The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-12-28

was q small, Old'tasiliOneu orulnaTN
brass key. She looked at it hesitating'
ly. 1t had never been on Bob's rinH,
she knew, The space between the
wings of the bronze griffin was a clever
idea Of ccncealment.
She set her lips closely and went up
the garnet stairs with candlestick In
one hand and the key in the other,
Half way there was a turn at a small
landing, and 1t was at the angle made
by this that she had found the little
low door leading to the catch all.
She opened 1t 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 main
body was crescent-shaped, supported
on hand-carved legs. There were four
drawers. two on each side, and a small,
low cabinet of pigeon.holes on top.
Suzanne stood motionless before 1t
for several minutes, trying to 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 tho draw was ready
for inspection, but she did not open il,
Thoughts whirled like the luttering
snowflakes 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. 1t was
the very keystone Of her marriage
faith, and yet, at the first blow of sus
picion, 1t gave way.
Bess was a child, with the impulsive
Judgment of a child. She had been
wrong to ever 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, ever in
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
believe in him. The mere fact that
they were married did not give her a
c~oroner'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.
"Pll 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 fall in her surprised recognition
of It.
ITS 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. 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.
Il haven't used It," she said. broken
ly. "But, oh, Bob, ! came SO neal 1t.
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.
ly. whats up, anyhow"
"That DESK" she sobbed. TITS
locked"
us 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?"
81 could, but-but I 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 a
wedding present to you from Grand
mother Hadleigh. It's been in the fam
lily since the year one, l guess, and
there isn't a single thing in those draw.
ers. 1t came the last minute the day
we were married, and was so heavy
and unwieldy l told father to send II
along with my things and have 1t put
away somewhere until we came home.
And / laid the key in the griffin for
safe-keeping. What did you think was
In it,"
But Suzanne silenced further CUES.
tioning In her own eifectual 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. Tn
the future she would let love laugh al
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