The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-25

with the matter Beecot could not con-
lecture.
While be was trying to solve the
mystery a light touch on his arm made
him wheel round. and he beheId Sylvia
smiling at him.
II can't stay long" said Sylvia. my
father is still i'll, and he wants me to
return and nurse him"
HAS he explained why he fainted?'
asked Paul anxiously.
mo; he refuses to speak on the mat
ter Why did he faint. Paul?
The young man looked puzzled
Upon my word l don't know" he
said Just as / was showing him a
brooch / wished to pawn he went of"
What kind of brooch?' asked the
girl, also perplexed.
Paul took the case out of his breast
pocket, where II had been since the
previous day. my mother sent it to
me-" he explained You see, she
guesses that ] am hard up, and. thanks
to my father, she can't send me money.
This piece Of jewelry she has had for
many years. but as it is rather old
fashioned she never wears It. So she
sent it to me, hoping that I might get
fl0 or so on it. A friend of mine wish
ed to buy 1t, but I was anxious to get
it back again SO that I might return it
to my mother. Therefore / thought
your father might lend me money on
it,
Sylvia examined the brooch with
great attention. 1t was evidently of
Indian workmanship, delicately chased
and thickly set with jewels. The SER
pent. which was apparently wriggling
across the stout gold pin of the brooch.
had its broad back studded with opals.
large in the center OF the body and
small at head and tail These were
set round with tiny diamonds, and the
head was of chased gold, with a ruby
tongue. Sylvia admired the workman
ship and the jewels and turned the
brooch over On the fat smooth gold
underneath she found the initial ar"
scratched with pin. This she showed
to Paul II expect your mother made
this mark to identify the brooch" she
said.
my mothers name is Anne" re-
piled Paul, looking more puzzled than
ever-"Anne Beecot. Why should she
mark this with an initial which has
nothing to do with her name?"
Perhaps it is present" suggested
Sylvia.
Paul snapped the case to and replac-
ed 1t in his pocket. Perhaps it is,
he said However. when | next write
to my mother I'll ask her where she
got the brooch She has had it for
many years." he added musingly "for
l remember playing with it when a
small boy"
Don't tell your mother that my ia
Their tainted"
why not? Does 1t matter?"
Sylvia folded her slender hands and
looked straight in front of her. For
some time they had been seated on a
bench in a retired part of the gardens,
and the laughter of playing children,
the music of the band playing the mer-
riest airs from the last musical come
dy, came family to their ears. Il think
1t does matter" said the girl seriously.
"For some reason my father wants to
keep himself as quiet as possible. He
talks of going away"
Going away? Oh. Sylvia. and you
never told me"
HE only spoke Of going away when
/ came to see how he was this morn
ing" she replied. Il wonder If his
fainting has anything to do with this
determination. He never talked of 60
ing away before.
Paul wondered also. 1t seemed
strange that after so unusual an event
the old man should turn restless and
wish to leave a place where he had
/ lived for over twenty years. IN come
and have an explanation" said Paul
| after pause.
az think that will be best, dear. Fa-
Their said that he would like to see you
again and told Bart to bring you in If
he saw you"
"TH call today-this afternoon, and
perhaps your father will explain. And
now. Sylvia. that is enough about 9th
er people and other things. Let us
! talk of ourselves"
Sylvia turned her face with fond
smile She was delicate and dainty
little lady. with large gray eyes and
soft brown hair. Her complexion was
transparent, and she had little color in
her cheeks. With her oval face, hel
thin nose and charming mouth she
looked very pretty and sweet. But Il
was her expression that Paul loved
That was q tribe sad. but when she
smiled her looks changed as au over
cast sky changes when the sun bursts
through the clouds. Her figure was per
feet, her hands and feet showed marks
of breeding. and. although her gray
dress was as demure as any worn by G
/ Quakeress. she looked bright and mer
~ in the sunshine of her lovers pres
ence. Everything about Sylvia was
dainty and neat and exquisitely clean
bat she was hopelessly out OF the fash
lon. 1t was this odd independence in
4. IA.