Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-01-02
ONE VALENTINES
MYSTERIOUS CAREER
BY CORA STUART WHEELER
Copyright, by Joseph b. Bowles

81 don't know Why l shouldn't
said Harrie Arnold, slowly.
Nobody thinks much of valentines
unless they are-truly In love'-wit
a quick blush-"and II he is that,
vaguely. why. he will be just too
pleased to think Of criticising me,
even IL he guesses who SEM IL
wonder II that simpering clerk has
sold It by this time; oh, | hope mott
About this time, Clayton Dukes was
taking life comfortably in his sisters
luxurious library.
February Ia" he exclaimed, st
Valentines day see-hence the
Cupids! Why anything so suggestive
Of the burlesque stage should recall
Miss Arnold, ! have no idea; but the
fact remains that am reminded of
that fascinating young person and
woa!S IKE to send her some flowers.
A few hours later, at The Kensing-
ton on the "Nob.side" of Gramercy
park, a very blonde young man was
standing in an unmistakable bachelors
den, gazing with helpless bewilder-
ment into a box which he had just re
ceived from the florists boy.
"Jove. what superb roses!" he ex-
claimed, filter for a girl than a great
fellow like me. No mistake, however,
there II is-'Mr. Harry Arnold'-who
could have sent them9 I've only been
in town a week. | wish dared send
them to my dear little Coz" Here he
bent over the fragrant box. searching
vainly for a clue.
Who could-ah NIT
must be that my fair cousin has taken
this way to tell me that | am not for
gotten. What a joke. If had sent her
back her own roses, She's only a sec
ond cousin. anyhow, and ! don't see
why her mother should object"
Mr.. Clayton Dukes, having left his
card and given the address: Miss
Harrie Arnold verbally, TO the
florists clerk, waited in some sus-
pense an opportunity to learn the re-
ception Of his flowers. To his sur
prise, instead Of having a%ppeased the
sudden memory Of pretty Miss Arnold.
which stirred him on Valentines day,
that mischieyous saint had kindled a
bit Of fame which every breeze OF
circumstance blew to greater height.
st Valentine. who evens up matters
usually in a manner mysterious TO
mortals. made an exception in this
case, since while in town, young
Dukes watched In vain for Miss Ar
mold, Second Cousin Harry Rugged
himself with glee at finding himself
n Of the guests at the Cawnthorpes
In Lenox, Being tacitly turned over
to his charming relative, he was left
quite at liberty to make hay In the
u of her smiles.
All these days, two very inferior be
ings were playing q most important
part in this comedy OF three, albeit
unconscious of the mischief they were
brewing, as were their victims, who in
that lofty and uplifted region called
"swelldom," vainly imagined they
were having things their own way. In
the first place, Tompkins, the florists
clerk, had a young woman awaiting
him AT the moment when he was
called upon to arrange the box of
roses for Misc Arnold. That waiting
young woman certainly weakened
Tompkin's mind temporarily to such
an extent that he slipped Mr.. Dukes
card into his waistcoat pocket, and
when he saw the name Harry"
which he had written, with its mas
cullne termination. he at once decided
that his ears had deceived him, and
that the gentleman did not say Miss;
addressing the box with neatness and
accuracy TO Mr.. Harry Arnold" he
left II to be delivered IN due season at
Judge Arnold's. He got no farther
than the door, however, when the but.
Ter informed the bearer, that Mr..
Harry Arnold lived at The Kensing.
ton Gramercy park, where 1t was
dsly delivered.
The other inferior being" was a
district messenger boy TO whom Mlsi
Harrie Arnold had intrusted hei
votiye offering TO st. Valentine as be
ing safer than the post. while, lest hel
writing betray her, she printed the
name only, On the package, and faint
ly in one corner Of the valentine, Civ
ing the boy I OF Mr.. clayton Dukes
" cards. upon which was the ad
dress Of his club, with instructions Il
deliver IL into his hands.
Now, Teddy Bowles, at the instan'
Of receiving the package, was an in
ward volcano OF ire on the eve 0
eruption, at a fellow-messenger, 70
the double ofense OF having callet
Teddy's grown-up sister a carrot
head and reporting Teddy at the o
fee the day before for taking pay 70
a message at both ends OF a trip. Ur
luckily, as he ragged along toward tn
club, round q corner came his enemy
who greeted him with an eIGsperatin
grin. That was enough. Out went
dirty fist, bang into the grin, who's
proprietor made a vengeful snatch q
the precious package, with which h
made rapidly of,
Hell catch II now for losing OF It,
said the victor, when at q safe di
lance. Don't look like much though.
Here the young rascal loosened III
delicate blue ribbons and peeped witt
in. "Mebbe it's some gal TO her fellsI
II 'twere Tilly, now, she'd most like
cry, C. Dukes'-that mus be ;
name. I'll ask in here fur a d'rect'r
thatll find him, likely"
The Directly" proved, ever viii
the druggists assistance, to hold l
Dukes" save a cart-man by the nan
OF Peter" 10 whose address the bC
carried his crumpled package as