The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-06

afternoon, and she spoke Of her disap-
pointment in not going on her errand
Of charity last evening. ] don't know
what got into me. but / said impuIsive-
| ly that Reed was careless about his en-
gagemehts. It's the only time I've ever
said anything against him in her pres
ence, and did ii very mildly, assure
you"
An honorable fellow" said /, will
always forbear to speak evil Of another
fellow when the plain truth might pre-
vent a good woman from marrying q
rascal"
"Honor's a queer thing, I'll admit, "
he said, and it really doesn't seem to
have been made in the interest of wo-
men. However. / did go so far as to
say that Johnny was careless about his
| engagements"
Upon that she proceeded to defend
| him in a manner that put me very
much in the wrong. Mr.. Reed was a
most scrupulous man. II he had failed
to keep his engagement. there must be
some good reason for 1t.
AT that moment in came the butler
with letters for Miss Ware on a most
beautiful salver.
This is from Mr. Reed she cried.
taking the topmost letter from the pile.
Now we shall know all about 1t. Par
don me- And she proceeded to read.
II saw her face grow pale and then
flush.
He has been hurt! she cried-hurt
saving a poor little girl from injury at
a crossing. Didn't you know OF this,
living in the same building with him?
NO replied; we see little Of each
other -.
Meanwhile the butler was standing
like a statue, holding thu. tray He
ventured to cough discreetly, and Miss
Ware saw that there were more let
tiers.
Another from Mr.. Reed! she cried.
and opened Il with feverish haste.
why, what is this?' she murmured-
He has fallen into a coal hole, How
terribly unfortunate. after being hurt
by the cab
There's another letter. miss.' said
the butter.
And. by lingo, that was from Reed.
too, and IL said that somebody had sent
him poisoned candy through the mails.
In utter confusion OF mind Miss Ware
showed me the three letters. Each OF
them named a separate excuse for not
keeping the engagement with her. and
each alleged that after the particular
calamity detailed In Il the unfortunate
victim had taken 10 his bed and had
been unable TO get out OF IL
MIR. Taylor said Miss Ware at
last. I want you to go down to the Al
dine and ascertain the exact facts. And
you must give me your most sacred
word Of honor 90 report exactly what
you ind
I tried to beg OF. but IL was no use
II was a case Of do IL or lose her friend
ship forever So ] went down there.
And this Is what ! found out:
Reed wrote three letters. One OF
them he thought that he burned. bat
really he dropped il IN the elevator. and
one OF the boys mailed 1t Another was
found On the floor Of his room By JACK
Bliss, who had heard OF the losa Of the
letter and thought IL was hts duty 20
mail the one he found. The third vas
mailed by Johnny himself.
when h went out to mail H. be net
some fellows and staid With them 50
long that Bliss. who waa waiting in
Johnny's room. gave him up ana Usnt
20 his own place.
That's about the whoi4 q 81 OF
course We who know Johnny can nm
dsrsiaDd his thFee separate EsA
I had 20 report 20 Miss Ware. and j
dld it without fear o. favor, whers1Doa