The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-31
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made millions and had married her
in fit of pique.
She turned from the window with
sudden determination. It lacked half
an hour of dinner time. A lonely
dinner for bride, she thought as she
went up stairs, her first New Years
eve. Perhaps by the time the mid
night bells rang out she might be
making a few strange resolutions for
the coming year.
It was dark on the garnet stairs
She stopped at the door of Bob's
dressing room and took a candlestick
from the rnantel. 1t was a wedding
gift-a Japanese bronze griffin, with
tail.
AS she held it to the gas jet to
light the candle something fell on the
rug at her feet and she picked it up.
1t was a small, old-fashioned ordinary
brass key. She looked at it hesitat-
ingly. 1t 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 candle
stick in one hand and the key in the
other. Half way there was a turn
angle made by this that she had found
| the little low door leading to the
catch an She opened it now and en-
tered, half closing the door after her
with some trunks and boxes. It was d
quaint, antique affair of nah ogany,
severely colonial in style. The main
body was crescent shaped, supported
on hand-carved legs. There were
four drawers, two on each side, and a
small, low cabinet of pigeonholes on
top.
Suzanne stood motfonIess before if
fore several minutes, trying to make
up her mind to insert the key. When
she dld so, IN the lock of the nearest
top drawer, her hand trembled slight
~, ana she held her breath. The key
turned easily, and the drawer was
ready for inspection, but she did not
open it. Thoughts whirled like the
nutterlng snoWf1akes through her
mind, and she stood again irresOlute.
She had told Bess that she believed
absolutely in Bob. Higher than her
love for him had been her unfaltering
belief and confidence in him. 1t was
the very keystone of her marriage
faith, and yet, at the first blow Of
suspicion, it gave way.
Bess was child, with the impulsive
Judgment of a child. She had been
wrong to even tell her of the desk
wrong to discuss Bob or his motives
with her at all. or to listen for an in
slant to any doubt of him, even in
lest. She must have faith and wait.
He had probably locked the desk
against the curiosity of the servants
and had forgotten it in the hurry and
excitement of the wedding. She must
D6l1GN0 III MIN. Inc mere IaGL that
they were married did not give her a
coroner's right to hold a post mortem
over his dead past.
There was the sound of a footstep
on the stairs, and she relocked the
drawer quickly.
III be down in a moment, NOrah -
she called. You may serve dinner"
The voice that answered was familiar
and masculine. she nearly let the candle
fall in her surprised recognition of it.
Its only l, Sue. What on earth are
| you doing in there?"
She stood mute and motionless as he
/ Dent MS head and entered the low door
! 1t was Bob, and he was smiling and hap
/ Ply, his clear eyes seeking for the glad
/ welcome he expected.
II only ran down for tonight" he added.
! I couldn't let you face the first new
/ year alone, sweetheart"
His arms reached for her but she shook
| her head and handed him the key.
But, oh, Bob, I came so near it, You
| don't have to tell me what's in the old
! thng. III believe in you just the same,
and don't want to know"
! know What2' he demanded Don
I cry, Sue He drew her to him tenderly.
A-r eats up up anyway W 2, ..,..-,
is it?" He stared at the desk in be-
| wilderment. We'll, the key was on my
mantel, dear You found it all right, didn' t
/ you? Couldn' [ you unlock it?''
L could. but-but I don't wish to know
! your private affairs. She tried to draw
herself away, but he took her hands and
4 iieic Jnem from her tearWet face so that
/ he could see her eyes.
Sue. darling" he said. You blessed
I little Mrs Bluebeard, that desk is a we'd
! ding present to you from Grandmother
/ dadleigh. It's been in the family since
/ the year one, I guess, and there isn't a
SIBERIAN RAILWAY