The Somerset reporter., 1908-03-26
Barter and
Exchange.
Copyrighted. 1908, by p. C. EASEMENT.
BY JANE LEE.

Inc evening paper contained very
little news. Evening papers were get
ting stupid and dry-at least SO thought
Ethel Yorke as she turned over one
page after the other in hopes of find
ing an Item of some interest
Aimlessly her glance wandered from
one sheet to another, and her attention
was finally attracted to the exchange"
column. Only one ad. seemed to in
terest her. She read it to the end,
read it again aloud to herself to see IL
1t sounded the least bit plausible
"Will exchange first class typewrit-
er In al condition for genuine an
tiques. Fakirs need not apply. j. B.
c., Box AL"
antiques" commented Ethel to her
self We'll we're strong on antiques
have everything from the human to
still life, from dear old Aunt Cornella
to the pen used in signing the Declara-
ton of Independence. Then. again,
Aunt CorneliA is worth more than a
secondhand typewriter, and the pen is
probably not worth the bell on the old
machine. Let me think"
Aunt Cornelia appeared at the door
way as if in answer to the suggestion.
"Whom are you talking to. Ethel?"
she asked as she glanced around the
apparently empty room. ut seems to
be very one sided conversation, for
hear only your own voice" she added
"Auntie, dear, am con versing with
very bright young person of my ac-
quaintauce-none other than yours
truly, Ethel Yorke." said Ethel, with a
sweeping bow "Auntie. want
typewriter. and
II know you do. dearie, but talking
to yourself won't get one"
"Auntie. I'm not fooling, l want
typewriter. and I'm going TO get one.
Beholdr' said Ethel as she presented
Aunt Cornelia with the ad. to read
The old lady read it carefully, glanced
at Ethel, then said
well, dearie. there Is the old me
lodeon. That is true antique. Your
Grandfather Parker gave that to your
grandmother for a wedding present.
1t Is all carved by hand and inlaid with
teakwood.
Aunt Cornelia sighed as she went on.
81 suppose if you want TO learn to be
a stenographer and go out in the work
aday world you must have q Typewriter
on which to learn, and | guess you had
better offer the dear old meodeon in
exchange"
The ad was duly answered. and
within forty-eight hours a prompt re-
ply was received saying that the owner
of the typewriter would call that even
ing to inspect the so called antique.
Ethel answered the doorbell OF the
little apartment that evening. for the
household boosted of no maid since
the loss of their little fortune A tall
smartly dressed man entered and was
ushered into the sitting room. followed
by Ethel
Are you the young lady who wants
a typewriter" he asked as he took in
the graceful lines of her well rounded
figure her mass OF red brown hair and
the even contour Of her beautiful face.
Yes" she replied as she offered him
a chair Il want to become an expert
tyrist. and ] was attracted by your ad
Here Is the melodeon. If you want 10
look II over" and she walked across
the room and lighted another gas jet
to exhibit her heirloom TO better ad
vantage The man followed in silence
Its a really truly antique. said
Ethel Pm not fakIr such as you
suggest in your ad"
The young man walked up to the
beautiful old melodeon. priceless
treasure TO one who knew its value.
For the moment he seemed lost In his
admiration Of the delicate workman
ship. the beautifully tinted woods. aud
he sat down before It. dreaming. The
girl looked at the man as II upon the
figure in a picture. The lights fell up
on him as he sat before the instrument,
and she wondered why he did not
speak Maybe. after all the old thing
was worth nothing
Howard Philips, man of leisure and
collector Of antiques. turned to his
companion, hardly knowing which he
admired most. the inanimate wooden
treasure or the beautiful girl
"If acceptable to you. Miss Yorke.
will take the melodeon, giving you ID
exchange the typewriter and a bonus
of $50" he finally said. 1.-THE instru
ment is beauty and very rare speci
men," he added.
The final arrangements were com
pleted. and the next day found Ethel
In possession Of typewriter and Phil
ips with the melodeon. Philips went
on with his search for antiques, but
somehow he felt that the greatest
treasure on which his eyes had rested
in months-aye, even years-was the
girl whose face seemed to haunt his
dreams
A terrific snow and hail storm kept
him indoors some weeks after the pur-
chase, and Philips sat down before the
instrument TO see what sort OF music
1t would produce. His fingers ran over
the keys, but no sound came forth.
He peddled with greater force. yet ST
lence was his only reward.
Something was wrong within. and
his deft fingers went TO work in the
mechanism, aud after several minutes