The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1900-07-27

66 81 HAVE made discovery.
John" said Mrs. Mansfield,

looking up from her knitting.
John Mansfield. retired merchant,
alderman and Mayor of Pimperne,
looked up from his paper
"A discovery my dearY he said as
Stunning his best magisterlal manner.
Pray what Is the nature Of this re-
markable OccurrcnceY
81 find that Miss Ansom has a photo
graph Of yourself, which she treasures
In secret"
"What do you mean, my deary ex-
claimed Mr.. Mansfield
This morning. explained Mrs.
Mansfield, II entered Miss Ansom's
room and found her absorbed in the
contemplation Of some object which
she held. She had evidently not heard
my knock. but the noise of my entrance
startled her. and, as she hastily hid
something in a drawer. u photograph
fell to the floor. She snatched it up.
flung II into the drawer, and closed it,
but not before I had recognized 1t as
your Photograph. / pretended not to
have noticed the photo, preferring to
have an explanation from you"
Mr.. Mansfield was the picture of
helpless amazemcnt
Miss Ansom, it must he explained.
was a bright and charming young lady,
whom Mrs. Mansfield had recently en-
gagged Ms companion.
Il am quite at loss to explain the
affair" said Mr.. Mansfield, in tones
quite unlike those OF the Mayor of
Pimpcrne. Possibly 1t was given to
her 10y a mutual friend"
"Then why should she make mys-
terry Of 1t. aud gloat over 1t in prl-
vate| demanded Mrs. Mansfield
grlmly.
MY dear" said Mr. Mansfield. with
return Of dignity, 81 do not under
stand youl II | mistake not It was
something she hid In the drawer she
'gloatcd over, not the Photographic"
81 am not sure which it was" said
Mrs Mansfield, with strained calm
ness.
Now that the first shock of amaze
ment was over, Mr. Mansheld's pom
posty returned rapidly.
"Ah, very possible. my dear Miss
Ansom, whom ! have every reason to
think is a young lady of good discern
ment ana sound Judgment. has found
something la my public life which she
has been good enough to admire. Miss
Ansom has had every opportunity of
studying my work for the past three
months, and also the genra course of
municipal life in what. | think. may be
regarded as noble borough. What
more natural then, that this young
lady. seeing the portrait of a gentle
man, clad ia the robes and insignia of
the office of chief magistrate Of this
borough, displayed In the photographs
cr's window and rocogn NJ In that
gentleman myself. should purchase
that Photographic
Mrs. Mansfield listened with immOv-
able features
"A very good explanation" she com
mented, iii it had been one of your
official photographs. Rut the one in
Miss Ansom's possession is one of
those you had taken about two years
ago, before you were elected mayor.
We ordered only few of them. re-
member ana thought We had dis
posed Of them all. The question is
how did Miss Ansom obtain one? did
not give It TO her
"rhcu / can only say that you must
be mistaken. my dear" said MIR Mans
field. with asperity. con your own
confession you only saw It for an in
slant How can YOU be certain that it
was a photograph OF MYSELF"
III you think my eyes deceive me.
perhaps You will believe your own.
The photo is still in the drawer; Miss
Ansom has had no opportunity of re-
moving a.. for I sent her ON an errand.
Il is tn the first drawer Of her dressing
table. " you wish 20 satisfy your curl
oslty."
"Mrs. Mansfield. do you think that
am going 20 steal into a lady's room
aud pry into her private Affairs cried
the magistrate. rising. You forget
yourself madam
Mr.. Mansfield went upstairs IN high
dudgeon % make some alterations in
his dress preparatory 70 going out
lie vas forced to acknowledge him
self quite at a loss 20 account for that
photo being In Miss Ansom's possess
SION. which admission vas rather ex-
tra0rdinary on his part
lie prided himself on his keen sight
his strict impartiality. and his frmness
ia discharging his ma gisterial duties.
But an exhibition Of these qualities
was not confined 20 the bench. or the