The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-03-02

ment to help him.
The next morning she awoke with
the thought still vivid and rampant
in her brain. She consulted the cit,
directory, and found only one John
Welton. Shall write to him, and
tell him that l heard his name tossed
from lip to lip from the mouths OF
thieves?' she pondered. But, no. he
will think that l am a crank or an
accomplish trying to extort money
No, he won't even appreciate 1t. He
will read it, and laugh, and imagine
that l have an object in approaching
him other than a purely disinterested
one. shall go and see him person
ally. Then l can explain all the cir
cumstances, and he will understand
andtperhaps he will be thankful
for It,"
1t took Eleanor precisely two weeks
to make up her mind to approach
the unknown John Welton. In that
time the duty of warning him took
DEFINITE form in her mind, and it made
her drawer. She found the number
and street of his place Of business.
and she walked resolutely into his
office. A clerk asked her to be seated
and Mr.. Welton would see her in a
short time. She waited few terrible
moments, wondering what John We'll
ton was like, hoping that he would
not think her an adventures, and
whether he would laugh at her fears.
or be cordial and polite to her.
The door opened and Welton walked
In. Eleanor looked up, and as she
saw him standing there her heart
leaped to her mouth. A rray mist
rose before her eye, and she saw the
vision OF man in an automobile and
disheveled girl lying on the pave
ment, and all the details of nm no.
cident that had occurred to her MANY
months before. A little laugh of ex-
ultation echoed in her soul. The hand
OF Providence had led her to the man
that she had watched for SO LONG in
public places.
Are you Mr.. John Welton?" she
stammered, irresolutely. Generally
self-possessed, she was seized by this
unexpected encounter with something
IKE fright for the first time in her
life She rushed through her story.
getting it badly confused. and con.
scious of the fact that this man whom
she was talking with was the one
ABOVE all whom she would much rath-
er have met in a more conventional
way. ''''
lie searched her face pointedly. She
was conscious of his scrutiny as she
talked. He listened and made M
comment. Then n light seemed to
dawn IN his brain. and he smiled sud-
denly, in frankly pleased way.
remember now" he said, with
oolu inspiration. in the midst of her
conversation, as il the information she
had brought to him were of no con-
sequence, and that he was thinking
only OF her. you are the girl that
| assisted on the drive one day when
you had been thrown. Aren't you?"
Yes" she exclaimed, frankly, "and
nave been looking for you for
months, only to thank you for having
Deen so kind to me. and now fate has
helped me. and am able to tell Won
how much / appreciate what you did"
And I think. Miss Deering, that
you have amply repaid me for that
tiny service. You are a most gem
erous, whole-souled girl to wish to
warn me OF possible danger" He
walked with her to the elevator. and
ne asked her If he might not know
her better. When she acquiesced it
seemed to him as If it were with re-
Iuctance. She had gone away coldly.
Her formality was overdrawn. he
thought.
A week later box Of flowers with
note from Welton reached Eleanor
Inc message was more than a friend
~ one. 1t ran: This is to thank Won
Tor the kindness you have performed
Tor me. 1t will be great honor. nv,
dear Miss Deering. if you will permit,
N to call upon you. Believe me, since
the day met you so inopportunely on
the drive your sweet image has chung
IN my brain. ! had often wished that
might see you again. and when Won
came to me of your own accord. when
providence took hand in my wish.
That was glorious day, and your
coming made it all the grander. Nav
l hope to see you tomorrow even
ing?"
Eleanor read the note and kissed n
and sat down to answer it. At first
she wrote long reply telling him
that she was happy that they had
met. Then she destroyed 1t and sim
ply wrote: Yes, you may come"
But abe read his own note over and
over again. coaxing from the depths
OF the sentences all the tenderness
Of his meaning.
Eleanor, dear" he said to her some
weeks afterward, II don't know
whether to thank your horse or nv
automobile for having brought us
Neither, Jack. It was a ranr 81
thieves" she answered, land an un-
finished novel, and my love of vicari-
ous adventure, you know. Even
thieves and novels seem to have been
created for purpose. Chicago
Tribune.