The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-12-28

-AAAAN AtNR
a III OF pique.
She turned from the window with
sudden determination. II 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 midnight
bells rang out she might be making a
few n resolutions for the coming
year.
II was dark on the garrett stairs
She stopped at the door Of Bob's dress
ing-room and took a candlestick from
the mantel. II was a wedding gift-a
Japanese bronze griffin, with o~utspread
wigs and spiral. sinuous tail.
AS she held II TO the gas jet 10 light
the candle something fell on the rug
al her feet and she picked IL up. II
was a small. old-fashioned ordinary
brass key. She looked at II hesitating.
". II had never been on BObs ring.
she knew. The space between h
wings OF the bronze griffin was clever
idea OF concealment.
She set her lips closely and went up
the garrett stairs with candlestick in
one hand and the key in the other.
Half way there was a turn at a small
landing, and il 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, a
closing the loo after her.
The desk was pushed TO one side
with some trunks and boxes. IL was
a quaint, antique AFFAIR OF mahogany.
severely colonial in style. The main
body was crescent-shaped. supported
on h~and-carved legs. There were four
drawers. two on each side, and a small,
low cabinet OF pigeon-holes on top.
uzann stood motionless before II
for several minutes. trying 10 make up
her mind TO insert the key. When she
did so. In the lock of the nearest top
drawer. her hand trembled slightly
and she held her breath. The key
turned easily and the draw was ready
for inspection. but she did not open IL.
, Thoughts whirled like the auttering
snowhakes 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. II was
the very keystone OF her marriage
faith. and yet, at the first blow OF sus-
picion. it ave way.
Bess was a 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, g in
lest. She must have faith. and wait.
He had probably locked the desk
against the curiosity Of the ~servants
and had forgotten IL in the hurry and
! excitement OF the wedding. She must
. believe in him. The mere fact 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 ~footster
on the stairs. and she relocked the
drawer quickly.
"IIl be down in a moment. Nora.
she called. You may serve dinner"
The voice that answered was famil'
lar and masculine. She nearly let the
candle fan in her surprised recognition
of il.
IT'S only l, Sue. What on earth are
you doing in there"
She stood mute and motionless as
he bent his head and entered the low
door. II was Bob. and he was smiling
and happy. his clear eyes seeking fol
the glad welcome he expected.
~ only ran down for tonight" h
=, added. Il couldn't let you face th'
: first New Year alone. sweetheart
- His arms reached for her, but sh'
I shook her head and handed him thu
a. key.
iie Il haven't used it, she said, broken
" ~. But. oh. Bob. I came so near II
You don't have 10 tell me what's Il
nc the old thing. I'll believe in YOU Jus
the same. and ! don't van to know"
60 Know WHAT" he demanded Don
cry. Sue He drew her to him tender
ny ". What's up, anyhow"
THAT desk" she sobbed. 1T
W locked"
Is ito" He stared at the desk in b
wilderment. Well. the key "a o
my mantel. dear. You found it a
right. didn't you2 Couldn't o vi
re lock it,"
?. Il could. but-but 7 don't want I
?" know your private affairs" h trie
As to draw herself away. but he took he
ne hands and held them from her tea
sK wet face so that he could sec her eye'
a Sue. darling" he said. you blesse
'er little Mrs. Bluebeard. that desk is
al wedding present 10 you from Gran'
mother Hadleigh. It's been in the fan
OF iIy since the year one. ! guess. an
'as there isn't a single thing in those draw
'ay ers. II came the last minute the da
ng we were married. and was so heas
and unwieldy I told father to send
he along with my things and have IL pi
IL away somewhere until we came HON
20 And | laid the key in tie griffin Il
he safe-keeping, What did you think WI
Isl in it,"
But Suzanne silenced further que
art tioning in her own efectusl way. III
eW keystone OF her happiness was fir
and immovable. But as they We
doupstairs IN dinner she registers