Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-02-16

ade before you set out again in the
heat-O" For the little book agent
had turned away to hide the tears she
could not restrain.
excuse me" she murmured. "It's
the hot weather, and-and not being
accustomed to the work. II began
only yesterday, and it's a long trip to
and from New York"
"Sit down." urged Mrs. Spread
brow, gently, "aud will go and get
lemonade.
When she returned the girl had
quite recovered and was sitting quietly
at the window smiling at the gambols
OF the puppy. She apologized for
having given way to her emotions,
slipped her drink and then rose again
to go:
"Thank you so much for your
Kindness" she said warmly. "and
goodby!"
''Stop," exclaimed Mrs. Spread
brow, "1've changed my mind about
the book, I'll take it.
"You really need it?" with a per-
ceptible Frightening of the eyes.
II can't get on without history
for Eddy. 1 never thought of
Sports having destroyed the one he
had"
When the necessary negotiations
had been concluded and the pretty
book agent had departed, Mrs. Spread
brow returned to her guest with many
apologies for her long absence and
bubbllng over with the pathetic ro-
nance she had woven from the ma
terials furnished by the young girls
words and manner.
The two ladies talked over this and
similar instances, until they were
both in fearful state, and Mrs.
Townley, to turn the tide of feeling,
proposed going into the parlor and
opening the nubbly little package
she had brought, and which she said
contained some trihes for the chill
dren.
This proposition was hailed with
Joy by Mrs. Spreadbrow. Mrs
Townley was in the act of untying the
last string, when she suddenly be-
thought her of her black satchel in
which it was her custom to carry her
purse, and which had been deposited
with her bonnet and parasol in chair
in the corner of the room. With the
precipitancy invariably displayed by
her sex at such jnnctures, she rose
and stepped over to get it. The
. parasol and bonnet were on the chair,
but not the satchal.
"Are you sure you didn't take it
| 1,,to @hn llN,,,,,,o,
brow, after the parlor had been
searched.
81 know I didn't" responded Mrs.
Townley, with tremulous irritation.
''But Of course we can look"
The satchel was not III the library,
the only room occupied by the ladies
} since Mrs. Townley's arrival; nor did
} it turn up anywhere in the house,
which with anxious inconsistency
was searched from top to bottom.
, Mrs. Townley had become very pale
and Mrs. Spreadbrow trembled with
excitement and chagrin.
| 80, this is dreadful" she said at
last. II hate to think it possible,
but it must have been stolen. How
much was in the purse?"
ga hundred dollars" replied Mrs.
| Townley. "I brought it with me for
safety. But who-who? There has
, been no one"
: 'The little book agent" gasped
, Mrs. Spreadbrow. 'She IS the only
= person who has been in the parlor be-
: side myself since you left it. Is it
: possible-can it be--that that inno-
4 cent-looliing-O, dear!'
3 But Mrs. Spreadbrow was woman
s of action, albeit mild and gentle, and
: she sprang to her feet tiercely clench-
ing her small soft fists. 'I'll follow
I herr' she cried. "Do you go one way,
Maria; l will go another, and Della
/. and the children shall go in other
directions. o, we will run her down
| The little hypocrite!"
t In few moments the house was
: empty of occupants, barring the cook,
e who stood with her elbows on the
= fence and watched the departing
n search party, and the black and white
puppy, who, in his foolish way,
v growled ct and worried something
- under the big willow.
With the hot August sun pouring
= down upon their heads, the pursuers
if scurried from house to house, while
a with what Mrs. Spreadbrow termed
''the little intense cunning of thief, ,
u the little book agent managed ever tc
1 elude them.
At last Mrs. Spreadbrow found g
It maid servant who sai2 she had seer
d the girl enter the railway station, and
that if Mrs. Spreadbrow hurried she
e could overtake her before tho arrival
IS of the train for st. George. Station
3. ward the anxious lady sped, hel
IS heart palpitating with hope, fear ani
e indignation, intermixed with a spice
y of uncertainty,
10 What should she do if the girl re
10 fused to give up the purse. All, sh,
knews shs would get on the train