Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-08-26

own address was both inside and OUT
side of the letter. Even II l had made
a mistake in the address-which is al
together unlikely in a matter Of such
importance-it would have reached
her, for every postman on the route
knows the Gretners."
1.-The Gretnersl' echoed the unsus-
pected listener, under his breath. He.
too, knew the Gretners, whom he Wis
tied surreptitiously on a certain night
some years before the coup that led to
his capture.
why, man, you're foolish. Call On
her and have 1t out; why not?" the
other man urged.
"If it was any other girl but Alice
Gretners l should do that very thing.
but / know better than to ignore her
attitude, which has shown me plainly
that everything is over between us.
Well, l shall pass her window to night
for the last time, and If"
Gaffney hurried away cautiously.
Once out On the lighted street, he took
OuI lhC "utNh, WHY was u very udUu-
some one, with a diamond anchor on
the back, but he looked at the face
only, for the purpose of making a little
calculation of his own.
This is going to be a straight
DEAL" said he, with a comfortable
sense of satisfaction. His pal said
he'd give him a lot to make him stay.
As I've taken the pay in advance, it's
up to me to do the job right"
He stopped at a florists and bought
a single long-stemmed red rose, which
he thrust under his coat as he turned
down the avenue leading to the WELL
! remembered Gretners house.
He asked the little, old servant who
answered his ring for Miss Alice. who
heard him from the adjoining parlor.
and came into the hall, looking very
fair and frail in her thin white gown.
Gaffney apologized for his intrusion.
saying that he had been away a long
while and had lost track Of an old
friend, whose address he believed she
could give him.
The mans name was Burton. He
Gaffney-remembered that Burton had
often called on Miss Gretners, and b.
licved she would be likely to know OF
his whereabouts.
During the two minutes converse
ton that followed Gaffney learned all
he wished to know in B%urton's favor.
He thanked her and bowed himself
out, but fingered in the shadow until
the door was closed. Then, taking an
empty flask from his pocket, he placed
in 1t the red rose, which he set I'D.
right against the window pane, where
the glow of the lamp outlined it with
cameo clearness.
One good turn deserves another
said he, complacently, as he seated
himself on the step of an opposite
house to await developments.
People passed and repassed for al
most an hour before he spotted his
man, who rounded the corner with a
brisk, swinging gait that came to an
abrupt pause when he saw the nod
ding rose Of promise for which he had
vainly waited so many anxious
months.
He hesitated so incomprehensibly be-
fore venturing up the steps that the
man watching him broke into a mild
but impatient oath. How blame fool
ish some folks act" he grumbled.
why don't he pitch right in an finish
the jobT"
Then he heard the thin tinkle of n
bell, and presently the door opened, but
a tall, Whitehead figure had taken the
old servants place, and the lovers
stood face to face for one silent mo-
ment.
The burglar knight heard an in.
eredibly joyful voice cry Ralph" Just
as the man stepped toward the girl
with outstretched arms, then the door
swung in place and the vision disap-
peared.
"Pshaw!' growled Gaffney. I'D like
to a seen the end O. that. Anyway,
his friend needn't worry about has
l guess this nights job
pleased all concerned"
Whereupon he consulted his watch
and strolled up the avenue in a pleas
ant frame of mind.-Utica Globe.
"
A Beautiful Custom.