Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-11-04

physical struggle; the chair itself lay
upon its side, mute witness to has
| and careless movement on somebot
/ part.
But 1t was all inexplicable. Event
| ually Maitland shook his head, to sig.
Nifty that he gave it up. There was
but one thing to do-to put 1t out OF
| mind. He would read a bit. compose
himself go to bed.
Preliminary TO doing SO. he would
take steps to insure the fiat against
further burglarizing, for that night at
least The draught moving through
the hall stirred the portiere and re-
minded him that the window in the
trunkroom was still open, an invita-
ton to any enterprising sneak-thief or
second-story man. So Maitland went
to close and make 1t fast.
AS he shut down the window-sash
and clamped the catch lie trod on
/ something soft and yielding. Wonder
| ing, he stopped and picked it up. and
carried it back to the light. 1t proved
to be the girls handbag.
"Now," admitted Maitland In tone
i of absolute candor, II am damned.
! How in the dickens did this thing get
| there, anyway? What was she doing
in my trunk closet?"
Was it possible that she had fol-
lowed Anisty out of the fiat by that
route? very much mystified young
man sat himself down again in front
OF his desk, and turned the bag over
| and over in his hands. keenly scrutin-
izing every inch of it, and whistling
| softly.
That year the fashion in purses was
| for capacious receptacles OF grained
leather, nearly square in shape, and
/ furnished with chain handle. This
! which Maitland held was conspicu-
ously of the mode-neither too large,
nor too small, constructed of fine soft
! leather of gun-metal shade, with a
! framework and chain of gun-metal
! itself It was new and seemed we'll
filed, weighing trifle heavy in the
! hand. One face was adorned with a
monogram OF cut gun-metal, the In
itials IS" and &c" and 81" interlaced.
| But beyond this the bag was irritat-
/ ingly non-committ.-l.
| Undoubtedly, il one were to go to
the length of unsnapping the little,
frail clasp, one would acquire informa-
ton; by such facile means would much
| light be shed upon the darkness. But
Maitland put decided negative to the
suggestion.
No. He would give her the benefit
| OF the doubt. He would wait, he would
school himself to patience. Perhaps
she would come back for it-and ok.
plain. Perhaps he could find her by
advertising it-and get an explana'
ton. Pending which, he could wait
| a little while 1t was not his wish to
| pry into her secrets, even if-even If
| 1t was something to be smoked over.
| Strange how it affected him to have
in his hands something that she had
owned and touched!
Opening a drawer Of the desk, Matt
land produced an aged pipe. A brazen
Jar, companion piece to the ash re-
ceiver held his tobacco. He filled the
| pipe from the jar, with thoughtful de-
liberation. And scraped match be-
meath his chair and ignited the tobac-
CO and pulled in contemplative con-
tentment, deriving solace from each
mouthful of grateful. evanescent in
cense. Meanwhile he held the charred
match between thumb and foref1nger.
Becoming conscious OF this fact,
he smiled in depreciation of his absent
minded mood. looked for the ash-re-
ceiver, discovered 1t in place, inverted
beneath the book; and frowned, re
membering. Then. with an impatient
gesture -impatient of his own In
trinity of mind-for he simply could
not forget the girl-he dropped the
match, swept the book aside, lifted
\ the bowl.
After a moment of incredulous awe
the young man rose, with eyes
a-light and . jubilant song in the
heart of him. Now he knew, now I'M
derstood, now believed, and now was
justified of his faith!
After which depression came, with
the consciousness that she was gone
forever removed beyond his reach
and influence. and that by her OWL