Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-11

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the chair sat down again and feverishly opened
the handbag. She turned out the contents ruth.
lessly on the table-a bunch Of KEYS, a railway
ticket, handkerchief the creased novelette, a
packet Of milk chocolate
ITS my purse" she gasped, whtefsoed. to
Morris, as he lowered hesitatingly Haven't
you seen IL anywhere? | must have dropped
IT,"
What sort of purse was it?' he asked, de-
lighted TO be Of use
"A little purse with silver monogram
had it when came in, I'm surera She col
lapsed before the remains of her lunch. what
am to doY she murmured aghast
IF you will allow me-" commenced Morris
"h | may venture-s small loan" lie paus
ed
She gazed up at him gratefully.
'Wi your she breathed. Then. Its too
absurd, isn't It? I can't imagine how ] could
have been so careless" She seemed to become
aware that Others had noticed the catastrophe.
There's better way out Of it, ] suppose?"
she asked with an attempt to laugh the matter
away 81 must pay for the lunch?"
well, it's usual decided Morris. He took
the bill from her reluctant fingers and put it
with his own The two marched together to
the pay box; the incident was closed. Outside
the door the girl touched his arm mperiously
You must give me your name. please" she
requested, "and address; / cannot permit you
to lose anything"
'If you address me at Messrs. Worthys" be-
gan Morris; then checked himself It had cross
ed his mind that this was rather unnecessary
"Oh, you can pay me any time-when we meet
again."
81 should prefer to be independent" she said
abruptly. you must accept this" She hast
lily slipped fountain pen from its moorngs
against her dress "It has my name on it, and
is my sole stock in trade" she went on. "You
can send it back to me, care of the Hyacinth
Club, Norfolk street."
That settled it with Morris He gave his
name and Messrs. Worthys' address, adding
81 live there practically, you know. One has
to keep an eye on burglars and gentlemen of
that Sort
"And you're not afraid?"
"No."
"All alone?" she questioned, admiringly.
He laughed as he handed back the pen. He
had just glimpsed her name, kitty Tremaine"
He thought it seemed just little too charming
to be quite exact
"All alone and not in the least afraid" he
She turned to leave him..
81 shall write you directly get home Thank
you again and again Good-by."
She smiled her adieu graciously, and in
few moments had passed from sight. Morris
returned to Messrs. Worthy & Co.'s in much
better mood. He found his partner preparing
to pack the silver casket.
wexford has sent down for it," announced
Worthy explanatory.
''But you're going to have his cheque first?" |
"The money will be ready-so / gather"
Worthy handed him a penciled note across the
counter. Zone of us can go up with the casket
Wexford IS staying at the Russell An Ameri-
can, as I thought"
my dear fellow, how you do jump at con-
clusions. Residence at the Russell doesn't make
a man an American. Our customer is no more
from the other side than those wretched things
you have this morning were diamonds"
Worthy grinned in his usual exasperating man
ner. He lifted the casket to the middle of a
little island of tissue paper; then, as if to
satisfy himself, pressed the spring of the lock- |
The casket flew open, showing under the glare |
of the lamp overhead a diamond necklace, ar
tistically arranged on the black velvet setting. |
Morris nodded approval.
Looks very NICE" he said, coming nearer.
"Ah One can't mistake the real thing!"
Worthy looked up at him, and his eyes were
bright, beady stars of mischief
"Not bad for little shop" he agreed. "Will
you take it, or shall II"
Morris decided to go himself.
You'll be giving it to him without the cheque !"
"l'll take it at fve-directly we have closed
/ suppose that will do?" He threw down the
penciled scrap of paper, addressed from the
Hotel Russell, carelessy. He had scarcely
glanced at it.
you'll be sure to open the casket there?"
questioned Worthy. 1 should take the necklace
right out and let him that we haven't chang
ed it for another. So soon as you have his
cheque, | mean,' he added hastily noticing
the basilisk glare of his junior partners eyes.
He softly switched off the electric light, and
continued to pack the casket after Morris had
gone back to his books. Ever and again the
fat man chuckled at some secret joke, then