Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-18

awe and terror Where had he picked up
that suit case? Examining the outside he
noticed that ii was slightly newer than his
and that it bore no initials, though 1t was
very close resemblance in other respects.
I But where had he rnade the exchange?
And then the young lady with the high
grade magazine came to mind. Her suit
case must have been in the rack beside his.
Yes, come to think of it, he had been
obliged to shelve his above the seat behind.
But what could he do about it now? What
could she do? 1t was highly improbable
that she had a masquerade ball in prospect,
and he certainly had not. Ralston expert
enced a queer shiver that played tag up and
down his back From the depths of his
heart he could sympathize with some of his
fictitious puppets whom he had led into all
sorts of narrowing social predicaments.
There was an awful fascination about
that black and pink affair. Ralston could
not keep his eyes from it. He vaguely Won
dered al the state of her feelings. oh, for
Aladdin!
What the deuce, aren't you ready yet?
You're as bad as the ladies,'
At his hosts unexpected entrance he
guilty slammed down the lid. He felt his
cheeks catch fire and knew that he was as
red in the face any fresh-boiled lobster.
His friend gave him no chance to explain,
but continued;
Whats that pink stuff you're carrying
around? l thought men always carried
their pink of perfection on the inside,
though Nan says we haven't any. Hope
you'll pardon my inquisitiveness?"
oh. not at all scarcely an ineligible
answer. II may as well show up and own
up, ] suppose but don't give me away. I'd
be the laughing stock of the whole house
party. Briefly. l walked off with somebody
eises suit case, and here's the result" He
lifted the lid.
Great Scott. but that's a sumner, Let's
have deeper look Jim approached,
showing back his sleeves for action.
mo, don't, You mustn't
Look the other way if you don't want
70 I INNS Inn for ,arl.S of
identification since there are no initials to
so by. Gracous.' beginning to raise the
fragile black lace net, there's yards and
yards of this stuff Must be a regular
to help my wife into one of these contrap-
tions when her maid was on strike, and
they tear if you just look at them cross
eyed" Suddenly he burst into roar of
laughter.
4 fail to see the joke grumbed the
other
why. I told you that you'd probably
pick up material for a story. There's GER
tainly enough material right here to cut
dozen yarns out of whole cloth" But his
wit struck responsive chord, and he
forced to laugh alone.
It's all very funny for you, and it might
be for me, if | didn't have the prospect of
some local lookup staring me in the face.
There's no telling what a woman will do
when she gets mad returned the author,
Ungallantly.
nish inside information on prison condi-
tions: so cheer up-thats our motto down
here"
But what shall I do?''
DO? Oh. come down as you are I'll
let you down easy by explaining that you
and your belongings got separated on the
way down. Come along. Miss Blossom
must not be kept waiting too long, even
ii you are a successful novelist"
The buzz of competing conversation fell
to an abrupt halt as the two entered. The
men jumped to their feet to greet Ralston,
while the ladies-au but one-nodded IA
miliarly.
Guess you all know my old chum. except
Miss Blossom" began Jim, leading his com
panion to the seat beside the other week
end guest. Miss Blossom let me present
why what the deuce is the matter?"
The two late arrivals faced each other in
mutual confusion; for though Raston had
not caught satisfactory full-face glimpse
of the young lady beside him in the train,
he knew instinctively that it was she who
now sat looking doubtfully up at him. This
time she was clad in a silk dinner gown