The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-09-18
LOVE AND THE
LOCKSMITHS.
D. MARTHA cosB SANFORD.

Agatha. l4ftIng her skirts daintily.
tripped around the corner from the
faAhionable avenue where she lived
10 the dingy little side street, with tn
miniature shops and pretentious signs.
Yes. IL stu hung there between o
cigar shop and secondhand st0re-a
mammoth yellow key. she had soeu
q many q time. That must mean q
iocksmith. and q locksmiih was for
her nt that crucial moment most essen
tial. for Agatha had locked herself ont.
But the ioeksmith's door refused to
bulge. Then q piece Of paper stuck
D. the inside Of the door frame caught
Agatha's attention.
"out VIII return At p. M" she
read. with diMmay.
She looked ~ her little ehateiaine
watch. II was 5.3o. In half an hour
her father would be home 70 dinner,
bringing a business friend with him.
Et was hard enough. heaven knows. 20
have the maid take French Ter, more
truthfuliy speaking. SCOTCH leave that
very morning and courageous enough.
Aantha knew, 20 plan 20 set the din
ner herself so as not 20 diaappo8nt her
father, but 20 be lochad out % the
house AZ the eleventh hour and 10 and
CO loehMmith out Into the bargain
this was a crisis for tears.
"A young man stepped out of the
nsighboFin8 cigar shop Just IN time 70
ZEE Agntha'a handkerchief make lit.
tia Dab 81 zach of hsr moist blue eyes.
@can ] ba % service 20 your he
mahed CALAMITY.
"I'm afraid not, thank you." Agatha
replied. checking her momentary dis
play Of emotion.
But the young man was 20 politely
molieitous that Agatha, In her distress.
explained her dilemma. ending her ex-
psAnatlon with. And the locksmith.
you see. has the reconsideration 10 be
out
well. we can overcome that din
Guilty easily enough" was the young
mans cheerful response "YOu see.
know tho man who keeps the cigar
stare here very well. and I can get
through his shop into the iocksmith's.
Just wait a minute"
Agatha waited and soon the young
man reappeared. dangling bunch Of
skeleton keys n bis hand.
= These win open most anything,
reckon Do said. smiling az Agatha,
'Now. n you'll kindly lot me accom-.
pany you 70 who're you live tn have
The door open ID 4 jlffy,a eEF'~~
lie was Is eood As his word. and
AGATHA, actually inside Of hsr own
hoEn9 Once more. Was profuse In her
expressions u gratitude.
II don't know how % thank you,
Mr. She stopped short and then
Sdded nAiveiy, II don't know your
name either" aa'~aAAass~-"
a,laek." the young man prompted,
sslnst plain Black y --@~ ..aa@4assa.
'sit Was an awfully white thing for
you a. 40. anyway" Agatha replied,
her eyes twlnkllng "And am under
deep obligations 70 you. Mr.. Black"
aNot al an. answered the alleged
Mr. Black, lifting bis hat as he left.
TIE dinner went on with remark
able smo0thneas and Agatha had no
intention o. DESIGNATING the compli-
meutu she received by letting her fa.
ther know 1t her carelesaness. but
suddenly She nnt her hand 20 her belt
and exclaimed, My watch-i'ye lost
IT. atsssszs.sassss sss.sessF <asss5-ss=ss4s-
Then she remembered when she had
last hooked AZ the time. and IN fash
Il came over her that her watch had
heen stolrn FROM her hy the solleitous
@Air. Hack" She was forced 10 make
. fnll confession
what sort II looking chap was her
Inquired her father,
Not az nll had hooking" answered
Agatha almost deiiantly. really.
rather handsome. You don't suppose
I'd let any horrid locking cid thing
come t. uy assistance. 10 your
Tier father laughed in spite Of him.
nels.
''Iant be was a friend Of the man
that keeps the cigar store. you sAy.
and had no trouble In getting q bunch
~ skeleton keysfr
Agatha admitted both points relue.
aantly,
Hum. bad lot commented her "a.
theT. Probably had the keys In his
pocket all the time. Come on. Hahn.
bridee" be added. addressing his
guest. 'yon aud have got to set busy
mighty quick suppose We visit that
cigar store tiFst"
Agatha. left alene. sat for awhile
tapping the Toe ~ her smart little
slipper % the floaF. evidently puzziing
over the details o. her afternoon al
venture. Then she pirh 4 up a book
and vas endeavOring 10 make herself
follow the thread o. the story when
the beli rang she jumped up nery,
onsiy and ran " answer H. expecting
her father aud Mr. RatnhrldEe hack
nEain
when abe opened the door she Eaye
q little scrcam u fright and tainted.
"Mr. Black" eaught her Ia his arsns
mma fhsn FseffyfnM fhs AaFfsaatanaaa ~