Middletown transcript., 1898-05-14

not to render the assistance to frail,
sweet woman, nervous to the brink OF
prostration over the impending loss Of
her life's happiness. The final threat OF
self destruction, moreover, had such a
ring Of determined purpose that it de-
cided him to accept this strange COM
mission at any cost.
81 will do it," he said, with de-
liberation that argued better for the ac-
complishmens of the task than prompt
er, more enthusiastic assent.
"Then if you will tell the cabman to
drive to No. Lexington avenue / can
tell you anything else on the way" she
said, with deep sigh of relief. 81 can
not repay You for your kindness, but
God may"
On their way to the number indicated
she asked the young man to call at the
Lexington avenue house at a quarter of 8
that evening and she would have the
latchkey, the letter and the box ready
for him. It was the residence, she ex-
planned, of one of her most intimate wo-
man friends. Before they arrived at the
house, which proved to be one of the
respectable, noncommittal brick ones
abounding in that section Of Lexington
avenue, she slipped So bill into his
hand to pay the cabman with when he
had set him down where he wished to
go.
She also begged him to give this ad-
dress to the cabman before they arrived
at the house and to bid him drive ON at
once as soon as she got out, since her
friend knew all of her men acquaint.
anoes and might make curious inquiries
if she saw her drive up with stranger.
OF course her coming back in hanson
would excite no comment-all of which
was very reasonable and most becom-
ingly circumspect, SO that he readily
did it. When the "cabby" had taken
him to his club, he paid him for his
part Of the drive.
He dined at his club, fortifying him
self for his mission of the evening by a
bottle Of champagne. At the appointed
time he presented himself at the Lex
ington avenue house. The lady an
swered the bell herself, did not invite
him in, but gave him at once the latch
key, the letter and the box of docu-
ments. She told him she would open
the door for him on his return and
begged him to hurry back as soon as he
had restored the box to its place. A rub
ber tired cab stood at the door, which
she had provided to facilitate his course.
The box was Of black morocco, about
IA inches long by inches wide The
young fellow felt no special interest in
it outside of it's Importance to a wom-
ans lifelong peace. The cabman drove
his horse at walk, and when urged to
go faster said his horse had gone lame
and he didn't like to tax him too much.
He had been paid by the lady, who evil
IDENTIFY shrank from placing herself un-
der any money obligation to her friend
ly assistant, as lady naturally would.
When he got to the house, the young
man told the cabman he could go, but
the fellow said the lady had paid him
for the return trip, saying the gent was
in a hurry and wouldn't want to look
around for another hanson.
"The beast has been rested up and
can take yer back at a better gait. SIR"
he said cheerfully, with grin.
Goodenough first rang the bell. He
was willing to help the lady as far as
he could without certainly compromis.
ing himself, but he did not intend to
run unnecessary risks. If any one came,
he would ask il Mr.. Wheeler was at
home, and if he was not would then
ask to go to his room and write note
for him. After time, as no one re-
sponded, he pretended to discover his
key with some surprise and boldly let
himself in.
He found the rooms without any diff.
Guilty from the directions Mrs. Wheeler
had given to him, and they exactly an
swered her description of them. He got
a chair and placed the box carefully on
the top Of the folding bed Just as she
had asked him to. He nearly dropped it
while doing this, owing to a pardonable
nervousness.
Greatly relieved, he went back to the
other house. The "cabby" was as good
as his word and drove back rapidly,
the horse showing no disposition to be
"dazy" on any one of his legs. The la
dy opened the door at once, received
back her key and unused letter and
wrung his hands with warm feeling. >.
81 cannot thank you enough. This
L. 1sEn k0A D,-A
If you will give me your card shall be
glad to make your acquaintance after ]
get back 70 my husband. / beg You to
accept this small token of a woman's
gratitude toward generous man."
The young man had given her his
card, "Mr. Goddard Goodenough, "
with his club address in the corner. As
she said these last words she drew an
opal scaxfpin from her corsage. It was
a stone that seemed to burn like coal,
and it was surrounded with tiny but
brilliant diamonds. In vain Goodenough
soughs to escape such costly present.
She forced it upon him, and he took his
leave, followed by her ardent thanks
and low voiced blessing.
Somehow, after it was all over, God
dard Goodenough had more time to re-
feet on the strange proceeding. The
quality of ones thought upon deed is
so different according to which side Of
it the thinker is on. He began to feel
an odd restiveness not unlike solicitude.
He could not rest easy at his club de-
spite the aid of two or three drinks alb
sorbed with view to greater compo.
sure. He determined to go round by Mr..
Wheeler's rooms little after 10 to see
If there were any evidences Of his hav-
ing returned. But as his restlesmess
became more pronounced he decided to
first go up to the Lexington avenue
house and reconnoiter there, this with
no definite aim in his mind.
When he had got within short dis
tance Of the house, on the other side Of
the street. he was surprised to see q
coupe in front Of it, with steamer
trunk on the box. As he halted in the
shadow, wondering what this meant,
the door opened, and tall, spare man
with close trimmed, black beard came
down the steps and opened the coupe
door. He then saw Mrs. Wheeler come