Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1906-12-29

Z was small, OllIASAAOAta Nt@-A't-'
/ brass key. She looked at it hesiJatins'
lis. II had never been on Bob's ring.
She knew. The space between the
wings of the bronze griffin was a clever
idea Of concealment
She set her lips closely and went up
/ the garrett stairs with candlesuck in
one hand and the key in the other.
Half way there was q 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 il now and entered, half
closing the door after her.
The desk was pushed TO one side
with some trunks and boxes. 1t was
a quaint antique AFFAIR Of mahogany,
severely colonial in style. The NAH
body was crescentshaped supported
on hand-caryed legs, There were four
drawers, two on each side, and small.
4 low cabinet Of pigeon-holes on top.
Suzanne stood motionless before it
/ for several minutes. trying to make up
her mind to insert the key. When she
4 ala SO. in the lock Of the nearest top
/ drawer. her hand tremhled slightly
and she held her breath, The key
turned easily and the draw was ready
for inspection, but she did not open IT,.
+ Thoughts whirled like the futterins
Snowfabes 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 unfalterins
/ belief and confidence in him. 1t was
the very keystone OF her marriage
faith and vet, at the first blow Of sus.
. picion, it gave way.
Bess was q child, with the impulsive
Z Judgment Of a child She had been
wrong to even tell her of the desk,
wrong 10 discuss Bob or his motives
with her at all or to listen for an in.
slant to any doubt Of him, even in
jest. She must have faith, and wait.
He had probably locked the desk
against the curiosity of the servants
and had forgotten it in the hurry and
! excitement Of the wedding. She must
I 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 footstep
on the stairs, and she relOcked the
drawer quickly.
I'll be down in a moment, Nora, +"
she called. You may serve dinner"
The voice that answered was famil,
/ Tar and masculine, She nearly let the
candle fall in her surprised recognition
OF it.
It's only I, Sue. What on earth are
you doing in there?"
She stood mute and motionless as
he bent his head and entered the low
door, 1t was Bob, and he was smiling
and happy his clear eyes seeking for
the glad welcome he expected
81 only ran down for tonight" he
added. Il couldn't let you face the
/ first New Year alone, sweetheart"
His arms reached for her, but she
shook her head and handed him the
key
u haven't used IT," she said broken.
/ w. But, oh, Bob, came so near it,
You don't have to tell me what's in
the old thing I'll believe in you just
the same, and don't want to know"
Know WHAT" he demanded, Don't
cry, Sue" He drew her to him tender.
! w. What's up, anyhow"
THAT desk" she sobbed. IT'S
locked"
rs it?" He stared at the desk in be,
wilderment. well, the key was on
my mantel, dear. You found it all
right didn't you? Couldn't you I'm.
lock it?'
IL could, but-but l don't want to
know your private affairs" She tried
( to draw herself away but he took her
hands and held them from her tear.
wet face so that he could see her eyes,
Sue, darling" he said. you blessed
little Mrs Bluebeard, that desk is o
wedding present to you from Grand
mother Hadleigh. It's been in the fam
lily since the year one, I guess, and
there isn't single thing in those draw.
ers. 1t came the last minute the day
we were married, and was so heavy
and unwieldy I told father to send II
along with my things and have it put
away somewhere until we came home
And l laid the key in the griffin for
safe.keeping What did you think was
in it,"
But Suzanne silenced further ques'
tioning in her own effectual way. The
keystone of her happiness was firm
and immovable, But as they went
downstairs to dinner she registered
one New Years vow in her heart. In
the future she would let love laugh at
locksmiths.