The Somerset reporter., 1904-07-21

IL suppose it is" she said GROSSLY.
I'm sure | can't tell whether it's real
antique or not. II looks old and dusty
and is all covered with heavy carvings
if YOU meant that sort of. thing. Why
Bess" - she turned to the questioner
with sudden energy-"l wouldn't have
thought a thing about it if he had
shown it to lie or even mentioned II.
He told me about everything else In
the house, and ID never have known
thing about this If hadn't told Nora
to clean out that catch all as she calls
1t, ut the turn Of the garnet stairs.
There is Il large windowless space over
the dining room wing, and it was III
there"
And locked" concluded Boss posi-
lively
Every drawer. asked Nora how
long it had been there, and she said
1t had come with Bobs trunks from
home while we were on our honey
moon. I'm not bit curious She
paused.
"Of course not" assented Bess warm
ly, cor suspicious
"Only Interested
Bess nodded her head wisely over
the interested sigh
1T is kind of mysterious Rob's not
telling you word about it and hiding
it in there out Of sight, and then the
fact of it being locked shows that some
one didn't want it opened"
AS she gave her conclusive point OF
logic Bess rose. She was pretty and
petite, with a decisive tilt to her chin
and the confidence of eighteen in her
blue eyes.
"Of course you'll do as you please,
Sue. You always did But If l had
only been married a month and had
found Il locked desk in my house that
| knew nothing of | know what I'd
do"
Young Mrs Sheldon left the piano
with an impatient movement. She was
tall and slender beside her sister, and
the indefnable charm of a bride was
visible In her dainty negligee toilet OF
white crepon
Il believe absolutely In Bob" she de
clared.
Ress raised her eyebrows and smiled
miSchievously.
"Of course you do. 1t may be only
some old love letters or souvenirs that
he doesn't care to part with. DO you
remember Adelaide Ghford?"
That was two years ago"
Bess laughed.
- oil, H. In, No nj ErOI
want to. He's dear and If 1t were
| Id hunt a locksmith all the same"
Mrs. Sheldon stood at the window
and watched the small, girlish figure
as it vanished down the street among
the tiuttering snowfakes. 1t was dusk.
The room WIS unlighted as yet and
sudden sense of loneliness stole over
her in the semigloom the first she had
experienced since the joyous wedding
of month ago. If the affinity Of
moods and colors We're true, she was
in harmony with the soft violet gray of
the twilight tone that was stealing
over the world
New Years eve and Bob away. The
tears blinded her eyes. OF course 1t
was business. Merely flying trip to
New York for the firm, made all the
more imperative by his neglect Of bust
ness during the honeymoon, but she
felt vague rebellion in her heart
against even the separation of few
days.
And there was the locked desk.
Bess' words and arguments ran
swiftly through her mind. Come to
think, Bob had told her not to tire
herself out rummaging while he WAS
away. Rummaging. That meant hunt
ing in the garret and running the risk
of discovering the desk.
And Bess had spoken Of Adelnide
Clifford. There had been talk of IA
summer engagement, she remembered.
Adelaide was older than Bob. Some
why. she had always blamed her for
the romance and had looked upon Bob
rs an impressionable yOungster. But il
he had cherished her letters and keep
sakcs then he must have loved her.
Adelaide WAS engaged to old Mr.. Thur
ston now, Copper Thurston, the boys
called him Perhaps after all Bob had
been jealous Of the copper made mil
lions and had married her in IA fit Of
pique.
She turned from the window with
sudden determination. 1t lacked half
an hour of dinner time. \ lonely din
ncr for a bride. she thought, rs she
went upstairs, her first New Years eve.
Perhaps by the time the midnight bells
rang out she might be making few
strange resolutions for the coming Var.
1t was dark on the garrett stairs She
stopped mt the door Of BObs dressing
room and took IA candlestick from the
mantel. 1t was wedding gift, n Jap
ancse bronze griffin with outspread
wings and spiral, sinuous tail.
As she held it to the gas jet to light
the candle something fell on the rug ut
her feet, and she picked it up. 1t was
small, old fashioned ordinary brass
key. She looked 1T it hcsitatingly. Ii
had never been on Bob's ring, she
knew. The space between the wings
of the bronze griffin WAS "A clever idea
for COncealment.
She set her lips closely and went up
the garnet stairs with the candlestlck
I'm one hand and the key in the other
Halfway there was turn at a small
landing, and 1t was mt the angle made
by this that she had found the little
.ow door leading to the "catch all
She opened it now and entered, half
,losing the door after her.