Middletown transcript., 1909-07-31

] don t think ] could have come
home If the thought Of this vel.
come hadn't drawn me, he said.
I'm a failure, and you know it.
/ know nothing Of the sort,
she cried. You expected to
climb too fast-that's the trouble.
And because you found that the
rounds in. the ladder were far
apart you become discouraged !.
That ism fair.
/ have been standing on the
same round for a year or more,
said Ezra, grimIy. I began to
think I bad grown fast to it.
But there, he cried, let me forget
all this. How are you, dear, and
how is old MillvilleP
Both Of us quite the same, she
smilingly answered, and both
getting older.
He flushed at this and would
have said something, but sud-
denly checked himself. The
thought that she was growing
old waiting for him hurt Ezra,
but he knew she would think il
unkind If he told her so.
I've brought you little remin.
derof the big town, he said. He
stopped over the travelling bag,
and .then suddenly drew back.
Why, this isn't my bag! he cried
The girl arose and came to him.
That's funny, she said with
light laugh. Are you sure ?
He was staring at the bag con.
fusedIy.
The color is exactly the same
he said, but the handle and the
lock are different. I've taken
somebody's bag by mistake.
Or somebody took your bag
which is much more likely. The
big city is full OF wicked men,
you know.
Whoever took my bag, said
Ezra, still staring at the strange
handle, did not get much.
You forget my little present
laughed the girl.
Ezra drew a key from his vesl
pocket. It failed to fit the lock
What a delightful mystery, said
the girl. Who knows what fate
may have concealed in this mys
terious hiding place ?
I'll soon find out, said Ezra, 3
little grimly. He didn't see any
humorous suggestion in the ex
change. He drew out his knife
and opened it.
Wait, said the the girl. Ust
the universal handy tool. And
she gave him q hair pin.
He Strengthened the wire and
pried at the lock, while the gir
knelt beside him. For seyera.
minutes he worked without sue
cess.
Fate keeps her secretstubborn
ly guarded he presently remark
ed.
Yes, said the girl, I dom
think I ever was quite SO neal
the verge of a mystery. I fee
an assistant burglar.
Before he could reply the locA
suddenly yielded. Ezra loosen
ed the clasps and pushed the
bolt aside. Then he opened the
bag. A newspaper was spread
over the contentents. He lifted
this and suddenly stood up.
The girl gave one scared looh
and then crossed the room swift
ly and turned the the key in the
door.
The bag was filed with bank
bills in packages!
Ezra drew a quick breath.
Rather a heavy dose of the
unexpected, he said, meekly.
The girl, her face drawn and
pale, came near him and put heI
hand on his.
Better cover it, Ezra, she said,
It scares me.
Not yet, he answered. I'm go.
ing to count it, and at the same
time look for q clue to the owner.
He stared at the money as If fas.
cinated. He breathed hard.
There's a lot Of solid enjoyment
in that, he mnttered.
Ezra, said the girl, sharply.
He started suddenly and be.
gan taking out the packages.
Each was Wrapped with a slip Of
letter paper, the 800" being
written with q common lead
pencil,
Ezra counted the packages
aloud as he placed them on the
floor.
Fifty,eight, he murmured. He
rubbed his forehead confusedly.
I've almost forgotten how to