Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-08-28
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LOVE AND THE
LOCKSMITHS.
By MARTHA COBB SANFORD.
Convriohfed 1910. nv NJ. NJ. Cunningham.
~ tVFy T1EH0'U' I7V's % 1Hs 7H' Northumberland
Observation-Disclosures

|
fashionable avenue where she lived
to the dlngy little side street, with It's
miniature shops and pretentious signs
Yes, It still hung there between q
cigar shop and secondhand store q
mammoth yellow key. she had seen
1t many time. That must mean q
locksmith, and a locksmith was FOL
her at that crucial moment most essen
tial. for Agatha had locked herself out
But the locksmith's door refused tc
bulge. Then "A piece of paper stucl;
I'm the inside of the door frame caught
| Agatha's attention.
"Out. VIII return at p. m.," she
read, with dismay
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, tc
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 dlsappoint hei
father, but TO be locked out of the
house at the eleventh hour and to find
the locksmith out into the bargain
this was a crisis for tears.
| A young man stepped out of the
neighborlng cigar shop just In time tc
see Agatha's handkerchief make a lit
tie dab at each Of her moist blue eyes
"Can l 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 so politely
sollcitous that Agatha, in her distress
explained her dilemma, ending her ex
PLANTATION with, And the locksmith
you see, has the reconsideration TO be
out"
| "Well, we can overcome that diff
| Guilty easily enough" was the young
mans cheerful response. "You see,
know the man who keeps the cigar
store here very well, and / can get
through his shop into the locksmiths
Just wait a minute"
Agatha waited and soon the young
man reappeared. dangling a bunch of
skeleton keys in his hand.
"These will open most anything,
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 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.
IL don't know how 10 thank you
Mr. She stopped short and then
added naively, II don't know your
name either"
Black" the young man prompted
lust plain Black"
ut was an awfully white thing for
you to do. anyway" Agatha replied
her eyes twinkling. "And i 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 discounting 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-Ive lost
IT."
Then she remembered when she had
last looked at the time, and in a fash
1t came over her that her watch had
been stolen from her by the soicitous
mfr. Black" She was forced TO make
full confession.
what sort OF looking chap was hep
inquired her father.
Not at all bad looking" answered
Agatha almost defantly; really
rather handsome. You don't suppose
I'd let any horrid looking old thing
come 10 my assistance, do your
Her father laughed In spite of him.
self.
"But he was a friend OF the man
that keeps the cigar store. you say,
and had no trouble in getting a bunch
OF skeleton keys?'
Agatha admitted both points reluc-
family
Hun. bad lot" commented her ia
Their. Probably had the keys in his
pocket all the time. Come on. Balm.
bridge" he added. addressing bis
guest. you and | have got to gpt 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 al.
venture. Then she picked ND 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
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
Tor glass Of water.
AS soon as Agatha revived suili-
GENTLY she screamed Thief" at the
top OF her voice.
AS II in providential answer to her
cry, n key clicked in the lock OF the
outside door. and Agatha, hearing her
fathers STEP ran TO meet him. stili
calling Thief. thiefF' breathlessly
Her father grabbed the young man
by the throat and yelled at him horse
/ ". $50 y wasn't enough TO steal my
I'll stop ydnf pain Tee. To show yos
tirst-beiore you spend penny-wha
u,v pink Pain Tablets can do / will mai