The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-10-15
two or three postal orders. I wish the

two or three postal orders. I wish tn.
p~ostofice was a little nearer"
Without replying he turned and
walked by her side. The road slantet
upward for some little distance, Their
dropped gently between tall hedges
toward Mawgan Chase.
When | walked home with you the
other day." he began, 1T was suggest
ed that I should write to the owners
Of the Nebraska"
"You suggested it," she replied
quickly. 'Have you done SOP"
II wrote the same evening. This
morning-or, more correctly, this
forenoon, for the post was very late
to-day for some reason-I Sot their
reply"
"Well?"
you were right in your surmise.
No n of the name of Webster took
passage in the Nebraska. In fact, the
only passenger whose name began
with a w was Miss West"
Il was sure l was right" she said,
eagerly. Now, what's to be done?
You'll inform the coastguard, of
course?"
II have come to the conclusion that
1t would be better TO inform the man
himself. What think you?"
II am not sure" she answered, SLOW
ly. "If you brighten him away you
lose the clue, as it were.
What clue?"
you will think me very inquisitive,
no doubt. But the mystery of Miss
Vests silver box ~fascinates me. She
thinks lightly of its contents-at least,
she did-but | feel sure 1t contains
documents Of importance. If this man
Nevins could only be trapped in some
way and made to divulge what he
knows"
What good would come Of that?
Perhaps he does not know anything.
He may be acting for some n else
some one who is afraid the contents
of the box may come to light"
"Of course, that may be SO; but 1t
doesn't clear up the mystery in any
way"
II admit Il. But | would like IL pos
sible to avoid a scandal. Miss Vests
box, of course, may v be washed
ashore. On the other hand, it may
drift in on the very next tide. IL
Nevins is near he will endeavor to
steal its contents. He may succeed
and get away, and where are we then?
Or he may be caught with the stolen
goods in his possession, in which case
st. Chloe will become notorious in a
way we don't desire. But the point
is. is it not better to prevent the
crime than to catch the criminal?"
perhaps you are right she said,
slowly. IF Nevins is compelled to
leave the place 1t will put an end to-
the strain of watching him. won't it?"
81 am glad you agree with me-" he
said, after a pause. II think | had
better go back now and get the thing
over"
ut is not a very pleasant task" she
v~entured. looking timidly up into his
face.
"It's a very unpleasant task" he
answered, coming to a dead stop in
his walk. IL wish your brother were
at home, SO that We might go to-
gether."
81 believe Glenn would enjoy beard.
ing the creature" she replied, with a
laugh.
81 think he would. Is he happy, do
O think, in London?"
81 think so. He does not say very
much. But, at any rate, he neve
complains"
Hes a little bit Of a puzzle to me-"
Grayton said, thoughtfully. He
seemed to change all of a sudden. The
Methodists would say he got con-
verted."
But not in a religious sense" she
answered. with a smile. And yet l
agree with you the change was very
sudden and very complete"
Have you any idea what wrought
the changer" he questioned, looking
beyond her across a stretch OF brown
and sodden fields. ut always seems
to me that 1t dated from the wreck OF
the Nebraska"
Ito Be Continued.)