The daily Alaskan., 1908-12-03
Ely PrOmstiOn.
lllllllllllllll-l-lll-.lllll.llllsE
LQrlRlnRIl

lOriginaLl
 When Alice Coale told me that she was engaged to Tom Martin felt a slckeplng sensation about the heart that could only come to young per son. might feel bitter dlsappoint- ment today, but 1t would not be of the same kind. Alice looked at me suT- prised. "Why, what's the matter, John" she said.
 Nothing" l replied, endeavorlng to pull myself together. "Only I'm afraid Tom mightn't turn out good enough for you-thats all"
 "Oh, that's all, is it2 Well, don't worry about that. A fellow as smart, as popular, as trustworthy, as Tom is good enough for a far better girl than l. Mother says she'd rather trust to hts judgment in business mat ters than to that of older heads"
 "Oh, I only meant he wasn't good enough for you"
 "You numbering, good natured stupid, John" she said, taking my hand and pressing 1t caresslngly. You will al. ways be my dearest friend"
 That was very kind Of her.
 A few months later I was startled by one of those mysterious rumors that are spoken under the breath for a brief period before they become pub. lie property. It was that Tom Martin had been borrowing money from any one who would lend 1t to him. Then heard that he had disappeared. Fol lowing closely on this came the news that Mrs. Coale had given him all her money for investment, and he had either sunk 1t or taken 1t with him. Since he had paid none of his debts 1t was presumed that he had taken 1t with him.
 Detectives visited. his room and took away every scrap Of paper they could find there. though Tom before leaving had left nothing to show where he had gone. He had borrowed book of me, and l went to his room to see if I could find It. It was lying on his table, and l carried 1t home with me. That evening l took 1t up and opened 1t. Between the cover and the title page was a library card on which were entries of several books taken out within a few weeks. The book he had borrowed from me was Australian Sketches" I wondered what kind of literature, he had been taking from the library Curiosity, mingled with a feeling that l might gather some clew with reference to his acts, led me the next-day to take the card to the library and have a look at the books he had been reading. What was my astonish- mcnt to ind that one was upon Cen. tral America, three upon Honduras and a fifth on the rubber industry of that state
 After some thought these were my deductions: Tom had at first thought of going to Australia, but had changed to Central America He had selected Honduras and when he got there would Invest the money he had taken In either the rubber trade or a rubber forest More likely the latter, since 1t would give him Q better chance to hide from the world
 The day after reached these con. cluslons l started for Florida and from there sailed for Honduras. Landing at Puerto Cabello, l went Into the in- terlor. made inquiries for an Amer lean who had come to Honduras to negotiate for rubber tract. The state is not a large one, and any one going there with money would not re- main unnotlced by its people. Of course 1t would be useless to inquire for one by the name of Martin, for the skulker was doubtless using an as' sumed name.
 It was just two weeks to day when I learned of a man answering Mar tins description who was dickering for rubber tract some ten miles away from me. went to where he was and on porch in small town came upon the man l was hunting. When he saw me he collapsed. l told him that all l wanted was Mrs. COale's money or as much of 1t as he had left. If he would give me this be might stay where he was for all me as long as he liked; if not he would go back to stand trial. He turned over eighteen S1,000 Unit ed States bonds. which was what re- malned of Mrs. Coales little fortune, receipted for 1t and started home.
 found that Alice had taken a posi- ton and gone to work. The evening of my return I called on her and her mother. This was the first time had seen them since their misfortune, Mrs. Coale chided me for having kept away in the hours of their trouble, while Alice maintained a cold reserve, I didn't know whether Co attribute it to the cause her mother mentioned or some other. In truth, she seemed stunned. I'm not naturally facIle in opening subjects and sat for some time, speaking only when l did speak on commonplace topics, trying to frame what should say concerning the ob' feet of my call. I knew would make the mother glad, but was all In the 1,-t. about AlIoa FinalIv dpsnqirinQ