The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-01-20
.copyRlcyAr 1909 illustrations by WALLACE sMORGAs

Carter sat down at the desk and signed tn
paper. Rawdin took itand then held out his
hand as il to seal the bargain, but Carter
turned his back.
Are YOU ready, Miss Forsythe?" he said I
The girl rose, and he put her wrap carefully
about Ter GOOD night, Philip; I'm sorry"
she said from the doorway, but Philip was
lighting cigarette and apparently did not
hear her.
They returned to Miss Forsythes home OH
the West Side in silence. The girl sat in the
corner. her head sunk against the cushions
and her eyes closed; Carter looked out OF the
window for the most Of the time, but now anu
then he stole glance at the pale, pretty face
and the little body fairly saggng from the
worries Of the night He would like to have
taken the slender gloved hand that lay ip her.
lap in both of his and tell her how very sorry
he was for her and how if il had not been for
the miserable experience that had forced their
engagement upon them how he might have
really cared. The car gradually slowed and
then stopped before Miss Forsythes home.
The slight Jolt brought the girl toherself again,
and Carter opened the door and helped her to,
alight There was light in the front wiz
dows and for moment she hesitated at the I
foot of the brownstons steps
Father must be still up" she said; " I'm
afraid he's worried Would you mind COM
Ing in for just fnoments You could back
me up in my story"
Carter reached out his hand and pressed
the one that hung at the girls side. And
may | ask him about--about your" hef
begged.
Miss Forsythe inclined her head, and there /!
was a little wistful smile about her lips..l
Yes she whispered, if youlike. !"
They found the father, much hustered, l
waiting for them in the hallway, but before he 4
could speak the daughter rushed into bis arnas'
and began to tell him the story Of the night.
And who do you think the burglar was =. ,
she cried; that crazy boy, Phil Rawdinl He,
did ittfor joke, but just think II he had been5 !
caught knew who it was all the time, and
Mr.. Carter and followed him to his room
and he met us at his door, fairly roaring with |.
delight over his Joke So then We stayed tot
supper and-and--I think Mr.. Carter had
better tell you the rest" She pushed her j
father toward the door leading TO the draw
ing groom Not here, Daddy" she said.
Please 60 to your study. It's very serious,
really
With much gravity the old man led Carter
through the dark drawing-room to his little
study beyond, turned on the electric light and 4
closed the door. In few conventional
words the Young man told his story and
placed himsef-at the tender mercies OF the
bluff Westerner The conference was short
and apparently happy one, for in less than
fen minutes the young man, smiling broadly,
left the older one in the little study, his hands
clasped over his fat paunch and lookingiwith
glazed eyes into space.
Garter closed the door softly behird him
and was halfway across the draw, room !.
when from a distant corner he caught the CLINT
Of Spangled dress He tiptoed toward it,
and suddenly the dress rose and came 10 him.
And he took the girl in his arms and with his
lips brushed wisp OF golden hair that had
fallen across her forehead
It's all right, Helen,' he whispered
We're engaged"
The girl did not move and so he drew her
nearer TO him and again kissed the stray wisp
cf hair And do you know, Helen your
father really seems so pleased over II that
dontthink It's right to break il off. What do
you think"
With misty ewes, the girl looked up intohis,
which were smiling with real content and
then the door Of the study suddenly opened,
and Carter ran laughing from the room.
At eleven O'Clock th. next morning. Mr..
Philip Rawdin stood on the deck Of the
Adridtic and leaned honchalantly against the
rail There was still an hour before the boat
would sail, and so he was quite alone. Hav--
ing satisfied himself Of this fact, he carefully !
dreayfrom his inside pocket a letter from the
lcases of which he took i've one-thousand-
dollar notes. These he transferred to ! case !
which he carried in an inside wajstcoat nocket
and then for the second time read the letter. |
his was what it said:
DEAR PHiIip
Eve thousand dollars. A lot Of money! !
espeeiaih, when you remember that the whole Il
fpea vas mine. and lhcn even IL YOU had been
caushi would have accepted your explanstion, !
q i as a practical Joke However, YOU did
your part well. and am grateful, esoeciaily.
as J am now engaged, really for keeps. Henry,
! honestly believe loves me for myself alone.
and I'm sure he can Jump me ovsf,,he Park to
ihe East Side set in no time Poor dear old
,.s.L isnsr -. Don't spend all your money At once,
"a MSnFas iIrlFDug!TDrEn.
K I'LL VNHlHN||6|B|
Philip stifled yavn and smilinrly tore the
letter into small shreds which h. s.iI.-,.I !, .