Smyrna times., 1910-08-10
The Mystery
Of ThOrndale
BY EDWIN AUSTIN OLIVER

All ABOARD, l heard the guard
cry. and few seconds later the
train pulled ont of the glass-domed
station l was looking out of the
car window, when l felt the swish
of silk skirt, and, turning. l saw
richly dressed lady seat herself
beside me.
&" Excuse me" said, lifting NV
cap, would you prefer the seat bv
the Window
She looked at me through her
heavy veil, but made no replv,
Deaf, perhaps deaf and dumb >,
thought, as l glanced at her rich
attire. However that may have been.
was quite certain, by the odor
which filled the air, that it was not
necessary for her to speak to con-
vince me that her favorite perfume
was violet.
When the train reached Thorndale
she arose to get out. and dropped
her pocketbook close to my feet. I
picked it up, and was about to start
after her, when something prompted
me TO keep my seat. AS the train
started, l stealthily slipped the
purse into my pocket and looked out
of the window, feeling as though
the eyes of every one in the car were
rpm me.
was boy sixteen years of age
and up to that time | could not recall
dishonest act of which | had been
guilty. / lived with nv mother.
and we were in humble circun-
stances. l was employed as an er-
rand boy in large dry goods house
in New York City.
When my story opens l was going
to place called Blockton, on an err
rand for my employer.
How that little piece of leather
burned my pocket. l did not take it
out, for fear some one would know
that l had been dishonest, and it
remained in the place l had first put
it until l reached my own room that
night.
was bewildered when | opened
it and found it contained S16O. Most
of the money was in crisp bills of
the denominations of S5s and SlOs.
How my eyes danced as l counted
them over. had never handled so
much money before in my life. Care
fully looked into each compartment
of the pocketbOOk, hoping to find
something which would lead to the
Identification of the owner. But l
found nothing. This was a disap-
pointment, for five minutes after |
had picked up the lost article re-
gretted having hesitated as to my
duty. almost considered myself
a thief.
l concluded that my only chance
of finding the owner of the pocket
book would be to go to Thorndale.
But how was l to get time to go
there? l hesitated at asking my
employer for leave of absence, for
fear that my dishonesty might be-
come known to him. Several DAYS
later my mind was Somewhat relievd
by being commissioned to deliver
some goods in Thorndale.
| had not time to go home for the
pocketbook, but decided to make in
quiry. and if possible discover the
residence of the lady who had fond
ness for violet perfume. Thorndale
was small village of only a few
hundred inhabitants.
DO y'u happen to know a lady
who got IF tae half-past two train
last Thursday afternoon l in
quired of the official | found stand
ing in the station at TT orndale. "She
was tall, handsomely dressed, and,
if l mistake not, is hard of hearing,
| added
"Well, we've got a lady what
lives here who happens to be about
as dumb as they make EN- was
the rather inelegant way he expressed
himself. Let's see, did she smell
lik a cologne bottle?" asked the
agent with a broad smile.
Yes, violet" l answered, en-
cOuraged. "That's her. Can you
direct me to where she lives?"
"Tes, l can. If you can wait
about five minutes until my boy
comes down to take care of tn sta
tion. I'll drive you over there. Ive
got to deliver a telegram about a
mile beyond her house, and I'm
going right by it.
| thanked him and said l would
accept his kind offer. The house ]
had been sent to was close by the
station. ran over to it, and BY
the time. l returned the agent was
waiting for me with his blackboard
and roam horse.
The house l was in quest of was