The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1894-10-18

But how could she let him in9 One
way presented itself to her-it seemed
the only one. She did not hesitate
long. A few movements of her nimble
fingers, the bonds fell away and she
quickly crossed the room.
"Mr. Allison" she called, 81 am 60
ing to unlock the door now, but you
must not come in for a minute"
Then, turning the key, she hurried
back to the safe, and reversing the little
operation she had just gone through,
was again prisoner. When Mr. Alli-
son entered he looked at her with much
surprise, as we'll he might; but he
comprehended the situation even before
she began to explain.
''How careless of me to leave so I'M
wieldy an affair for you to managed" he
exclaimed, self-reproachfully. "Had l
not come back should never have for
given myself, though 1 scarcely thought
it fortunate when I found l must lose
my train On account of the key to my
box in the safe-deposit vaults, which 1
forgot to take with me-"
While he was speaking she moved
aside out of his way, and half-dozen
rapid turns of the little knob enabled
him to throw back the bolts.
az hope I shall never do anything
quite so foolish as that again." said
Mile, with nervous little laugh, as she
withdrew her imprisoned skirt, and
smoothed the creased fold.
"If you ever should chance to meet
with similar misfortune, may be near
at hand to come to the rescue" he re-
turned, smiling.
At 6:15, SO he told her, he intended to
take the next train for Boston, though
he seemed in no hurry to get away evil
IDENTIFY prelerring the society of his clerk
to lonely wait at the railway station.
To her surprise he took pains to make
himself agreeable, and she was compelled
to admit he could be very agreeable
when he chose. The little incident that
had just occurred had suddenly changed
their relations to each other and ad-
vanced them to something like in
timacy.
She was very glad of this, for she had
determined to free her mind about
Morton at any cost, and now she felt
only small part of her former reIucL-
ance.
''Mr. Allison" she began at the first
opportunity, "before you went out you
asked if had anything to say to you.
l had and did not dare say it.
"Indeed, Miss Thorndyke! Am I,
then, the object of so much dread"
"Oh, no. sir" she answered, looking
down at the carpet, not quite able to
meet his eyes just then, ''only feared
you might think me impertinent or
of1icious."
"Not in the least, that would be i'm
possible" he assured her.
81 want to know if you think--that
is, if you are quite sure-Mr. Morton is
wholly trustworthys'
He was surprised. He looked at her
twice before replying.
"Your question implies you think
him otherwise. He came to me highly
recommended, and he is the agent OF a
company in which some of the heaviest
business men In New York are closely
interested Why do you doubt
him."
For reply she told him what she had
seen in Morton's behavior that morning
to excite her suspicious. He listened
attentivelY, and she saw her words were
making an impression.
"From parts of your conversation l
could not avoid hearing" she said in
aopnlt1einn gGT baua in farroJ rou r,aop
to give some money into his charge. 1t
is because feel so sure he ought not to
be trusted with it that speak"
Before she could say more some one
came down the passageway outside and
presently opened the Office door. Mr..
Allison started up, and received from the
boy who entered Geographic message.
As he read it a curious look came over
his face, and in moment he handed it
to her without a word. 1t was dated in
New York and ran thus:
Stop negotiations with Morton; have dis
covered crookedness. NJ. L. 81 Co.
She could we'll afford feeling OF
satisfaction as she read these words, and
there might have been little OF the 81
told you so'' in the look she gave him s
she returned him the paper.
YES" he said i'll ans wer to the look;
honor where honor Is due, always. L
admit the superior keenness OF your
penetration, and it has perhaps saved
me the half of my fortune, for which l
am very thankful to you. 1 did not
guess had engaged clerk who would
watch so well over my interests, and see
what was blind to. Such devotion
deserves much better reward than eau
offer.
"Miss Thorndyke-Millie," he pur-
sued, changing to more serious tone
and speaking with marked hesitation,
''may | ask if you would deign toto
fill more important position than you
have held2 --that-of part
ner2"
He had been long enough in saying it,
but there was no mis- taking his meaning.
Mile was too much astonished to speak.
eat least, l may believe my case not
quite hopelessa" he ventured, after wait
ing IN vain for word.
When she found courage to meet the
handsome blue eyes looking down at her
so tenderly, the last of her doubts was