Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-05-06


with stamp; ''how you have spoiled
everything. There. go and let poor
Tom out of that horrid den, and we
will 60 home. I'm sick TO death Of
of practical joking"
The lawyer frowned and lifted the
lantern to a gas jet, flooded the
apartment with light. Miss Ouless,
he said. severely. though his brown
pupils twinkled. "this is no practical
joke. You did not know that would
be here tonight. I did not know IT
myself. Look at that lock removed,
survey that rifled letter-box; they
would get both you and Tom IL
months, or from that to IA years, for
burglary"
Margaret-otherwise Margie - sat
down suddenly and wept. IL think
you're very cruel" she sobbed, "and
Tom didn't want to do it, only II
persuaded him it was for your hap
piness."
The young lawyer stopped over the
detected figure. "Margie. DEAR" he
said, gently. FL was merely chat
fling Don't cry, dearest; what was
the trouble-something you had
written and repented of? l would
not have read it If you had forbid
den me by, say, telegram or an
express letter. But why go in for
heroics and run all sorts of risks"
Tits worse than-than that"
stammered Margie; ''it-it was some
letters l had written to some one
else--to-to Mr.. Prout."
Richard Parramore's countenance
darkened. 'Proutl" he said, mot
Hamilton Prout, the actorl"
Margie nodded miserably. "They
were only silly, spoony letters"
she murmured, 'but / hated the idea
of your reading them. II thought
/ cared for him-before / met you.
And had been begging him for them
back ever so long, and he he
wouldn't give them TO me. And to-
day / saw him by appointment, to
get them, l understand. But he
he"
"Her lover waited patiently. ''He
showed me them" burst out Margie,
in an envelope addressed to you, with
note asking your professional adj
vice about bringing an action against
me-for-breach of promise. And he
he mailed it under my very eyes"
$50 1 knew" faltered Margie, that
they would reach here by the last
delivery - hoped, after you had
gone. And Tom agreed to help me
to get them before you could see
them. We had managed so nicely
when you came-we had crept down
Just about the time for closing the
hall door upstairs, and when all was
quiet Tom had cut a piece out of the
glass panel there, with diamond and
unscrewed the lock. Once we were
inside, breaking open the letter-box
was easy. If you could have stopped
away another half hour. AS it was
Tom put you off with his talk, and
! did for one moment believe we'd
got you in the strong room. Then
we could have slipped off and you
need never have known. But now, If
you like, you can piece the bits to-
gether again and read them every
one"
With which incoherent ultimatum
Margie laid on the table heap of
torn fragments. The lawyer swept
them into his palm, tossed them into
the fire CRATE, and put a light to
them.
"You foolish childi" was all he
said. Rut he bent and kissed her,
and somehow the kiss took singu-
larry long while to negotiate.
81 wonder" observed Parramore, at
length, IF Tom really has enough
air. We may as well make sure"
He suited the action to the word,
and there stalked forth from the
strongroom an extremely cool and
self-possessed youth-like his sister
in the full light--with a clean-cut,
boyish face, an homogeneous plaid
neckerchief, travelling cap, and an
ill-fittiBg, obviously borrowed, over
coat. He considered the situation
cheerfully.
"Smart trick that of yours, PARA
morel" he said, assuming a patroniz-
ing air; "well, suppose you know
all. Going to throw Margie over2"
"No, you young dog" answered the
lawyer; "going to see the pair of
you home in cab"
Tom Ouless put HIS hands in his
pockets. ''Yery WELL" he commented;
snake a deuce of row and blame it
on me. I shall say ] found Margie
and you clipping and brought you
back-by forcel But you had much
better let us sneak in as we sneaked
ont.r
The lawyer put a little gioved
hand on his arm, I'll imagine L
had" he conceded; "bnt If you ex-
pect me to screen you, just refix that
lock, and never, as long as you live,
let me hear that vile imitation Jar
gon of yours again."
Master Thomas Ouless grinned. 1T
was bit of jolly for you, wasn't
it?' he chuckled; shut look at this
my rerolverl" And he held up-a
screwdriveri"-Ch Chicago Tribune.