Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-03-04
BY JANE LEE.


et 10 nelp neT dCTOSS tue street.
Bad? | should say it was! And in
more ways than onel You see have
lost my purse. and 7 am visiting In
Bayville. have not even money
enough to get back to the house" ex-
planned the girl as she Looked up help
lessly at the policeman.
He eyed her susplcpusly. To his
ears such stories were aot uncommon.
That's a good story all right Sure
IT'S true. are your" h, said.
Just then the tall figure OF a man.
with his hat pulled down well over his
eyes. passed them. The girl frightened
as she saw him.
"Oh. call that nan. please do" she
cried as the tall fure strobe on. Hes
from Bayville to-
The policeman ran over and touched
/ the man on theshoulder.
Lady over tere wants you, SIR"
The man fanced back, and then,
with one age leap across the gutter.
he was at hf side.
Miss Meiill. can II be you? What
on earth ar you doing out in this pour
Ing rainY The questions fell thick
and fast sd without pause for answer
"Iet us tep into this drug store. and
do tell " what can do for you"
They inferred the store. and a friend
lly cler offered them chairs and then
politel retired TO the rear OF the store
HeJa Merrill tried to adjust a stray
lock ind turned her blue eyes to meet
her ompanion's interested gaze.
't was awfully good of you to say
70 knew me. That policeman was
hsrid. and / thought you'd remember
kving seen me In uncle's trap"
B"How could / fail to see your unused
the man, and the girl blushed as she
resumed her story.
at came IN town to do some shopping,
and I've lost my purse. 1t was only
showing this morning. and I could not
fOresee thii awful wind and rain storm,
dropped ny purse as l was crossing
the street and though I've looked and
looked the wlole length OF that dirty
gutter. l canmt find IT," she explained
to him. He 'fered no response He
was apparently lost in studying the
I depths Of TIN blue eyes before him.
"Oh, won't Yu send me back home.
Mr.. MARSHALL I know Uncle John
will considerlt nelghborly courtesy"
Clayton Mashall smiled and glanced
at his watch.
Il am awiilly sorry TO hear about
your plight. Eiss Merrill. and of course
will takeBou home az once. We
have lust the 10 catch the 2:30 train
that Is. unlts you would rather have
a bite TO ea first
'Eaty st cried Il feel like a
drowned "a and must look like one.
No restaurat would admit me Hun
CRY as I al fear that home is the
place for r." Helen replied. But"
she contintd, ''if you VIII put me on
the train will be quite sufficient.
Surely yoI Office Is not closed so
early"
Marshallhrotested and finally won
the day. ! called hanson. and to-
gether the,ook the train for Bayvllle.
They telepned IN advance. and the
family caiage was at the depot to
meet Held
"Uncle I'm can thank you better
than T. 3 said as they parted
think bg' asked Marshall And
then theyoth laughed
The leang papers the next morn
Ing contst,d a large and conspicuous
adveriiselnt: Lost gold mesh
purse, col lining bills. gold pencil and
family emulation ticket between
: Bayville hd New York. Liberal re-
ward II armed to Miss Helen Mer-
rill. Bayie. n. y"
Helen brill was visiting in one OF
those rid appointed suburban homes
now freently seen on the outskirts
OF larfity.
Her Tie John. retired stock
broker ! bachelor, hated town life
and livan Bayville the year round.
He love,o have HIS pretty niece visit
him. VII she was eager 10 leave her
simple shern home and be his guest
for wed at time. though her uncle
was a drous chaperon.
The dbel rang several times dur
ing they. but the finder OF the purst
Gid notpear until late that evening.
thouglIelen listened eagerly for the
covete(lmmons
About o'clock a maid announced 10
Miss ,rIll that young man had
called. lying he had found purse
and vii like TO have her Identify It.
Helenl down the stairs. delighted at
the thsht OF finding her lost treasure
In frobf the open fire stood Clayton
Marsh warming his hands.
"Afr,iarshall." exclaimed Helen.
with pretty blush that was one OF
her eh charms. "the maid said
there's a man here who had found
nv %. but guess he must be out