Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1900-01-03

looking enveiopc--is only an auyer-
tisement. I've had 'em before"
And lie tossed II Into the waste paper
basket unopened.
"Why. lack" said Edith. lit didn't
look like an advertisement
NO. Of course not" he replied glibly.
''If It did. nobody would he caught.
The trick nowadays is to buy good
stationery and get girl to address the
envelopes. I'm on to those games. And
now let's see what Coles has to say"
lie tore open the envelope and IOunu
the contents to be very much like his
prediction. lie read the letter to Edith
as II proof that he could size up any
sort of communication. Hut the young
lady was not as much Interested as
she should have been.
"id like to see what that advertise
ment is about" said she. stirring the
contents OF the waste paper basket
gently with the point of her dainty
umbrella.
"Oh. bother that" said Jack. Its
nothing but hair rcstorer. and. thank
heaven. | don't need those things yet"
She looked in-hls eye Just one little
instant. aud. though he was lying
beautifully. that wondrous feminine in-
stlnct which makes 80 much trouble In
this world Informed her that all was
not us 1t seemed.
Just then there was knock Mt the
door. for which Jack thanked kind
Providence. He answered II and found
iy
quested the amount OF the rent. Jack
could not remember having been glad
TO see him on any previous occasion.
but this time he welcomed him nv u
friend and brother for their brief COLO
| guy gave opportunity for thought.
| 1t proved unnecessary. however, for
Edith took her departure as soon as
the collector was gone. and nothing
more was said about the letter. Jack
escorted his ilancee across the square
and saw her safely aboard car. Then
he returned ITO his office and made n
bee line fer the waste paper basket.
The letter was not there.
Edit has it, said Jack. speaking
aloud In the excess of his perturbation.
"She took IL while was talking with
that beast of collector. or course
she knew would look for It as soon as
she had gone. and she wanted to scare
my hair gray"
! The more that Jack reflected upon
this conduct on the part OF his fancee
the more lndefensiblc 1t appeared. Ee
resolved to make her repent of her
hasty aud baseless suspicious In sack-
cloth and ashes.
''But hold on" said he when his re-
Elections had reached this point. THE
letter really was from n girl, after all.
and | certainly did lie about It."
However, this was no excuse for
Edith. II merely indicated cautious
course as the hest for himself lie de-
cided that the first thing to do was to
see Mile Weston and find out what
was In the letter.
Jack did not do good afternoons
work nor eat n satisfactory dinner.
Very early. as New York counts the
hours. he presented himself at Miss
Weston's home. She lived very near
Edith. though the two were only slight
ly acquainted.
The Westons' very correct English
butler Informed Jack that the daughter
Of the house was not at home. She had
gone to her aunt's In New Haven,
where the wedding of her cousin. Miss
Annandale. had been solemnized that
dny.
Jack got m envelope and sheet of pa.
per in the nearest drug store md pen
ned this hasty note to Miss Weston:
Dear MiIiie-Did you write anything to me tina,
could make EtIth angry II she should see iii
Particulars in letter tomorrow. sincerely.
JACK.
He cut II so very short because. just
( as he began TO write. he saw Edith and
her father pass by the store afoot. and
he wanted to oyertake them to learn
I n