Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-12-04
Our IuStifiable Crime
And How 1t Ended
HOLD MAN. want your advice


lence that had lasted some ten
minutes or so, and during which he had
sat frowning at the fire, putting at his
briar in that erratic fashion which de-
notes perturbed mind. l had been
studying his face through haze of to-
bacco smoke, and, being prepared for
his words, answered that he WAS well
whereupon he thanked me very ear
nestly and threw himself back in his
easy chair.
Its rather curious affair."" he be-
gan. ditfidentiy. 1T happened last
night. l wanted to go out to Bayswater
to see my old nurse, who lives there.
took the bus ut Oxford Circus. AS
dare say, you remember it was nasty
night, wet and foggy, and the vehicle
was soon full; in fact, by the time we
reached Westbourne Grove there was
only room for another. Here we picked
up our last passenger. She was u young
lady"
And of course, you contrived that
she should sit by you," I said.
"You would have done the same your
SELF" Debenham retorted. ANY man
would, for she had the sweetest face.
It's haunted ME ull night-it has, really.
dare say she was about IS, or perhaps
20-not more. She had brown eyes.
very brown eyes-you know. the kind
that seem to speak, almost-and they
were shaded by long lashes. She has
brown hair. too; the kind of hair that
twists into a lot of curls-natura curls
you know. | wonder why all girls don't
wear their hair that way. Then her
mouth-her mouth
"Neyer rlind her mouth" ! inter
posed, hastily, seeing that he was about
rhapsody. 1T was an ideal mouth. |
haven't a doubt, and I'm sure that her
chin was all that chin ought to be, |
but these special features. take it, i
have nothing to do with your story"
"Nell-er-not exactly, but you'd un-
lerstand a fellow raving about her if |
you'd seen her. OF course, can't make
She was the sort of girl you feel you
,an never describe.
Just SO: regular unique specimen.
know the kind"
Indeed you don't. for there isn't an
'ther girl in London like her."
well, well, then, there isn't" 1 re-
urned imTatiently. The fact was Deb
nham had come to my rooms so often
With the same story that it was becom-
ng a trifle monotonous.
''She sat down next to me-" he went
n. There wasn't much room, and
he thanked me when I moved. She had
he sweetest voice"
well. there's nothing curious about
hat. ! believe you said"
I'm coming to it if you'll only give
lie time he retdrned. IN an aggrieved
one. You've no patience. 1t was
hen the conductor came round for
Tres. Then she felt for her purse: she
,und it was missing. At first she
iought she must have dropped it. and
searched the floor and under the seat.
owever, it wasn't there. Poor girl! /
ever sew anyone SO distressed in my
fe. 1t seemed she had five pounds in
and it was evidently quite fortune
} her. Well, paid her fare for her,
I'd we got out together"
Il don't think you need tell me any ,
ore" | said. dryly.
stared. ..~s
why rot??"
because know the rest"
How the"
"Yes. l do. You lent her the five
unds. Of course. My dear fellow,
u've been had"
Il didn't do anything of the kind."
,benham retorted, hotly. ''She
,uldp't let ne. That's what came to =
K your advice about. | thought that .
you were lawyer you might be able :
suggest something, but l wish Id f
yer uent;oued it to you"