The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-09-09

"Poor .1oy!" replied Doyle: land Ma
rian-how does she feel?"
81 haven't seen her since she got
here. but IFS easy to imagine how she
will treat me-"
"That reminds me, wentto see Bar.
RE myself this morning, and new
maid came to the door whom l neve'
saw, and when she asked me my name
! / couldn't tell her. No, sir; couldn't
and she thought she'd got lunaric,
guess, because she slammed the door
in my face, and l couldn't think what
my name was till got round the cor
| ner. But about the book. OF course
the thing has been mislaid. and III
make Barrie smart for tbiy. Thy, darn
il all, 1 was reading The took myself
that afternoon, and wen; l.cme with
Barbara-I'll call her that this time
without the Miss-and she didn't have
it. Put it back? Why, certainly; al.
ways do. Of course. Fuddle-headed
| fool! I'll cane him."
John went straight to his a,int's, de-
termined not to tell her of the futile
| interview with Barrie and its ending
| But Cupid ruled otherwise. He found
Marian Barrie in the house, and, real
| izing how hopeless his love must be
now was hardly civil to her. Even his
aunt noticed it, and said:
"Wky, John, Marian has been my only
comfort, except always you, since this
happened, and you act as if you were
angry with her. o, what are they
going to do with me, John? What did
Mr.. Barrie say?"
And John could keep in no longer. II
all came in a rush of passionate words
restrained only by Marian's presence.
AS she listened the colorleft her face,
and great tear filled each eye. She
loved her father, but now she ealized
that she loved John Sprague mere, and
as she realized it, her eyes told the
| story.
Barbara had stolen from the room,
and they were alone. John finished
with: "And that's why have little to
say 10 you, Miss Barrie"
"'AIiss Barrie!' All, no, John, not
that; l." and she. blushed and hest
tated. 81 don't agree with father,
John"
Ten minutes later they sought Bar
bara Myles' to assure her that neither
agreed with father
"Now, john" said Marian, II believe
that you End can fathom this. Of
course, the most natural theory is that
some enemy of Miss Myles has put this
| book here in this house. But there are
two facts against that. No one has
been in the house but old Job Doyle, and
Miss Myles hasn't any enemies. But
there was the book"
"Where was it found 2" asked John.
SIN the box under the seat here by the
fireplace" answered Barbara. "How
could it have come there unless after l
; had left here the morning I found it
was gone, some one had come here and
placed it in the settle?"
"Were there any signs of anyone's
coming in, Aunt Barbara? Tell us the
whole story again from the last time
you saw the book" said John.
"When came home to lunch the book
was there in its accustomed place. That
was the last I saw of it. o, no, Job
Doyle had it that afternoon"
eyes, he told me so when met him
Did he put it back?"
.Why, John, you don't think? OF
course he put it back"
"Did you see it after you saw it in his
hands? Think hard, now"
The poor little woman blushed and
looked uncomfortable and finally said:
"No. Mr.. Doyle was waiting outside for
me and it was storming fercely. So I
just put out the remaining lights and 1
do believe I did not look to see if the
Walton were safe"
eyes, yes" said John. "What then ?"
''Why, we walked home together" she
said shyly, 'and asked Job in to have
a cup of tea, and he took off his coat
and put it.
SWhere?" demanded John.
"Why--why in the sett1e-why-
John, you don't think. Why, where are
you going, John?''
John rushed out of the house, saying
something as he went, about "that abb
sent minded chap will forget where he
lives next
He went to Job Doyle's house, and
the maid told him she expected her
master back at any moment So he
concluded to wait. Soon in came Job,
wearing a far-away look, and greeted
John with very formal show do you
do, sir? What can do for your"
'Tell us what you stole the Walton
for" said John.
God bless my soul!" calculated Job.
what do you mean, STRIP
"Nothira bat what 1 said," Said John.
Laughing II spite of himself. 'Now, see
here, Mr.. Doyle. You told me YOU were
reading the book that afternoon. Did
you put it back? Now, for Barbara's
sake, Doyle. do try and recollect."
mo, have no recollection If replac-
ing it,
snow, as matter of fact, isn't this
wha. happered? You read the Walton
all the afternoon, and when six o'clock
struck and Aunt Barbara began to put
the lights out you put your great coat
on"
Sand. like fuddle-headed fool that
am. slirred the book into my pocket"
Exactly"
"But how cid it get into the settler"
simplest thing in the world. When
you went into the house.
81 took ny coat off and it slipped out
of the Packet"
Accordingly Mr.. Barrie was sent for
ard Job teld him the whole story. con-
GLIDING with: