Smyrna times., 1908-03-25
Barter and
Exchange.
By JANE LEE.
Copyrighted. 1908. by P. c. Eastment.
By JANE LEE.

page after the other in hopes of lind
Ing an item of some interest.
Aimlessly her glance wandered from
one sheet to another, and her attention
was finally attracted to the exchange"
column. Only one ad. seemed to in
terest her. She read it to the end,
unused to herself, Il wonder" then
read it again aloud to herself to see if
it sounded the least bit plausible.
"Will exchange a first class typewrit-
er in Al condition for genuine an
tiques. Fakirs need not apply. J. B.
c., Box ALL"
"Antiquesw 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 Declara-
ton of Independence. Then, again,
Aunt COrnelia is worth more than
secondhand typewriter, and the pen is
probably not worth the bell on the old |
machine. Let me think"
Aunt COrnelia appeared at the door
way as if in answer to the suggestion.
"Whom are you talking to, Ethel?
she asked as she glanced around the
apparently empty room. 1T seems to
be a very one sided conversation. for
hear only your own voice" she added
"Auntie, dear, l am cOnversing with
a very bright young person of my ac-
auaintance-none other than yours
truly, Ethel YOrke," said Ethel with
sweeping bow. "Auntie, | want 4
| typewriter, and"-
''I know you do, dearie, but talking
| TO yourself won't get one"
"Auntie. I'm not fooling. l want
typewriter. and I'm going to get one.
Beholdr' said Ethel as she presented
| Aunt Cornelia with the ad. to read.
The old lady read it carefully. glanced
at Ethel, then said:
"Well. dearie. there is the old me-
iodeOn. That is a true antique. Your
Grandfather Parker gave that to your
grandmother for a wedding present.
1t is all carved by hand and inlaid with
teakwOod."
Aunt Cornelia sighed as she went on.
81 suppose if you want to learn to be
a stenOgrapher and go out in the work
aday world you must have typewriter
on which to learn, and l guess you had
better offer the dear old melOdeon in
exchange"
The ad. was duly answered. and
within forty-eight hours a 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 doorbell of the
little apartment that evening, for the
household boasted of no maid since
the loss of their little fortune. A tall
smartly dressed man entered and was
ushered into the sitting room, followed
by Ethel
"Are you the young lady who wants
a typewriter?" he asked as he took IL
the graceful lines of her well rounded
figure. her mass of red brown hair ant
the even contour of her beautiful face.
Eyes" she replied as she offered hin
a chair 81 want to become an eXper
typist. and I was attracted by your ad
Here is the melOdeOn, if you want t
look it over" and she walked acrOs
the room and lighted another gas je
to exhibit her heirloom to better &C
vantage The man followed in silenc,
"It's a really, truly antique" sal
Ethel I'm not a fakir such as 70
} suggest in your ad."
- The young man walked up to tt
beautiful old melodeOn, a priceless
treasure to one who knew it's valu
For the moment he seemed lost in b
admiration of the delicate workma
ship. the beautifully tinted woods, al
he sat down before it, dreaming. II
girl looked at the man as If upon t
figure in a picture. The lights fell u
on him as he sat before the instrumel
and she wondered why he did n
speak. Maybe. after all. the old thi
was worth nothing.
Howard Philips. man of leisure a
collector of antiques, turned to
companion, hardly knowing which
admired most. the inanimate wood
- treasure or the beautiful girl.
"If acceptable to you. Miss YOrke
will take the melodeOn. giving you
exchange the typewriter and boz
of $50" he finally said. '"The inst
ment is a beauty and very rare sp'
men," he added.
The final arrangements were &C
pleted. and the next day found Et
at in possession of typewriter and F
ips with the melodeon. Philips W
on with his search for antiques,
somehow he felt that the grea
treasure on which his eyes had res
lSS in months-aye. even years-was
- girl whose face seemed to haunt
dreams.
A terrific snow and hail storm
A. him indoors some weeks after the
chase. and Philips sat down before
- instrument to see what sort of m
it would produce. His fingers ran
the keys, but no sound came fC
- He peddled with greater force. ye
lence was his only reward.
Something was wrong within,