The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-12-22


had neighbors across the aisle,
apparently well dressed. gray
haired and bearded man, his wife and
their daughter, the latter so lovely that
stared at her until my persistency
provoked a keen, fierce glance from
her father, whereupon l withdrew my
gaze, and he resumed his newspaper,
Immediately the girl across the aisle
glanced around, and intercepted a
fash from a pair Of dark eyes instinct
with what seemed like fear or en-
treaty.
But not even the beauty Of my fair
yis-a-vis could successfully divert my
mind from the painful theme upon
which 1t was dwelling with con-
seriousness OF humiliating failure.
The cashier and confidential man OF
a large business house had absconded
with half million dollars In cash and
negotiable securities, and simultane-
ously the only daughter of the firms
senior member had eloped with a
worthless suitor.
NV firm was not professionally In
terested in this branch Of the case.
We were to trace the absconding cash
Ter, described as twenty-seven years or
age, tall. slender and dudish, heavy
black mustache, smooth shayen cheeks,
while certain memoranda evidently for
gotten and discovered in secret COM
partment of his desk seemed to render
the task Of overtaking him matter or
little time and ordinary skill.
My assignment on the case was a
high compliment, and had been san
guine of success. But most OF the
clews / followed ended in a pocket"
my carefully formulated theories and
hypotheses proved fruitless, and while
debating as to what l should do next
received a peremptory telegram d.
recting my immediate return to head
quarters.
While ruminating thus fell to
drumming with my fingers on the arm
Of the seat. Instantly the girl across
the aisle looked up. darting keen. In
quiring glance at me. Her lips moved
as though repeating some formula, and
as kept on drumming her excitement
visibly increased. Just then her IA
ther, looking up from his paper, frown-
ed at her and, glancing over at me.
tapped his forehead, waving his other
hand toward the girl.
For awhile l kept up my drumming,
and while the girl did not appear to
notice me / could see that she was
listening intently; her lips moved, and
her expression varied from one Of hope
to the deepest depression. For the
want Of better occupation I continued
the experiment awhile, finally ceasing
altogether, whereupon she sank back
against the seat, pale and inert.
By and by the cars stopped again,
and my attention was attracted to a
boy on the platform jerking a rosined
string through a drum shaped piece Of
cardboard-a sample Of the basketful
he carried and which he was demon
strating with a zeal and volume of
discordant sounds that riyaled pande-
monium. Instantly the girl across the
aisle-that was the side nearest the
station platfom-became violently ex-
cited. The blood rushed to her cheeks
and tears to her eyes. Touching her
fathers arm, she exclaimed eagerly:
Papa, papa, buy me one Of those
pretty, noisy playthings?
fancied detected sinister gleam
In the mans eye, but he answered
roughly:
mo; that thing is only for boys and
children!
"Oh, please, please, papa" she per-
sisted, clasping her hands. II must
have it! I want to see If it will sing
for me. Quick, quick, before he is
gonew
As she would not be pacifed and
some Of the passengers were looking at
her, her father smiled grimly and
thrust one hand into his pocket.
anything to please fool!" he NUT
tsred. Opening the window, he bade
he boy outside toss up one Of his in
ternal machines, snatched 1t from him,
threw out quarter and shut the win
dow.
'Thersw he tossed 1t in the girls
lap. "See how long that will amuse
you" AS be resumed his paper ]
watched the girl across the aisle with
a new interest, coupled with growing
mystifcation.
She turned the toy over asld over
held it to her cheek and lipstRe face
instinct with passionate yearning, then
slowly and timidly drew the string
back and forth, producing a succession
Of short, jerky, rasping sounds, which
she gradually tempered and softened
Finally, firing Of watching her, re
sumed my pastime Of drumming witt
my fingers. Instantly she stopped, re
garded me eagerly, then, sadly shak
ing her head, dropped her crude play
thing In her lap.
What was the girl trying to do? A
look into her set, tense face secuted thu
idea of anything so trivial as a 1irta
ton. When l stopped drumming sht
resumed her performance; when
drummed she was quiet, listening in
tently, but with evident disappoint
ment. Giving up the riddle at last,
leaned back. with folded arms. Imme