The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-07
THE LOST PURSE.
fcopyright, 1901. by Daily Story Pub. Co.
BY H. s. cANFIELD


 The police station was block away them. Such phrases as Con man,
 Train worker" Jimmy, the mollbuz. ger" ''Got him at last" and so forth came to him. He did not understano them. but knew that they applied to him. Though he was slender and hoilow-chest- ed and a curate, there was latent strain of combativeness in him and he raced the sergeant behind the desk fiercely: drei?', he exclaimed. Do you know who I am you red brute?' turning to the DO
 What were in tn poorse7" asked the It's contents were emptied on the desk. They were bad quarter Of doilar three samples of dress goods, hair-pin and a powder-rag. ,,x,,,.
 "Th ushil lot" said the sergeant. w nc makes tn compIaint?"
 Silence. The party looked at Miss Meade. She looked at the little heap ol things on the desk with tears In neI eyes and biting her lips to keep from smiling. There was no denying that she
 whats yure name?' the sergeant ask ed kindly. ..
 Miss Belle Meade, of 1sl Fifty-seventh
 Sure. I know yer father. An whats yure name2' threateningly of the culprit.
 "Lawson-the Reverend Harvey Law. m, He said this proudly. his narrow chest thrust forward.
 Miss Meade gasped and staggered. i attend St. Chrysostom's." she whispered. some mistake. I guess" he said.
 q didn't steal the purse," said the Rev. Lawson, glad of a chance at last 10 get in word. running his hands frantlcany through his disordered hair and fising upon his toes in excitement: What do l want with those things there? | don ! know anything about 1t. HOW snouia know how the miserable thing got ineo my pocket? I am a minister Of the gos- pei I tell you. Clergymen do not use powder rags and-and-and hair-pins. This Is absurd. ridiculous -
 The doors opened and patrolman came in, leading a much flushed and loudly dressed woman who was declaiminS against the outrage of her arrest. Law son recognized his seat-mate Of hfteen minutes before. patrolman. T heard her in restaurant just now talking to her pal of how she had touched girl on the elevated pe- yant. She was swearin' because tn poorse was unlined an l brought her in- Tn
 The woman. turned sullen and silent. was led to a cell.
 That's tn, roight wan" said iv the ser, ser, her well. Ye may take your poorse. miss. Ye may go, sor."
 Outside the station Lawson, still bare headed and discomposed. felt light touch on his arm. Miss Meade stood be- side him. looking even prettier In distress than in anger.
 "Won't you forgive me-" she pleaded "Tm sure I can't say how ashamed l am. To think that l should have brought this trouble upon a clergyman. Pray pardon mel Lawson still felt the clasp of the burly man about his neck. Ills stomach ached where the little man had struck him. Glancing down he saw the marks of the candied fingers on his trouser-leg. He was a generous fellow, however, and he put out slim delicate hand.
 You were not to blame," he answered. q had the purse It is true that It's con tents would have been of small use to me-" and a wan smile fiickered over his face. "but I had fl"
 Miss Meade was not a girl to do things by halves. She felt that she had injured him. She asked him to call. It was no great way from St. Dominick's to the Meade mansion. It is hardly worth while to go on with the story. Belle Meade tells her friends who offer congratulations that she had never supposed it possible she would become a minister's wife, but she felt compelled to make full amends. In Lawsons desk. among loose-leaved manuscripts of half finished sermons and poems, is Russian-leather purse with a gold monogram on the back which he keeps as spells of war.