The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-25
4 BROKEN VOW
By JANE LUDLUM LEE.

Dy JHNE Ii
Shall I put this gray dress in the
trunk, Alice, or do you think il VIII be
too thin?''
This remark was addressed 20 discon-
solate-looking girl who sat huddled up in
a big armchair al the window. day dream
ing Her dark red-brown hair had not
been comhed, and her dress consisted of
pink silk wrapper carelessly tied around
the waist No answer was forthcoming to
the question.
Alice. do you hear me-"
'Yes-that Is. no. auntie-that is,
don't care. I don't want any clothes"
But, my child, you can't go 10 a hotel
without clothes. Come. you must help me
with the packing I'll attend TO the body
OF the trunk and you pack the tray
Alice moved leisurely from her corner
and languidly threw some trifles in the
trunk She went over 70 her desk and
scratched of hasty note, while her aunt
finished her part OF the packing. Finally
the task was finished and Alice offered TO
lock the trunk. This she did. putting tho
key in her purse.
Thank you. auntie I'll, be ready
promptly al = Anu dch WARY 70 mai tAils
letter, please
AT about the same hour willard Kean
was walking the floor Of his handsome
bachelor apartment in a fashionable dis
trict Of the city.
III be darned II e was my fault. and
| I'll be darned II I apologize. She can
| Just su!k II out and I'll leave town. where
IL not be tempted. Perry, Perry he
called and a little japanese servant ap-
peared.
Throw a few Of my duds into trunk
will you? I'm of FOR a few days at Hot
/ Springs. You know what I'll need-dress
| SUIT. dinner coat, and a few toys for
! loafing on the piazza. And, Perry, be
quick about Il. for I'm going on the first
train out"
Perry began HIS task. bobhing in and
out of the room. his arms laden with
| linen. fancy vests. suits. &c. When the
packing was finished he asled for Che
key
I'll lock IT," replied his master. You
cali a cab. That train leaves about
| o'clock. and II 1 miss II there will be Just
one less Jap in this town Tomorrow"
Kean walked 10 the mantelpiece picked
Up something. threw IL in the trunk. and
( locked the latter. He caught the 2o'clock
| train and settled himself in his section
Alice and her aunt made the same train,
and were soon comfortably fixed in the
stateroom of the adjoining car. Orders
were given that meals should be served
to them there, while Kesn ate in the reg
ulsr diner
! After a half hour % absolute silence.
auntie opened the conversation
Alice, dear YOU must pull yourself to-
gether. Willard Kean Is not the only
man In the world. We really cannot az
ford this trip. and YOU must try 10 get
some benefit from IT, Hot Springs is full
of young people. and l simply cannot
have you going about with that long
face"
Il didn't want to take the trip didn't
want anything except TO be let alone. !
don't want TO get any benefit, and I sim
ply VIII not try 10 be pleasant 10 any
body. so there. now"
Auntie dropped the conversation for a
time more propticus- The next day
brought them TO Hot Springs, where they
got OF and drove 10 the hotel The clerk
assigned them 10 a room, and they asked
that their trunks be sent up at once Two
trunks were soon delivered. and Alice
stopped TO unlock hers. The key went In
rather hard. il turned harder. but finally
II gave way TO the strength OF her hand.
She opened the lid and her own photo
graph stared her in the face.
"Auntie, did you put that picture In
here?"
Certainly not, my dear. Why should 1?
Besides. have none like that
'Auntie. this is most peculiar. This is
not my trunk at all. Why. see. II is full
q mems shirts. ties. &c. It's all mis-
take. except the picture. There's no. mis-
take about that. It's mine. all right
enough. But what is it doing in a strange
mans trunk
Maybe @he photographer sold it to
him."
Maybe he did. auntie: but look on the
back. To the dearest sweetheart in the
world-Alice' That picture l gave ia
Jack just after We were engaged. The
owner OF this trunk Is a common thief.
and I'll report him TO the hotel manage
ment. Help me fix my hair. auntie.
am going right to the Office and have this
matter adjusted at once
Kean dropped OF the car at Hot Springs.
sauntered up to the hotel. and went to his
room. where he lit his pipe and began
walking the floor. A knock a. the door
interrupted his thoughts and he opened II
% let IN the men with his trunk
That's not Eay trunk. you muttonhead.
get out Of here with IT."
Marked with your name. sir. on the
tag Just try your key and see if you are
sure it's wrong
Kean took out his key ring. all the
while talking as ne fitted the key in the
lock
Sure. it's wrong. Why. you thick
headed Mick, don't a man know his own
baggage What is this-a hotel or a batty
house7 Holy Moses he exclaimed as
the key fitted and the trunk opened upon
a large photograph Of himself in leather
frame.
''All right. boys, my mistake, he added,
as he handed each man dollar bill.
Left alone, he picked up the photograph
and walked with It to the window. pinch
ed himself to see II ne was alive. then
laughed, then swore. Examining the
trunk he realized it was not his as he
had no use for silk petucoats and lingerie
dresses.
III keep this photo, all right. all right;
but the lady can have her trunk" he
unused. as he made his way 10 the ONCE
The clerk smiled as he made the com
plant.
Come right with me- will you. Mr.
Kean? a lady just came down from
Room All who, think. can explain this
mistake and give you your rightful be-
longIngs
"An / want is my trunk I'm not anx-
-