Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-05-15
Barter and
Exchange.
By JANE LEE.



little news. Evening papers were get
ting stupid and dry-at least so thought
Ethel Yorke as she turned over ono
page after the other In hopes of find-
ing an item of some interest
Almlessly her glance wandered from
one sheet to another, and her attention
was finally attracted to the exchange
column. Only one ad. seemed 70 n
terest her. She read It to the end,
unused to herself, 81 wonder" then
read 1t again aloud to herself to see II
1t sounded the least bit plausible.
"Will exchange a first class typewrit-
err In Al condition for genuine an
tiques. Fakirs need not apply. ]. b.
c., Box ALL"
"Antiquesr' commented Ethel to her
self. "Well, we're strong on antiques
have everything from the human to
still life, from dear old Aunt Cornelia
to the pen used in signing the Declare
tion Of Independence. Then, again.
Aunt Cornelia is worth more than q
secondhand typewriter. and the pen 10
probably not worth the bell on the old
machine. Let me think"
Aunt Cornelia appeared at the door
way AS IL In answer to the suggestion.
Whom are you talking to. EthelT
she asked as she glanced around the
apparently empty room. ut seems to
be very one sided conversation. for
hear only your own voice." she added.
"Auntle, dear, I am converslng with
very bright young person Of my ac-
quaintance- none other than yours
truly, Ethel Yorke," said Ethel, with
sweeping bow. "Auntie, want a
typewriter, and
"I know you do, dearie, but talking
to yourself won't get one"
"Auntie, I'm not fooling want
typewriter, and I'm going to get one.
Beholdr said Ethel as she presented
Aunt Cornelia with the adj to read.
The old lady read 1t carefully, glanced
at Ethel, then said:
"Well, dearie, there Ii the old me-
lodeon. That Is a true antique. Your
Grandfather Parker gave that to your
grandmother for a wedding present.
1t IL all carved by hand and inlald with
lockwood"
Aunt Cornelia sighed as she went on.
II suppose If you want to learn to be
n stenographer and go out In the work
aday world you must have typewriter
on which to learn, and guess you had
better offer the dear old melodeon In
exchange"
The ad was duly answered. and
within forty-eight hours prompt re-
ply was received saying that the owner
Of the typewriter would call that even
ing to inspect the so called antique.
Ethel answered the doorbel of the
little apartment that evening. for the
household boosted OF no maid since
the loss OF their little fortune. A tall.
smartly dressed man entered and was
lshered into the sitting room. followed
by Ethel
"Are you the young lady who wants
a typewriter" he asked as he took In
the graceful lines Of her well rounded
figure, her mass OF red brown hair and
the even contour of her beautiful face.
Eyes" she replied as she offered him
q chair. ~ want to become an expert
typlst, and was attracted by your ad.
Here Is the meIodoon, II you want to
look 1t over" and she walked across
the room and lighted another gas jet
to exhibit her heirloom to better ad-
vantage The man followed In silence.
ats really, truly antique" said
Ethel "Pm not faklr such as you
suggest In your ad."
The young man walked up to the
beautiful old melodeon, priceless
treasure to one who knew Its value.
For the moment he seemed lost In his
admiration of the delicate workman
ship. the beautifully tinted woods, and
he sat down before It, dreaming. The
figure In picture. The lights fell up
on him as he sat before the instrument,
and she wondered why he did not
speak Maybe. after ALL the old thing
was worth nothing
Howard Philips. man Of leisure and
collector OF antiques, turned to his
companion. hardly knowing which he
admired most. the inanimate wooden
treasure or the beautiful girl
"Tf acceptable to you, Miss Yorke, l
will take the melodeon, giving you In
exchange the Typewriter and n bonus
of $50" he finally said. THE lnstru-
ment Is a beauty and very rare speci-
men," he added.
The final arrangements were com
pleted, and the next day found Ethel
in possession of typewriter and Phil
Fps with the melodeon. Philips went
on with his search for antiques, but
somehow he felt that the greatest
treasure on which his eyes had rested
in months-aye, even years-was the
girl whose face seemed to haunt his
dreams.
A terrific snow and hall storm kept
him indoors some weeks after the pur-
chase, and Philips sat down before tho
instrument to see what sort of music
1t would produce. His fingers ran over
the keys, but no sound came forth.
He peddled with greater force, yet 81
lence was his only reward.
Something was wrong within, and
his deft fingers went to work In the
and after several minutes
search he was rewarded by finding n
package pressed against the keys.
The package was apparently wad
Of old papers; but with the true in
stinct Of the collector, Philips began
to undo the yards and yards OF Irvine
about the long bundle. He was speech
less. Before him lay pile OF bills,
ha - IL