Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-10-25
Love Letters at Auction.
~ LEE MocRAE.

house he called home.
ITS a case OF excess baggage" he
continued, as the two went up the
broad stairs two steps at Jump.
"You see. Percy Miles and ] hap
pened into the railroad ONCE where
they were auctioning OF old. uncalled
for luggage. and Just for fun each OF
us bid In q trunk. ] selected a small.
mannish looking one. and, here we
are! Come and view the burden OF
my woes"
He led the way into pleasant room.
pointed solemnly ut little leather
covered trunk In the middle OF the
floor, threw himself lazily upon O
couch. and exclaimed:
open the confounded thing! It's
full OF a womans stun. Percy got a
fine overcoat In his. and some new
ties and things. But what can this
unincumbered man do with that tog'
gery?"
Keep II till you're married." sug'
gested Larry.
Married! The girl I'd marry
wouldn't touch secondhand clothes!
Besides. I daren't keep II here. Mrs.
Landlady Ii too curious. No Ill Just
dump II In the lake some dark night
and make a mystery for the police"
And incidentally get yourself into
more trouble. But why such cruel
waste? These things cost money
lots OF It. / imagine-and you paid
a dot In the bargain. Suppose you
give II to some gr0wn-up orphan
asylum, or-no. say. Ross. 60
through II systematically and find out
the owners name and address-it Is
surely on something-then write to
her, Offering to sell the whole thing
back for trifle."
Good! Do an act OF charity and
turn an honest penny by It! Scotch
you surely are! But there's the din
ner gong! Won't you go down with
me?
No; had mine. I'll stay here and
rummage for you, II you like"
wish you would. Only lock Mrs.
McGaffey out"
Courtney disappeared, the door was
bolted, and Larry turned back to the
battered little trunk with look OF
pity on his handsome face. Had II
been lost In one of the awful catas.
trophies he had read about; Its owner
killed and her body. like the baggage.
unidentified? How else would a val
liable trunk remain unclaimed? They
were girlish things; dainty wells. rib
bons, ginghams. silks and piles OF
snowy linen. He fingered over a pair
of half-worn slippers. thinking of Gin
derella and her prince.
But not the sign Of a clew!" he
murmured. Perhaps there are let
tiers in this box"
Its catch was bent: he wrenched 1t
open, and out fiew-his photograph!
He sat down plump upon q lace
hat and stared. On the back Of II
were his initials in his own handwrit'
Ing, and q date he had put upon but
one photograph. Beneath the picture
we're all the letters and scraps OF
notes he had ever sent Nell Burr; also
some comical pencil sketches he had
made OF one never-tO-be-forgOtten pic
nicing day, and some little trinkets
he had given her.
Only one bit Of paper bore other
handwriting than his own. Unfolding
It, he read:
20 to call back the days that are not!
Mine eyes were blinded. your words
were few.
VIII you know the truth this side OF
Heaven?
Larry! Larry! Tender and true"
He bent his head upon the brown
trunk and groaned aloud: And now
you are dead, dead! Oh. Nell!"
How the old love song Douglas,
Douglas, tender and true" brought
back the happy days they had spent
together! And now Its revised
words revealed her heart and showed
him how sadly he had misunderstood
her. And she was dead, dead!
Courtney's heavy tread on the stair
aroused him from stupor to quick &C
ton. The photo and letters were
crammed back into the little box,
which he hastily hid under his shape
less old Panama; then. unlocking the
door, he met his old friend with q
stolId sort Of smile. exclaiming:
You're right! There's not thing
in It TO tell whose 1t Is. But tell you
what Sell II to me to give to that
poor little cousin OF mine who ID
working her way through normal
school"
BLESS your benevolent old boots!
But surely there's clew somewhere
In II! II would be so romantic to
hunt her up. She's young, and I'll
bet she's pretty. judging by all this
fiummery. Let me take a whirl at
III" and the jolly fellow threw open
the Nd with a bang that struck q
chill to Larry's heart.
Filled with terror lest Ross should
fiad her name and address upon some
thing. he lowered over. watching the
ruthless handling of the precious gar
ments. and listening dumbly to his
abominable comments II was joking
over her CONN TO the tortured Larry.
Rut he had sufficient presence OF mind