Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1907-01-17

uef Tor q Dfiuo, bne tnOuBnls as bht
went upstairs, her FIRST New Years
eve. Perhaps by the time the midnight
bells rang out she might be making a
few strange resolutions for the coming
year.
1t was dark on the garnet stairs
She stopped at the door OF Bob's dress
ing-room and took a candlestick from
the mantel. It was a wedding gift-a
Japanese bronze griffin, with outspread
wings and spiral, sinuous tail.
AS she held It to the gas jet to light
the candle something fell OF the rug
at her feet and she picked 1t up. 1t
was a small, old-fashioned ordinary
brass key. She looked at II hesitating
ly. II had never been on Bob's ring
she knew. The space between the
wings Of the bronze griffin was a clever
idea OF concealment.
She set her lips closely ana went ny
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 It was at the angie made
by this that she had found the little
low door leading to the catch all"
She opened it now and entered, half
closing the door after her.
The desk was pushed to one side
with some trunks and boxes. 1t vas
a quaint, antique affair of mahogany,
severely colonial in style. The main
body was crescent-shaped, supported
on hand-carved legs. There were four
L., uraro tv~n -, a..oh ot1n and a uVna1I
low cabinet of pigeon-holes on top.
Suzanne stood motionless before it
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 the draw was ready
for inspection, but she did not open it.
Thoughts whirled like the luttering
s%nowhakes 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. It was
the very keystone of her marriage
faith, and yet, at the first blow of sus-
picion. it gave way.
Bess was a child, with the impulsive
judgment of a child. She had been
wrong to even 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, even in
jest. She must have faith, and wait.
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
coroner'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.
"Tll be down IN a moment. Nora"
she called. you may serve dinner"
The voice that answered was famil-
far and masculine. She nearly let the
candle fall in her surprised recognition
of it.
IT'S only I, 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.
Il 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.
az haven't used it." she said, broken
ly. But, oh, Bob, l came so near it
Y0u don't have to tell me what's il
tho old thing, I'll believe in you JUS
the same, and don't want to know"
"Know what?" he demanded. Don
cry, Sue" He drew her to him tender
ly. whats up, anyhow"
. "That DESK" she sobbed. at
locked"
rs IT," He stared at the desk in be
wilderment. well, the key was Oh
my mantel. dear. You found it al
right, didn't you? Couldn't you IN
Z lock IT."
II could, but-but | don't want I
. know your private affairs" She triet
: to draw herself away, but he took he
{ hands and held them from her teal
wet face so that he could see her eyes
: Sue, darling" he said. You blesse
! little Mrs. Bluebeard, that desk is
i wedding present to you from Crane
: mother Hadleigh. It's been in the fan
i lily since the year one, I guess, an
: there isn't a single thing in those draw
, ers. It came the last minute the da
3 we were married, and was so heav
and unwieldy l told father to send
9 along with my things and have Il pu
away somewhere until we came homl
o And I laid the key in the griffin fo
e safe-keeping. What did you think wa
l. in IT."
2 But Suzanne silenced further que
I tioninG in her own effectual way. TIL
" keystone of her happiness was fir
and immOyable. But as they wei
downstairs to dinner she registere
n one New Years vow in her heart. ]
% tho future n Would let love laugh