Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-04-18

ing the day. but the finder or the purse
ia not appear until late that evening,
Though Helen listened eagerly for the
coveted summons.
About : o'clock a maid announced To
Miss Merrill that young man had
called. saying he hnl found a plr~"
and would ike 10 have her identity ii
Helen ran down the stairs delighted at
the thought Of finding her lost treasure
In front Of the open ire stood ciay ton
MARSHALL. warming his hands
mir Marshall" exclaimed Helen
Win Tie pretty blush that wa> nnr Of
her girlsh charms the maid said
there was man here who had fnuni
my purse but ! guess he must be- out
side
Not III all. Miss Merrill am the
man Who has the purse" and lie drew
forth from the depths OF his pocket the
missing trinket Helen's cry uf delight
lid not seem to be contagious Tor Mar
shall assumed rather depressed air
MIR Marshall, you are surely a fairy
prince Yesterday you secured IKE .
second Noah escortins me in your mod
cru ARK up to my home" said Helen
gayly To-day you come like Santa
Claus giving me back my purse How
can ever thank you enough" she
added
IF want 10 tell you something II I
may" said Marshall as they seated
themselves IN comfortable chairs II
saw YOU talking to that policeman yes.
terday long before you saw me" he
continued Again and again have
asked Your precious old uncle 10 intro
ducc uc 70 YOU but lie always put me
OIL saving What awhile young man
wait awhile
II got - hated the sight OF him
more AMI more. ana | determined TO
meet YOU iu some other way. but no
opportunity seemed to come until yes
trrdaY As WAS about To- cross Broad.
way | saw this mass Of shining gold
whirling past me. ana as I stopped to
pick il Up | heard you talking to the
policeman Went ON. slipping the purse
IN my pocket. feeling quite sure that
You would call me back lou did.
and. we'll YOU know the rest
such 4 dcccitful man unused Hell
en- And an the time that | WAS catch
Ing pucumouIu you had that purse In
your pocket Oh. how could Nou+"
THAT Is just what's bothcring me"
said Marshall How could u" But
his eyes twinkled. But II you were
very. very much III love with man
and wanted to know him would you
hesitate 10 steal purse IN order 10
accomplish that end Now honest.
he pleaded rs lie drew his chair TO
more confidential angle.
Helen Merrllrs eyes began 10 dance.
Men are such stupid simple mind
ed creatures" she began "liuagne
asking "a woman for an honest answer,
Why the thing Is almost absurd Yet
I'm going 10 be honest. but mind YOU,
only just This once she said as She
leaned forward almost whispering
Just this once" said Marshall. aud
the space between them was shorten
cd by several inches
Il could have got home yesterday
without Your help. She coniided. IAN
| had 10 do was 10 20 across the street
to he First National bank ana write
my check But saw you coming. and
we'll whenever asked ucle John
why he didn't have you 10 dinner Tx.
some OF the other men he'd say, Walt
aU lille, young lady; witt awhile. And
and thought had waited long
enough and YOU know the rest
Nov that We have both been SO ter
rlbly honest with each other" said
Marshall as he rose and stood beside
the chair which held the second cuI
prli suppose we 90 together to Uncle
John and make clean breast of It to
him.
Not at ALL You know | only prom
ised 10 be honest Just once, aud that
would make twice argued Helen
There's luck IN odd numbers, said
Marshall You were honest to me
Just now That's once Let's 20 aud
BE- honest with Uncle John, ana that's
twice And then once more | want
You to be honest and answer a ques-
ton That's three. the odd number"
They were in the hall by this time
on the way to the library ana .ncl,
John. Marshall leaned very close to hen
as he asked her the third 30 one ever
heard It save Helen but after that II
really did not matter what Uncle John
said