The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-07-03

u"vt hiv uutJ MIL ! hnUW WlIHiH W
thousand milos II Miss Marion Hen.
tom
The girl looked at him swiftly aud
flushed scarlet Then she laughed low
and luerrily"
tAre you gamey' he asked n know
Il II D lot 10 ask. but | need tho
money"
The girl gazed At him compassion.
ately.
Poor boyt.4 she said. "You must be
In bad straits"
And 20 Il was settled. The invita.
tons were 10 bear the address Of the
little Office where Miss senton insisted
her Impoverished mother by conducting
q small business.
Within week 300 presents were
speeding eastward from the little Call.
fornia town, among them letter 10
Robert chestwick, sr.. which read IN
part.
Dear Father--f know you WIN be glad
70 learn that I ann about ~ follow your
advice and settle down In NE. Miss
Bentpn n poor. but pf good family and
In every way such n person as YOU will
consider m addition 10 tho family
An of which was true. save for tho
minor detail that Robert junior had no
intention of marrying tho estimabis
Miss seaton.
4 In time the presents began 10 arrive.
ms rush was preceded by an enthu-
siaatic letter, from Robert senior. con.
taining . check With three ngurcs and
tho Offer of junior partnership In q
paying business should his Hpn desire
10 return east.
Each day Chestwick visited MIss
ssatofrm oliice, where the pair enjoyed
their secret hugely.
'.lt Ii the most impudent thing / ever
beard pf.l Che girl would announce be,
tween bursts Of laughter.
After carefully removing the ad-
dressea. Chcntwick. laden with pack
ages. would return TO his now arst
noor front. for as funds went up
ChcstwIck came down. The spacious
room soon rcscmbied jewelers. shop.
Bric.a.brae. china. cut glass. silver and
even gold sparkled from every corner.
like the treasures In pirates cave.
BY the third day the amazement OF
good Mrs. Seaton knew no bounds. To
think that this youth. who d short time
ago had been without the price or his
room rent: this philosophical young
man, who despised the treasures that
moth aud rust do corrupt who had
even thrown them away. should be- the
recipient OF such wealth M, this! Here
was an enigma indeed! AT lcpgth tho
worthy woman could restrain her curt.
osiiy no longer. On apretext she via
lted Chestwick's room. where she found
him examining q wardrobe fresh from
the taiior's. Mrs. Eeaton glanced
around and blinked her feeble eyes In
the gleam and glitter OF 70 much pre-
cieas metal.
.You have a lot Of silverware," she
ventured. 'or perhaps II is not yoursi"
.'Oh. yes. II is mine." Chestwlck as
sured her. They are presents.'
"Presents!" echoed Mrs. Seaton.
Presents. And from whom. prayY"
"From my friends It--it II my birth.
dry s,'.s-s'
"yonr blrthdayF' gasped the land,
lady, Your friends must be very fond
OF you"
"1hcy are" said Chestwick u am
quito touched at their generosity. But"
he added to himself. II mean my
friends are touched"
Mrs. Seaton left the room moro be-
wildered than ever. His birthday, In
deed What young man. she would
Ike to know. would receive teaspoons
and saltecllars as birthday presentsi
There was something suspicious here.
Could II be- Ahl She had Il! Rob
ert Chestwick was burglar A
criminal, probably escaped from some
eastern penitentlary, He said he came
from the east. She would call the po-
lice at oncel She wouldn't have the
jail bird In her house another hour
not shel On second thought. though,
she would walt for Marion. Marion
must be consulted
so Mrs. Seaton placed her valuables
under lock and key and In fear and
trcpldatlon waited her daughters re-
turn.
Meantime Rohert Cbestwck, en,
sconced In generous Morris chair (the