The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-05-10

her income in this way. He was a
writer and had made some successes
Of late, as l happened to know, but it
had been nearly two years since 1 had
seen him.
Mr.. Durland is still here?" said |.
Indeed he is, for good and ALL" the
woman answered. Didn't you know
that Miss Amy was engaged TO him?"
1 shook my head.
Yes" said she. They're to be mar
ried next month. He's getting along
fine now. He's writing plays"
Plays" ! repeated. scarce knowing
that | spoke
She came to my side and pointed
through an open window.
He writes 'em in there" said she.
There's his table and his typewriter"
DO you suppose" said-I, that Mr..
| Durland would object to my using his
typewriter for about two minutes,
while I'm waiting? l would like to
write little note"
She made haste to show me into the
authors study, and presently | had
written upon sheet of heavy type
writer paper the words, In payment
of the debt which you may not remem-
Der"
The result was even more conclusive
than | had hoped. The Irregularities
that had appeared in the original were
faithfully reproduced in my copy. Be
yond Il doubt the line accompanying
the money which had been sent to me
had been written with this instrument
l returned to the veranda. and pres
emily Mrs. Colvin came. She greeted
me with sincere good will and without
a trace of embarrassment
Mrs COlvin," said !, there is a
small matter of business between US.
l have recently been led to review the
old accounts and l find that there has
been an error. l owe YOU something
like hundred dollars
She regarded me shrewdly, with an
interest which | would venture TO call
affectionate
How did you learn that was press
ed for money!" she asked and then.
after a pause: But you needn't tell
me. 1t is very kind of YOU to offer me
this help. but do not need it, | had
TO make an unexpected payment
And by singular coincidence" |
interrupted, Il received an unexpected
payment. The sum was $3.50"
And you don't know who sent it,"
She said. How odd. This seems like
some romantic restitution. Have YOU
ever been robbed? Why. yes, surely
when you lived here. How much was
it that was taken?'
Eight hundred and fifty dollars"
replied
And this sum-"
WAS 5000"
There was Il moments silence Then
she said, hesitating. Gould 90 could
there be-intcreSt. pcrhaps:"
Mental arithmetic has been my forte
since childhood, but this was the quick
est calculation that ever | made:
Eight hundred and fifty dollars, with 6
per cent interest for twenty eight
months, 11lXS5O=9G0. ! saw it in
flash, and it fairly stunned me.
Remember that my experiment with
the typewriter had completely satisfied
me. Perhaps my decision had been
hasty, but it was unmiXcd with any
element of doubt | was sure that the
line accompanying the mysterious pay
ment had been written on Durland's
machine. | was equally sure that Mrs
Colvin had not sent the money and
that 1t had nothing to do with her debt
TO me Aside from that debt there was
no explanation Of the payment except
that which freak of destiny had led
her to suggest. and the exact agree
ment of the figures set the seal of Ger
tainty upon this conclusion. Sydney
Durland, accepted sutton of the wom-
an loved. had striven to ease his con
science on the eve of marriage by max
ing this restitution, and in so doing he
had put his liberty and perhaps his life
into my hands.
We'll" said Mrs. ColvIn, smiling,
what do You think of my explana-
tom"
l made a jest Of 1t and turned her
mind away.
Mrs. COlvin insisted that | should
stay to dinner, and as 1t had now be-
come necessary that should see Dur
land accepted the invitation. SO we
=. IL