The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-09-24

seemed not a little signlncant. HE
thoughts few at one to the Mr.. Evans
she had spoken of. Why was he SO
interested in the silver box-so little
in the owner? He had remarked on
it at the time, though Marion herself
attached no importance to 1t.
In face of Esther's letter 1t struck
him as being not a little singular. Was
there any connection between Evans
and Nevins, and. If so, why this eager
ness to get possession of the box 2 The
mystery appeared to be deepening.
The importance Of this particular
piece of silverware seemed steadily
TO increase.
He read Esther's letter again.
Esther was confident that he had
come to st. Chloe for one particular
object, and that to get possessich Of
Marion Vests trunk. She had in
CURED into his story, and it did not
hang well together. He did not look
like an invalid; besides, he was per-
fectly Indifferent to weather. Rain or
shien, he was always grubbing along
the coast. Also he admitted that he
was on the lookout for a cowhide
trunk bearing the initials "R. W." If
there was a Robert Webster alive who
had been a passenger on the Inflated
Nebraska, why did he not put the mat
ter in the hands of the proper authori-
ties? Why these secret and more or
less clandestine methods?
Clement fell an easy prey to Esther's
suspicious. Fol- once, at any rate, a
woman seemed logical. Nevins, or
Evans, or whatever his name might
be, was clearly at st. Chloe for the
purpose Of getting possession of Ma
rion Vests property. Ergo, that prop
erty was Of considerable Importance,
The next point that arose was:
What could he do In the matter? For
the moment, certainly he could do
hOlblhSs I1c Wdo a udy . Joui llCg ia
st. Chloe Bay, and even If he were on
the spot he could do nothing.
During the day he had great diff
Guilty in keeping his mind free of the
subject. Between the events of the
previous evening end the. contents of
Esther's letter his brain was pretty
much on the rack.
He was not in the mood to begir
any fresh search for Marion. Hi
pride had been rubbed almost raw.
and the smart of 1t was still very con
siderable. 1t was true his heart was
sight of her face; for n little smile
of hers he would forgive everyth!n
So love and pride waged warfal ,
still, and the nearest pride c"mh (
winning, the more he suffered. Du
ing tie lunch hour he founI hiM-e
consulting Kelly's directory. He d
this meleiy out of curiosity, he 4
himself, and not with any intention ,
using any information he might a
ouire-at Least for the present. +!
thoughts rcn in ve-y orderly Sc luerc~
Marion had told h m that one of II
first things size mott, ed after leaYin"
the station was this Home for Womer
Workers. Therefore she was Twin
either in the neighborhood of WateI
loo or PaGd'n-ton. From her descrip
ton of tte house the neighborhOod o.
Waterloo road was certainly not very
clearly Indicated. For the class OF
worker Marion would be likely to as
sociate with Bayswater would certain
" be a much more convenient center.
This point settled, he proceeded with
his search. He was not Long in dis
covering the house he wanted-No. A,
Chingford Terrace, w. 1t was a plain
and simple as possible. If he was
anxious to see Marion West he knew
exactly where to find her.
But, of course, he was not anxious
to see her-that was what his pride
said. After the way she treated him
the previous evening he would not
dream of calling upon her. Now that
in a fair way of earning her own liv-
ing. he need not further concern him
self about her. If she wanted friends
she must show herself friendly.
ITO Be C%ontinued.)