The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-06-02

to go out unless heavily Ec.ipd.
And now. taking the red silk cap
in her handbag, she began with the
principal streets and went frGm store
to store, always asking abuU, the same
questions of the proprietor. Did YOU
sell this cap? Have you ever seen it
before? but always receiving no for
an answer which was variuusly embel-
ished with slow shakes of the head or
that look of sef-coniidence always
worn by the truthful,
For hours Flora fitted in and out,
until all the leading merchants had
been visited. The mlliners and dress
makers came next and were given a
chance to say no with many a won.
dering look, or to come back at the
visitor With questions intended to tran
her into telling the secret of the red
silk cap. The poor girl was growing
discouraged. There remained only one
more street. 1t harbored a row of
cheap shops Of the kind that displays
goods from the curbstone to the lower
step of the back door. There was only
a spark Of hope left as she approached
the last one in the row. 1t stood on
corner marking the boundary of China
town. DeXterously she picked her way
in among the stacks of gaudy calico,
hat boxes, washtubs, children and
clerks, to the proprietor's desk. She
showed him the red silk cap; asked
him if he had sold it.
ooh, yes, | sell dot. You want anud-
der joost like it, see. Only one dol
lar and haf," and he threw down a
box from the shelves. only one left"
he continued in the same breath, and
he jerked off the cover. you want it,
quarter make it one dollar. Dot
cheap, cheap. Dem goods cost me one
dollar und t'irty cents in New York"
Flora eagerly took the cap; looked 1t
over, compared it with the one she
had. They were alike in every partic-
ular, even to the name Denver"
stamped on the inside band. The new
one, however, bore in addition the
name of the firm.
Thinking his customer hesitated on
account of the price, the shrewd trades
man threw down another box, saying:
You no like dot; l got anudder kind
ioost like it, only it is black See,
dere is no difference. | sell you dot
one for fifty cents. | bought dem at a
bargain, but it is de same goods. l
t'ink black suit you better, maybe"
NO. said Flora, this red one is
all right Just wrap it up, please. Now,
| want to know this: DO you remem-
Der who bought the cap l have? |
imagine you do not sell very many Of
them"
mo, dey don't ask for dem very Of
ten. Let ME see, he said scratching
his head vigorously. "Oh, yes; know
now. l sell dot cap to some kind OF
a Snowman. You know, he make one
big exhibition don't know how you
call it-und he come dot morning und
puy dot red cap to wear in de per-
Torrance. You see, he wear tights like
all desc circus men"
When was this show given?" asked
Flora, trying to look calm.
We'll, let's see. Dot de same day
sell six vashtubs und twenty-five hams
Wait, l look at my pook. l got him
Dot vas on de I'd uf July in de after.
noon. Yes, vas dere; but | don't SEE
vat he look like. | vas too far Off"
And now there was nothing left fol
Flora to do except to drop the officer {
note, telling him to call Immediately
important business. Meanwhile sht
went to the office Of daily paper an(
looked over the files, found notice o
the showmans performance in thu
issue of July 3. 1t seemed to be mere
ly one feature of a large circus. In
later number appeared a short para
graph mentioning a vague rumor il
reference to the Snowman, and it wen
on to say that the last heard of hin
he was at little out-of-the-way tow
in Northern Arizona.
With this additional clew, Flora hast
ened home. Deer Ridge, the red sill
cap, the Snowman and the out-of-the
way place in Northern Arizona passe
and repassed in rapid succession
through her mind. She found the as
tonished officer waiting at her board
ing-house. He had not dreamed of he
being in the city. nor could he he'll
wondering whether he had not bee
sunk in dreamless sleep for the pas
month, when she began at the red sill
cap and related her batch of startlin
facts. The lids almost fell from nj
eyes. He was dazed What had h
been about all this time to let
mere girl show herself superior to hin
a self-styled "old-timer?" For just a
instant he hated the whole race c
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