ii-' said. "I'm a tremendous <lab at elevators." He took his place in the car as lie M>okc, and waited for her to join bun. She gazed at him with a little perplexity, h is probable (hat his rmpulsive goodness took her breath away, and it was borne in upon him that she was quite the prettiest girl he had seen. . " l ~} rfall T couldn't think of v troubling you," she stammered. The painter assured her with much solemnity that, so far from bring a trouble, it would be a source of almost inexpressible happiness, that her look of perplexity vanished and a smile broke over her face. ''lf you are Hjuite sure.it would not be taking too much of vour time " she murmured, and stepped into the elevator. He decided to paint the scene, substituting a gondola lor the elevator ami run it into his picture. . "Which floor do you want to go to?" he asked, diploma' iially, he knew that Mr and Mrs Ferrari lived en the third. "I Art*- it's the third," she murmured. "It's Mr Ferrari's flat I am He nosed the door and gave the eord a raigttly pull. Perhaps he overdid the pulling, or perhaps elevators, like human beings, arc endowed with a special talent for pcrverr, *ity.

Whatever it was. the fact remains tha. after springing upwards with unusual celericy, the elevator stopped suddenly with a jerk. '■That's funny," fiaid the artist. "Where are we * • she inquired, in a half frightened voice. "About midway between the second and third floors," he said, looking right a^ain." He pulled Hie corti at first genllv and then violently, but the elevator remained as still as i( it were cmbedded in a rock.

"Perhaps we had better go down again," she said.

"Perhaps we had," he admit-to! He tried 1o maVo the elevator de sceml, but failed.

'"lt strikes ni* the silly thin* lias; struck fast," he muttered. "You don't think it will fall, do you ?" she asM, with a scar.il face.

"<)h, no," bo replied with acoufnlpnce be did not feel. "The janitor will return soon ami I shall shout to him. He will put it ri-'hi ■again in no time." "

"Is hr a dab al elc*ator.s, tun she Inquired, with a kftrd of treuiu hjus niischicvousncss.

Al ihat moment he thought he nrard the janitor's step in the tall Wow.

„ "Hello '." he called out. "Is that you, Wilkriis ?" "Yes, sir," replied the ex-soldier heartily. "It's mo." "This wretched elevator has stuck last. .Sec if you can release it." Soon came the welcome news that it wouldn't take five minutes (o release it.

"Will you let me. give you my card?" asked Mr NewpVt, while Ibey waited to be freed. 'And 1 hope you will forgive me for giving -■ you such a (right. I am an aili.l Do you think you could Rive mc a few minutes one evening and let nit sketch you. I have alreadv done :»o lrom meaory." IU took a touch drawing fmiii hi., pocket-book, where he kept it for means id refreshing his memory when the world was more than usually awry, and showed it to her. t>he was evidently pleased, but said tt was quite impossible for her to flivc him a any rale, for some tmie to come-as her evenings wwc fully occnpie4, the day I am in Wcldon's V?™} 1 * to"**. »s you know," she awted. "Why do you say, 'as I know ' '" be asked. "Because you followed mc home «w c»cnin», and since thrn I I.a\e jr" , / oU ,P* ss <"""« °r 'wice during - ( the day, she replied demurely. Mr Newport grinned. It was true

that be hadJoHowcd her omueventhA but lie bdiesed'bc had dW it With so much skill that she Was not awaiv of it. v 1 ' 1 hope jou will forgive me for that, too," he said. , "Oh. ;es :" she said lightly The elevator Itas amended at last, and they iiad now reached the,third floor. "And now 1 will say good-night," she added. "Thank you so much for .50111 kind assistance." \ "Do not make such a noise," said a voice with an unmistakablv foreign accent. Archie Newport rutfoed his eyes and woke himself up as suddenly as possible. It was 6 o'clock in the morning. "Be careful !" said the Italian voire. "Now, steady • Ah, there you go ' II is too heavy for you. Wait, I will find someone else to help you." (To be Continued).