The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-12-10
CHAPTER xxIv-(continued.

Irritating, their chivalry fussy anu un.
natural, their of the copy
book order--a part Of the curriculum
bred in the bone.
The men of the Eastern states might
be somewhat different-she did not
know. She had lived nearly all her
life out West. But directly she be-
gan to o about in England she
was conscious of a difference. The
men and the women-but particularly
the men-were of a different type.
There al a quiet dignity that re.
minced her somewhat Of her father.
There was energy without fuss;
strength without Boosting; gentle
ness without effeminacy. She was not
at all surprised that American women
liked to marry Enslishmen--if she
ever married she would like TO marry
an Englishman herself.
She retired early that night, but she
did not sleep for several hours. Her
memory and her imagination had been
strangely quickened. Her thoughts
would revert to the past in spite of all
her efforts.
She had received the news that her
trunk had been rifed and the silver
box stolen with comparative indiffer-
ence-the things taken were of no
very great value.
But now, as she lay awake. and the
noise of the city died down into a
great stiffness, a number of new ques-
tons suggested themselves to her. II
the silver box and its contents were
OF no particular value, why was Ey-
ant. or Nevins, as he called himself,
SO anxious to possess them? Why did
he spend weeks and months for the
purpose? Why did he lie and in
trigue to gain his object? And why,
when he had got possession, was he
prepared to commit murder rather
than Part with the stolen goods?
Her noughtg Travelled back again to
that wild nj ut in Odero, when her
father lay dying in a gambling saloon,
sfoI through the lung.
She hefan to rack her brains so that
size niyht rccell his exact words. IL
was 70. easy to remember them all,
few Is they were, she was so over
SGetned With grief at the time. But
she had a distinct recollection OF MS
Swing that the box contained all the
necessary papers. and that some day
sic void know.
know what? Her brain began 10
work along n pew track. Was there
some mystery surrounding her life?
Was there somsthing that had been
kent from her-something OF impor-
tance-important not only TO her, Dut
perhaps to other people?
Her memory began to travel farther
back still. She tried to pierce the
shadows that surrounded her early
childhood. She could not remember
her mother. Her very first recoiiec-
lions seemed to be associated with a
school. Memories Of holidays Followed
not always in the same house OF IN
the same city. Then day-school nfe'
and an old housekeeper named Saran.
The ma year at a boarding
or perhaps 1t was more than a year
then the responsibilities of housekeep-
ing and a gradual descent In Inc So
cial scale. There had been nothing
romantic about her life, nothing TO
suggest mystery. Indeed, 1t had been
very unromantic and humdrum n
commonplace.
And yet, as her memory tripped n
halted through the misty glades OF the
past. words dropped by her father,
vague hints and suggestions flung out
from time to time, which she took nc
notice OF, began unconsciously, to as
sumo a large significance.
She got out of bed at length and
searched for the letter written by her
father to Mayhem. 1t was very briei.
A few broken sentences scrawied IN
oencil while his life was swiftly ebb'
ing out, but It contained nothing that
would help her to a solution OF the
problem:
.sThis IL Marion. Take care OF her
as long as necessary. I'm done Tor
The case should not be dificult. All
the proofs In the silver box.-R. W.
No. there was no solution OF any
problem, and yet there was d sugges'
ton OF mystery that had never struck
her before. What was the case that
should not be d~ificnlt? She had as
sumed that It referred to Mayhew's
care OF her. but. read in the light OF
recent events. the words suggested
much deeper meaning
Then, again, there were the papers
proofs" he called them in this let
ter to Mayhem. Proofs OF what
Was there anything In dispute? Had
she been sent to England for some
other purpose than that she should
merely have Mayhew's protection?
The mystery deepened. The more
she thought and reflected. the more
perplexed she became. II she had
only some friend who could help hel
and advise her! This was a case thai
required . mans wit and a mans judg
ment and strength. A girl like herself
could do nothing. She was absolutel,
belpless. She never realized so vivid
" before what helpless things girls
were when thrown adrift upon the
world.
Naturally her thoughts turned agar
10 Clemsnt Mawgan. She knew M
70 cba only dared TO go Il