Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-05-17
Oar Unsuitable Crime
N ~ m m ~ M M IN IN m M M
'OLD MAN, want your advice -
And How 1t Ended

sat frowning at the fire, putting at his
briar in that erratic fashion which de-
notes a perturbed mind. 1 had been
studying his face through haze of to-
bacco smoke, and, being prepared for
his words, answered that he was VOL
come to the best counsel L could give,
nestly and threw himself back in his
easy chair.
Its a rather curious affair."" he be-
gan, diffidently. 1T happened last
night. 1 wanted to go out to Bayswater
to see my old nurse, who lives there. |
took the bus at 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 young
lady"
And of course, you contrived that
she should sit by you," l said.
you would have done the same your
SELF" Debenham retorted. ANY man
would, for she had the sweetest face.
It's haunted me all night-it has, really.
l dare say she was about IS, or perhaps
2O-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
Drown hair, too; the kind of hair that
twists into lot of curls-natural curls,
you know. 1 wonder why all girls dom
wear their hair that way. Then her
mouth,-her mouth
Never mind her mouth" / inter
posed, hastily, seeing that he was about
to indulge in an extravagant flood of
rhapsody. 1T was an ideal mouth, /
haven't doubt, and I'm sure that her
chin was all that chin ought to be,
but these special features, 1 take it,
have nothing to do with your story"
''Well-er-not exactly, but you'd I'M
derstand a fellow raving about her if
you'd seen her. Of course, can't make
you understand what she was like.
She was the sort of girl you feel you
can never describe"
Just so; regular unique specimen.
l know the kind"
Indeed you don't, for there isn't an
OtHcT lLOHQOH like ncI
well, well, then, there isn't re-
turned impatiently. The fact was Deb
enham had come to my rooms so often
with the same story that it was becom-
ing trifie monotonous.
''She sat down next to me" he went
on. There wasn't much room, and
she thanked me when moved. She had
the sweetest voice"
''Well, there's nothing curious about
that. l believe you said"
I'm coming to it if you'll only give
me time" he returned, in an aggrieved
tone. You've no patience. 1t was
when the conductor came round for
fares. Then she felt for her purse; she
found it was missing. At first she
thought she must have dropped it, and
| searched the floor and under the seat.
However, it wasn't there. Poor girl. 1
never saw anyone so distressed in my
life. 1t seemed she had five pounds in
it, and it was evidently quite fortune
to her. Well, paid her fare for her,
and we got out together
81 don't think you need tell me any
MORE" I said, dryly.
Debenham stared.
"Why not?"
Because know the rest"
How the"
Eyes, I do. You lent her the five
pounds, of course. My dear fellow,
you've been had"
II didn't do anything of the kind!"
Debenham retorted, holly. "She
1,,'@ lot 10 r
ask your advice about. / thought that
as you were a lawyer you might be able
to suggest something, but l wish I'd
never mentioned it to you
Of course l fastened to soothe his
ruffied plumes, and in little while he
went on with his tale. 1t appeared that
he had seen her home, and that he had
learned her name. 1t was Charnley-
Kate Charnley. She was a dressmaker
and lived with her sister.
And you want to help them, eh?' 1
said, after time
Yes, but it'll be a difficult matter.
They're clergyman's daughters, and
very proud. l don't see what can do.
It's awfully riling, you know, Kennion,
to have pile of money and not be able
to do little good with it once in a way.
It's shame that this girl should have
to slave at a sewing machine all day
while great strong beggar like me
lounges around killing time"
'Isuppose you want to refund this five
pounds?"
Eyes, can't do more; but I don't
even see how / can do that"
We'll, you might order a gown of
some sort from them
Don't be an ass; men don't buy
gowns
You could say it was for your sis
ter
"But I haven't got sister, and if 1
had she'd never let me choose her gowns
for her; besides, she'd have to be fitted
| On and all that, you know"
1 was obliged to admit the force of
these arguments, and a fresh period of
| silence interviewed. Debenham had
risen. and was pacing the floor in state
Of perplexity.
| How would it be if / inclosed the
money in an envelope and sent 1t anony-
uously?" he said, at length.