The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-10-08


she stepped out.
In moment the long legs of the
youth were fairly flying down the
stairs-he wouldn't wait for the ele-
yator-and he was across the street
and into the store in another fast FOL
lowing sixty seconds.
1t took the attorney some time to
find the girl. The wonder of 1t Is that
he found her at all in that huge bee
hive of struggling patrons and clerks.
She was on the first floor and at the
handkerchief counter. He patiently
waited until she had finished her pur-
chases
II beg your pardon! he commenced,
approaching. hat In hand.
The girl stared at him coldly. She
was a revelation In beauty-all and
more than the photograph had prom
ised.
81 have here" said the lawyer.
something that | believe belongs to
you" He smiled In what he evidently
believed to be courteous manner. but
which left an entirely different impress
sion on the lady.
II do not know you. sir" she an
swered in Il well bred voice. the ca
dcnce of which thrilled her susceptible
admlrer to the full of his rapidly beat
ing heart. you have probably mis-
taken me for another person" Her
eyes rested meditatively upon an ap-
preaching hoofwalker.
II know we have never met" began
Rawins namely, ''but-but"-
"At an almost imperceptible sign
| from the girl the foorwalker Joined
| them.
"This gentleman" began the girl dis
tantly, thinks he knows me. He
doesn't" She paused suggestiyely.
The Hoorwalker, wise of his kind.
eyed the attorney with small favor.
"You had better go. sir. else"- He,
too, ended his sentence with an elo-
quent stop.
Rawlins. despite his keen admiration
for the girl was angry.
"One moment" he said authorita-
lively to the official. He turned again
10 the girl.
"Perhaps you recognize this" he
asked and held the watch before her
eyes.
The maid gazed at 1t with some Gu
riosity. II do not" she said. ITO my
knowledge, have never seen 1t before
in my life. Are you the-er-official
propounder Of enigmas here?"
The sarcasm was lost on the de
spondent Rawlins, who, with the iron
hand of the floorwalker on his arm.
was being rapidly escorted toward the
door.
I'm giving you a chance" explained
the latter, '.although hadn't ought to.
The bosses here haven't any time for
fresh guys who antagonize the trade
An elderly woman with gray hair
and faded blue eyes came hurrying
after the pair and touched the defect
ed lawyer on the arm.
"Just moment she began breath
lessly. "Sly niece has been telling me
about 1t. You-you must have my
watch!'
II knew It," interrupted the floor
walker. 81 knew 1t from the start
madam. He's dip old offender
probably. If you'll just step into the
Office I'll see that you recover your
property without any fuss, and wei
send this party down."
The woman stared.
"You are rather ofiicious. This gen
tleman was attempting to do my niece
favor. He Is no pickpocket. I an
sure of that" She spoke coldly.
she turned to Rawlins. "Tell me
was the watch you wished to return
set with three diamonds and did \
contain little miniature"
Rawllns nodded happy assent. Th'
girl had Joined them. The youth notet
with an appreciative eye the embar
rassed flush dotting her cheeks.
'sThis is your property" came from
! Rawlins. Once again he took tn
watch from his pocket. and the cage
hands Of the older woman accepted II
"Oh, how can ever thank you?
she gasped "It really is my watch!
She turned to Rawlins. And you rec
ognized my niece from the little pic
tureT
Again the happy youth nodded
Words were beyond him.
"But how did you get it?" she aske
wonderingly. 81 saw that great. ia
thief who grabbed II from my hand
run and jump on street car, and a
though promptly reported the ma
ter to the police really had given u
expecting the return of the trinks
long ago.
ut was my first day In the city,
she continued. II live In New Orlean
you must know. and am only visi
Ing here, Marie-she is my sister
, worries so over tribes that didn't te
her. Really, never expected to 81
!. It again ~
/. "But why don't you allow the ge
!. tleman to answer your questio
!. nuntie?" laughingly interrupted Il
/. girl. @
l. Upon Rawllns n great light hi
dawned. The good natured heav
o weight seated on his right In the G
e had been the pickpocket who h'
e stolen the watch. Evidently fearil
e capture, he had shifted the thing up,
Q Rawlins and taken the cheaper tim
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