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

side"
mot at all. Miss Merrill. am the
man who has the purse" and he drew
forth from the depths OF his pocket the
missing trlnket Helen's cry OF delighI
did not seem to be contagious. for Mar
shall assumed rather a depressed air.
mir. Marshall. you are surely fairy
prince, Yesterday you seemed like a
second Noah escortlng me In your mod
ern ark up 10 my home" said Helen
gayly. To-day you come like Santa
Claus, giving me back my purse. How
can ever thank you enough she
added
II want to tell you something. II |
may" said Marshall as they seated
themselves I'm comfortable chairs. II
saw you talking 10 that policeman yes
terday long before you saw me-" he
continued. Again and again ! have
asked your precious old uncle to intro
duce me TO you but he always put me
off. saying. What awhile. young man:
wait awhile.
81 got so | hated the sight of him
more ond more. and determined 10
meet you i'm some other way. but no
opportunity seemed 10 come until yes
terday AS | was about to cross Broad
way | saw this mass OF shining gold
whirling past me. and as stopped TO
pick il up | heard you talking to the
policeman. | went on. slipping the purse
In my pocket feeling quite sure that
you would call me back You did.
and, well-you know the restw
"Such a deceitful man. unused Hell
en-. "And all the time that was catch
ing pneumonia you had that purse in
your pocket Oh. how could your"
THAT is Just what's bothering me, -
said Marshall How could ~ But
his eyes tVinkled. "But II YOU were
very, very much In love with a man
aud wanted TO know him would you
hesitate 10 steal n purse In order 20
accomplish that end? Now. honest"
he pleaded as he drew his chair TO a
more confidential angle.
Helen Merrllrs eyes Began to dance.
"Men are such stupid, simple mind
ed creatures." she began Imagine
asking a woman for an honest answerl
Why. the thing Is almost absurd. Yet
I'm going 10 be honest; but, mind you.
only just this once" she said as she
leaned forward, almost whispering.
"Just this once" said Marshall and
the space between them was shorten
ed by several inches.
Il could have got home yesterday
without your help" she conhded. IAN
had to do was to go across the street
TO the First National bank and write
my check But | saw you coming, and
well, whenever | asked Uncle John
why he didn't have you to dinner like
some OF the other men he'd say, Wait
awhile. young lady; walt awhile And
and / thought / had waited long
enough-and you know the rest"
'Now that we have both been so ter
ribly honest with each other" said
Marshall as he rose and stood beside
the chair which held the second cul-
prit. suppose we go together to Uncle
John and make a clean breast of 1t to
hlmf"
Not at ALL You know | only prom
Used TO be honest just once and that
would make twice." argued Helen.
There's luck in odd numbers" said
Marshall. you were honest to me
just now. That's once. Let's 60 and
be honest with Uncle John, and that's
twice. And then once more / want
you to be honest and answer a ques-
tion. That's three, the odd number"
They were In the hall by this time
on the way to the library and Uncle
John. Marshall leaned very close 20 her
as he asked her the third. No one ever
heard 1t save Helen, but after that 1t
really did not matter what Uncle John
said.