The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-12-02

JOnnt s0lu MIS-. Mans
Q field, looking up from her
knitting.
1oR John Mansfield, retired
merchant, Alderman and Mayor of
Pimperne, looked up from his paper.
"A discovery, my dear?" he said,
assuming his best magisterial manner.
PRAY what is the nature of this re-
markable occurrence?'
Il find that Miss Ansom has photo.
graph Of yourself, which she treasures
in secret"
what do you mean, my dearW 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 drawer a photograph
fell to the floor. She snatched it up,
flung It into the drawer and closed 1t,
but not before l had recognized it as
your photograph. 1 pretended not TO
have noticed the photo, preferrlng to
have an explanation from you"
Mr.. Mansfield was the picture of
helpless amaZement.
Miss Ansom, it must be explained,
was bright and charming young lady,
whom Mrs. Mansfield had recently en-
gagged as q companion.
Il am quite at loss to explain the
affair."" said Mr.. Mansfield, in tones
quite unlike those of the Mayor of
Pimperne. POSSIBLY it was given to
her by q mutual friend"
Then why should she make q mys-
terry of it, and gloat over it in private?"
demanded Mrs. Mansfield, grimly.
"My DEAR" said Mr.. Mansfield, with
a return of dignity, II do not under
stand you! If l mistake not it was
something she hid in the drawer which
she 'gloated' over, not the photograph"
''I am not sure which it was" said
Mrs. Mansfield, with strained calm
ness.
Now that the first shock of amaze
ment was over, Mr.. Mansfeld's pomp-
osity returned rapidly.
"Ah, very possible, my dear, Miss
Ansom, whom 1 have every reason to
think is young lady of good discern
ment and sound judgment, has found
something in 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 general course
Of municipal life in what, think may
be regarded as a noble borough. What
more natural, then, that this young
lady, seeing the portrait Of a gen.
teman clad in the robes and insignia
bf the Office of the chief magistrate of
this borough, displayed in the photog-
faphers window, and. recognizing in
that gentleman myself, should pur-
chase that Photograph
Mrs. Mansfield listened with immov-
able features.
"A very good explanation" she COM
mented, 'if 1t had been one Of your
official photographs. But 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, and thought we had dis
posed Of them all. The question is
how did Miss Ansom obtain one?
did not give it to her.?
"Then can only say that you must
be mistaken, my DEAR" said Mr.. Mans
Geld, with asperity. "On your own
confession you only saw it for an in
stant. How can you be certain that it
was a photograph of myself?"
''If you think my eyes deceived me,
perhaps you will believe your own!
The photo is still in the drawer. Miss
Ansom has had no opportunity of re-
moving it, for sent her on an errand.
1t is in the first drawer Of her dress
ing table, If you wish to satisfy your
curiosity"
''Mrs. Mansfield, do you think that
/ am going to steal into lady's room
and pry into her private affairs?" cried
the Magistrate, rising. "You forget
yourself. madam
Mr.. Mansfield went upstairs in high
dudgeon to make some alteration in
his dress preparatory to going out.
He was forced to acknowledge him
self quite at a loss to account for that
pnot0 Delng In MISS Ansom's posses
sion, which admission was rather ex-
fraordinary on his part.
He prided himself on his keen In
sight, his strict impartiality and his
firmness in discnarging his magisterial
duties. But an exhibition of these
qualities was not confined to the bench.
or the latter he had made lavish
display in his home, as Mrs. Mans
Geld found to her cost.
It was only twelve months ago that
his unbending viii had driven their
only ssn. Jack. to South Africa.