The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-06-16

Adelaide was older than Bob. Some
way she had always blamed her foY
the romance, and had looked upon Bob
as an impressionable youngster. But
IL he had cherished her letters and
keepsakes, then he must have loved
her. Adelaide was engaged to old Mr..
Thurston now-Copper Thurston, tA~
boys called him. Perhaps, s:t9e al,
Bob had been Jealous of the copper
made millions, and had married her in
fit Of piQue.
sudden determination. It lacked half
an hour of dinner time. A lonely din
ner for a bride, she thought, as she
went upstairs, her first New Years
eve. Perhaps by the time the mid
night bells rang out she might be max
ing a few strange resolutions for the
coming year.
1t was dark on the garnet stairs. She
stopped at the door Of Bob's dressing
room and took a candlestick from the
mantel. 1t was wedding gift-a Jap
anese 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
at her feet and she picked 1t up. It
was a small, old-fashioned ordinary
brass key. She looked at It hesitating-
ly. 1t had never been on Bob's ring,
she knew. The space between the
wings Of the bronze griffin was a clev-
er idea for concealment
She set her lips closely and went up
the garnet stairs with candlestick in
one hand and the key in the other.
Half way there was turn at small
landing, and it was at the angle made
by this that she had found the little
low door leading to the "catch all"
She opened it now and entered, half
closing the door after her.
The desk was pushed to one side
with some trunks and boxes. It was a
quaint, antique affair Of mahogany, Sc
verely Colonial in style. The main
body was crescent-shaped, supported
on hand-carved legs. There were four
drawers, two on each side, and small.
low cabinet Of pigeon-holes on top.
Suzanne stood motionless before Il
for several minutes, trying to make up
her mind to insert the key. When she
did go, in the lock Of the nearest top
drawer, her hand trembled slightly and
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 huttering
snowflakes 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 unfaItering
belief and confidence In him. It was
the very keystone Of her marriage
faith, and yet at the first blow Of sus-
picion, it gave way.
Bess was 4 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 ali, or to listen for an In
slant to any doubt Of him, even in jest.
She must have faith, and wait He
had probably locked tho desk against
the curiosity Of tho servants and had
forgotten It In tho hurry and excite
msnt Of the wedding. She must be-
lisvs in him. The mere fact that they
were married did not give her a eoro-
ners right to hold . post-moTssm owe,
his dead past.
There was the sound Of 4 footstep
on the stairs, and she relocked the
drawer quickly.
"IN Be down tn Q moment Mora,
she called you may servo dinner I"
The voice that answered was famiL
lar and masculine. She nearly let the
candle fall in her surprised recogni.
ton Of it.
ITS only I, Sue. What on earth arr
you doing in therer
She stood mute and motionless as be
bent his head and entered the low
door. It was Bob. and he was smiling
and happy, his clear eyes seeking 70,
the glad welcome he expected.
II only ran down for tonight hs
added. Il couldn't let you face thu
first New Year alone, sweetheart"
| AAAAc AOoChCN AOA ACHp Oub BIN
shook her head and handed him thu
key.
II haven't used It," she said, broken
ly. But oh, Bob, came so near IL
You don't have to tell me what's in tn.
old thing. I'll believe in you just thu
same, and don't want to know
"Know whatr he demanded. DON
cry, Sue" He drew her to him tender
ly. whats up, anyhow
"That DESK" she sobbed. "It's lock
ed"
as til" He stared at the desk 1,
bewilderment. swell, the key was OF
my mantel. dear. You found it al
right, didn't you? Couldn't you unlocl
it?"
II could, but-but I don't want t.
know your private affairs" She tried
to draw herself away, but he took he
hands and held them from her tear
wet face SO that she could see he
eyes.
"Sue, darling" he said. you blesses
little Mrs. Bluebeard, that desk is |