The Washington times., 1909-03-21
CHAPTER III.
THE MYSTERIOUS UNKNoWN.

lie. I am sure you will be
interested to hear how / came
into possession Of that photo
graph. 1t is really very remarkable.
And 7 rely upon you TO help me 10 IN
earth the original
7 shall be glad to give you all the
( assistance 1 can, Of course, old chap"
replied Clayton. But are you really
serious, Wilbur? Do you mean TO tell
me that you've actually fallen in love
witt picture?''
Yes. It's the prettiest, sweetest,
most Interesting face I've ever seen.
honestly believe that you'u fall in love
with il, too. Steve. when you see t.;
that's why I'm half afraid TO show it
to YOU 1 fear that one glance at it
may make you my hated rival"
No danger of that old man I'm
not idiot enough 10 allow myself to fall
in love with a girl I've never seen nor
spoken 10. I gave. you credit, TOO, for
possessing more sense, Wilbur. The
| lady's face may be divinely fair, but
| she may be a regular fury when it
| comes to disposition and character"
| NO. I am sure she is notr' ex-
! claimed the infatuated young man. 81
| feel confident that the owner OF a face
like that must be sweet and charming.
and as good as a saint
You're probably wrong" declared
the practical Clayton, who rather
prided himself upon his knowledge of
the other sex THE girl whose face
betokens sweetness and innocence is
often the very worst Of women. Why.
for all you know to the contrary. nv
boy, your unknown lady may be fond
Of fried onions.
Just imagine yourself falling in love
with a girl whose breath bears the fra
GRANGE Of fried onions. Pause. nv rash
and impetuous young friend. ere it is
too late
Don't be an idiot. Steve" cried vii
bur gravely. I'm really serious about
this That picture has had the most
extraordinary effect upon me. To look
at II gives me a sort of feeling that
the picture is alive. Ever feel that wav
about picture. Steve7-
NO, I can't say that / have" re-
piled the. other. grimly IF I did 7
think I'd go TO Bellevue and ask the
doctors Of the psychoDathic ward 10 ak
anime my head"
We'll, a couple OF times I've fancied
that the eyes moved" went on Wilbur.
Ignoring this unsympathetic reply.
and once when I was gazing al the
picture the lips seemed TO curl into A
captivating smile"
Gee whiz"' exclaimed Clayton. re-
garding his friend with alarm. Your re
certainly in bad shape. old chap. You've
been working too hard at the office. T
guess. Let me take YOU TO see a doc
tor"
mo, thanks. Tn all right or course
1 realize that it's only my Imagination
Those eyes and those lips didn't really
move, Of course. Don't laugh at me
Steve. I'm really seriously in love with
this beautiful unknown girl. And some
how" he went on, sinking his voice n
a half whisper. Il feel positive that I
am going 10 meet the original before
long.
She is bound 10 come into my life
II couldn't possibly have been a mere
accident which brought that picture in
TO my possession It vas destiny. I
feel sure Of it. I've always been =
f2talist, you know. 7 feel positive that
fate deliberately sent that picture INV
way"
Well, perhaps you'd better tell me
Just how you cid happen to come into
possession Of it, retorted Clayton max
ing desperate attempt to be serious
Did IL drop down from the clouds and
hit you on The bridge of the nose2 Mar
rlages, they say, are made in heaven -
mo. It didn't come from the clouds
IT came IN book from tic public H.
braTy,' replied Leslie. -On NV vva,-
home from the office this evening T
stopped at the library for a fresh stol.v
I brought the book home with me here
and after supper vas reading II. whom
suddenly 7 turred a page and found tine
picture staring at me"
"Was the picture one Of the fIustr,-
tions in the book?'' demanded CLAYTON.
"Do YOU mean TO tell me that you've
been idiot enough 10 fall In love with
an artists creation"
"Of course I haven't The nictIra
wasn't part OF the book If was a real
photograph stuck in between the pages.
When I turned the page / found that
beautiful face staring at me. Isn't II
wonderful"
Il can't say that 1 see anything par
ticulariy wonderful about it," retorted
CLAYTON, coldly. THE party who last
borrowed the Took from the library
left the picture in the volume either by
accident or design, ] suppose Nothing
at all strange about that 1 suppose