Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-02-25
The Morocco PURSE.
BY G. LEON MEREDITH.


slppi, visit the metropolis of the West TO
the purchase of goods.
Knowing Chicago TO be q great, wicket
city, have always been on my guard fo
sharpers, especially when carrying naucl
money, but my watchfulness failed at one
time to save me from very unpleasant ad-
venture, the experience, however, tefinin.
ating most favorably.
| The event took place two years ago.
| Late one afternoon, while on my return
from the wholesale house of Marshall
| Field & Co. to my hotel. was detained foi
| q minute Mt the corner of Clark and Madi-
son streets by clog of CARS and vehicles.
As / stood watching for an opportunity
to cross over, noticed d tall, gaunt man
gazing upon me intehtly. A fearful scowl
was upon his face, and the bony fingers
were clcnched firmly into the palms of his
white hands.
l was wondering what it could mean,
when suddenly a change came.
The strange looking man came quietly 10
my side, the hard look left his features, and
soft smile took its place. A well-f filed
morocco purse was suddenly slipped into
my hand and the man said hurriedly:
That's yours, Thompson. forgive you;
keep it,"
Before had time to open my lips in pro.
test, before l could tell him that my name
was not Thompson, the fellow had darted
away, mingled with the crowd, and was lost
TO view.
was perplexed.
My first thought was that followed pick-
pocket had forced the purse into my hand
to shield himself, and that would soon be
arrested as confederate.
Glancing about me l discovered no one
watching. All seemed to have individual
affairs to attend to, and not policeman
was in sight.
Still holding the fat, soft purse exposed
in my hand, the hotel was reached.
An hour spent in my room studying over
the affair did no sort of good. The simple
facts existed, that was all, and reflection in
any direction brought no plausible, at least
satisfactory, solution to the problem.
That the purse had been stolen there was
no doubt. And why it had been given to
me, or why the thief should wish to forgive
Thompson and give the article to him, OF
course could not determine.
After half an hours deliberation, a reso-
luton was formed to find the owner OF the
pocket-book. would give itinto the care of
the hotel-keeper and advertise.
As l reached the staircase at the end of
the long hall, n new idea came to me, and l
fastened back to my room.
l decided to examine the contents of the
purse before letting it go out of my pos
session, make a memorandum of what it
contained, then l could tell if accurately
described by any applicant, or if tampered
with while out of my hands.
The purse contained only few dollars
in money, but, mercy! what a multitude of
other articles!
There were bits of sample silks, glove
hOn Coz ta1 alra
ring, a few small pearls, bits of ribbon,
and several calling cards.
The purse certainly belonged to a woman.
The cards were all alike, and bore in fine
script the name of Lena Suthern.
The plan of finding the owner was
changed again.
l would write to Lena Suthern, general
delivery, Chicago, and await the result.
A letter was accordingly placed in the
postoffice that evening. IL was brief. a
simple statement that / was in possession
of purse which contained cards bearing
her name.
The day following when came in for
dinner the hotel clerk told me that lady
had been waiting for some time to see me
In the parlor.
Entering the room but one person was
TO be seen.
a young lady of remarkable beauty.
As the light of midday streamed through !
the half -curtained easement il fell upon |
my ideal of a supremely lovely face.
So sweet and so bright was it that / stood |
and gazed upon her rudely before speaking. |
She evidently noticed my staring and |
hesitancy, for she turned away for a mo-
ment and then arose.
"Are you the gentleman who wrote this |
line to me?" she asked, extending the letter |
of the evening before.
bowed my answer.
II will describe the purse" she said,
quietly, and proceeded to do so very mi
nutely.
handed her the fat little morocco purse,
and opening it with nimble fingers she said,
sweetfy:
II shall be very glad to reward you, kind
sir. and"
Nothing of the kind" / returned 81
have sufficient means for all of my wants,
and it gives me great pleasure TO place in
your hands the article that came into my
in very strange manner"
She started little, then composed her.
self, and without question moved toward
The door
"You will accept my thanks?" she said,
20 softly and musically that 1 could hardly
frame words for reply.
During the very brief minutes that she
had been before me i had feasted upon her
supreme loveliness, and did not wish the
spell broken so suddenly.
"Will you tell me one thing before you
yo2" asked, holding up my hand as if to
1etain her. "Will you let me know in what
manner tle little purse left your possession?
II was forced into my hand by very strange
parsonage, middle-aged, wan looking
fellow, who called me Thompson, and say
ng he forgave me, dashed away. thought
him pickpocket were my suspicious cor
.ect"
"No! no." she answered, painful smile
,rossing her angelic face; "there was no
rhine in it, and the exercise of no reason.
The Thompson is an imaginary man, and
he one who would bestow the gift not in his
light mind. Good-day."
She bowed as she passed out, and turned
her bewitchingly beautiful eyes full upon
my face.
/ watched the tall, graceful figure as it
Iwept through the hall, and then turned re-
iectively TO my room.
"You are gone case" said to myself,
While -pncinQ mn and down my apartment