The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1903-05-15
The Mystery of
Number 400
BY w. NJ. TALMADGE
tcepvright, .aos, by Dally stoEy Pas. Co.

Copyright, 1903 by Daily Story Pub. Coz
IT he first floor Of No. 400 Evergreen
Terrace was occupied by NJ. Pen
jaH.u Critics. a gentleman e family,
Of reasonably ample fortune. Of de-
termined and not entirely gracious
disposition, and wife and ere daugh-
ter. which daughter was exceedingly
fair ard Of marriageable age.
The ssecor,d floor was occupied by
trio Of gentlemen in the strictest
meaning of the term. Doyerlng. who
had the front room, directly over the
Critics door, was a bookkeeper, and
he Lad been observed on more than
once occasion to wink al Dolly Critics
WHEN she assembled the steps.
KHagman, who had the ether front
room, was a newspaper young man,
and he never winked; he cleared his
throat with much zeal, and when Dol
y glanced up at him, as she sometimes
id, | am sorry TO say. even after she
had penetrated his design, lie waved
his hard and smiled. Once, embo'd-
ened bH an answering smile, lie lad
raped upon the Critics door. Lis mind
fully set upon inviting the winning
creature to u stroll. Mr.. Critics had
opened tie door, and had closed it
again-tang.
These young men were a source Of
great disquietude to Mr.. Critics His
plans for the future Of Dolly were
made, and he cid net propose to have
them interefered with. 4 friend Of
Ais, by name Goiberg, by occupation
stock broker, was TO he the young
wCman's nus band. True. Dolly did not
love Goldberg. He Was neither pretty,
witty nor young Eut he was rich as
mud, and his wife would wear dia-
monGs. When her father had preached
The subject to her, She had shed fewer
Tears than he had expected. She had
2cceded to the proposition with read
mess which, had there been another
sutton visible. would have aroused the
old gentleman's suspicious. As It was,
he awkwardly Gabbed kiss upon her
forehead. and called her a good and
Gutiful girl.
But he did not relax his vigilance for
an instant. state pris Cner could
have been 10 more carefully guarded,
and it was astonishing to note how
the girl thrived under il all. Her let
ters were examined before she received
them. Her steps were logged. Yet
the roses Geepened in her cheeks. and
her eyes shone with greater luster,
and song was upon her red lips from
morning until night.
This was somewhat mystifving TO
M. Critics.
Had he been in the confidence Of
tie second floor lie might have learned
something. Mullane, an artist. who
occupied the two back rooms. was in
possession Of information which would
lave made the whole matter clear as
day But Mr.. Critics was not in the
second floors confidence
When the sound of Mullane's piano
uttered through the ceiling of the
back parlor, in which room tie fam
ny was accustomed to spend its even
lngs. he delivered himself OF remarks
both i'll natured and unjust He re-
1erred to Mullane as penniless
PANT dauber and a spindle-legged
ldiot, whereas, as a matter of fact,
MalIane was neither penniless nor
dauber nor spindle-legged nor an
ldiot; he was in receipt of a comfort
able income from his pictures, which
were bought eagerly by people who
knew more of art than Mr.. Critics
knew of pork, which is putting it
pretty strongly, and he was rather
exceptionally favored in point of per-
sonal appearance and qualities of
mind.
Dolly might have told her father
these things had she been SO minded
But she did not choose to do so. She
sat at the piano, a smile upon her
pretty face, her fingers wandering
idly over the keys, and gave no heed.
She was in that blissful state. known
only to those who tell their love and
are answered.
Dolly loved Mullane The secret
may as well come out. They had
met but once, face to face. They had
CHANGED to be in the waiting-room at
the dentists one day and a mutual
acquaintance had introduced them
That was the beginning. 1t is
strange that Mrs. Critics did not
tell her husband of the circumstance,
for she had oeen with Dolly on that
occasion. Afterwards a bit of paper,
ragged on one edge as if it had been