Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-12-06
LOVE AND THE
LOCKSMITHS.
Copyrighted. 1907. by NJ. M. Cunningham
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
By MARTHA COBB SANFORD.


Agatha, lifting her skirts daintily,
tripped around the corner from the
fashionable avenue where she lived
to the dlngy little side street, with its
miniature shops and pretentlous signs.
Yes, 1t still hung there between a
cigar shop and a secondhand store--a
mammoth yellow key. She had seen
1t many a time That must mean a
locksmith, and a locksmith was for
her at that crucial moment most essen
tial, for Agatha had locked herself out.
But the locksmith's door refused to
bulge. Then a piece of paper stuck
in the inside of the door frame caught
Agatha's attention.
"Out. VIII return at 0 D. mr." she
read. with dlsmay.
She looked at her little chatelaine
watch. 1t was 5:35. In half an hour
her father would be home to dinner,
bringing a business friend with him.
1t was hard enough, heaven knows, to
have the maid take French Tor, more
truthfully speaking, scotch) leave that
very morning and courageous enough,
Agatha knew, to plan to get the din
ner herself so as not to disappoint her
father, but to be locked out OF the
house at the eleventh hour and to find
the locksmlth out into the bargain
this was n crisis for tears.
A young man stepped out OF the
neighboring cigar shop just in time to
see Agatha's handkerchief make lit
tie dab at each OF her moist blue eyes.
"Can | be of service to your he
asked calamity.
I'm afraid not, thank you," Agatha
replied, checking her mOmentary dis
play of emotion.
But the young man was 80 politely
sollcitous that Agatha, In her distress.
explained her dilemma, ending her ex-
PLANTATION with, "And the locksmith.
you see, has the reconsideration to BIO
out"
"Well, we can overcome that diff
Guilty easily enough" was the young
mans cheerful response. you see, l
know the man who keeps the cigar
store here very well. and can get
through his shop into the locksmith's.
Just walt Il minute"
Agatha waited and soon the young
man reappeared, dangling bunch OF
skeleton keys In his hand.
''These will open most anything. I
reckon" he said, smiling at Agatha.
"Now, If you'll kindly let me accom-
pany you to where you live, I'll have
the door open In a jiffy"
He was as good as his word, and
Agatha, actually inside Of her own
home once more. was profuse In her
expressions Of gratitude.
az don't know how to thank you,
Mr. She stopped short and then
added naively II don't know your
name either"
"Black." the young man prompted,
"just plain Black"
at was an awfully white thing for
you to do, anyway" Agatha replied,
her eyes twinkiing. "And am under
deep obligations to you, Mr.. Black"
mot at ALL" answered the alleged
Mr.. Black, lifting his hat as he left.
The dinner went of with remark
able smoothness, and Agatha had no
intention Of discountlng the compli-
ments she received by letting her IA
Their know of her carelessness, but
suddenly she put her hand to her belt
and exclaimed, my watch-I've lost
itw
Then she remembered when she had
last looked at the time and in fash
1t came over her that her watch had
been stolen from her by the soiicitous
"Mr. Black" She was forced to make
a full confession.
what sort Of looking chap was heT'
inquired her father.
mot at all bad looking" answered
Agatha almost defantly; really.
rather handsome. You don't suppose
I'd let any horrid looking old thing
come to my assistance, do your
Her father laughed In spite OF him
self.
but he was friend OF the man
that keeps the cigar. store, you say,
OF skeleton keysT
Agatha admitted both points reluc.
family.
Hum, bad lot" commented her ia
Their. Probably had the keys In his
pocket all the time. Come on, Balm
bridge" he added, addressing his
guest, you and l have got to get busy
mighty quick Suppose we visit that
cigar store first"
Agatha, left alone, sat for awhile
tapping the toe. Of her smart little
slipper on the floor, evidently puzzling
over the details of her afternoon ad.
venture Then she picked up a book
and was endeavoring to make herself
follow the thread OF the story when
the bell rang. She jumped up nerv.
ously and ran to answer II, expecting
her father and Mr.. cambridge back
again.
When she opened the door, she gave
a little scream OF fright and tainted
"Mr. Black" caught her In his arms
and then. realizing the seriousness Of
the situation, hurriedly laid her on a
couch and ran into the dining room
for glass OF water.
As soon as Agatha revived sum.
GENTLY she screamed "Thiefw at the
top Of her voice.
AS II In providential answer to her
cry, a key clicked in the lock Of the
outside door, and Agatha, hearing her
fathers step, ran to meet him. still
calling Thief, thIefv' breathlessly.
Her father grabbed the young man
~ the throat and yelled at him hoarse.
- 90. a.