The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-12-16

49,
when you told me of your loss. The
fact is the locket was merely loaned
to me foT-er-an occasion"
ITO take a walk in the park, per
haps," suggested Helen sweetly as she
arose. 81 am very sorry, Mr.. Bryce,
to have troubled you over so trivial a
matter"
The man stood frowning as Mrs.
Tom again appeared. Pardon me for
ln%terrupting you two" she began. but
| have a favor to ask of you, Helen.
Maurice Malcolm has arrived. Every
one is wild about his tenor voice, and
he has consented to sing for us pro
vided l find an accompanist. lmme-
diately | thought of you, my dear"
"Why, certainly | will play" said
Helen and followed her hostess with
a sigh of relief.
Maurice Malcolm bowed low before
her with a look of alteration In his
dark eyes. 80 kind of you" he muir
INJURED. And Helen soon became alb
sorbed in her music, forgetting all else
save the wonderful voice which echoed
through the room When the applause
had ceased he bent over her.
at is you" said he. who have made
my song a success"
But Helen was staring incredulously
at the forgetmenot charm suspended
from his silken fob. 'Who gave you
that locket?" she demanded CURLY.
The singer Strengthened suddenly and
looked surprised.
~ beg your pardon" he said coldly.
Then she smiled.
ut is such a beautiful design" she
said and held out her hand. May |
see it?"
Unclasping the locket, he laid 1t In
her palm. would you mind II |
opened it?"
The singer smiled. 1T took me some
time to find the hidden spring." he
said. ALLOW me to show you how"
But her finger unaided had found
the spring. Her friends name with
its curling IL" and the well known
motto were dancing before her eyes.
"Mr. Malcolm" she SAID quickly,
''this is strange; a friend gave me the
very counterpart Of this locket several
years ago, and | lost it today in the
park"
"That was indeed unfortunate" said
the singer. THE owner of this little
charm desired me to wear 1t this even
ing. She has had it for a number of
years"
Helen's fingers frightened about the
Iz1i-zA .. &Lo WAN hold oY1f bic hand
to receive it.
Mrs. Tom came toward them, a bevy
Of laughing girls In her train. "Mr.
Malcolm" she called. come and be
introduced" The man hesitated If
you please?" he said peremptorily,
looking at Helen.
Reluctantly she surrendered the
golden trinket and turned away. Per
haps Mr.. Bryce had not deceived her
after all. She was strangely pleased
at the thought and decided at least
to tell him of her new discovery. She
found him sitting In a secluded corner,
screened from view by palms and
plants and apparently lost in gloomy
meditation Helen joined him uncere-
~moniously. .
II have seen 1t again." she announc-
ed. His face frightened as she en-
tered.
81 am afraid | do not understand
you," he replied.
"Mr. Malcolm is wearing my locket,"
she explained, inscription and all
Did you give 1t to him?"
II never saw the man before" he
said solemnly. He has probably been
fortunate enough to find your lost
charm and will return it to you"
Helen shook her head. HE says it
is not mine" She looked up at him
meaningly. II suppose 1t has been
loaned to him for an OCCASION"
"See here!' said Mr.. Bryce indig-
nantly. "He ought to give a better
explanation. You wait here for a few
moments while | hunt the fellow up
and find out"
The girl seemed to have forgotten
her animosity toward Mr. Bryce.
How good you are" she said, and
the look in her eyes was t1attering.
But when he returned his face wore
a perplexed frown.
did you get the locket?" she asked
eagerly. The man avoided her eyes.
st is no longer in his possession"
he said.
"Wel, where is it?'' she persisted.
Mr.. Bryce spoke very slowly. He
seemed to think it was zone of my
affair.
II see." said Helen, and her friendly
feeling toward the young man fed
Good evening. Mr.. Bryce"
His tall figure blocked the passage.
"One moment, please, before you CO."
he said desperately. May ! call some
time If | am able to bring an explana-
tion of this annoying AFFAIR."
"You may CALL" she answered weari-
ly, when you can return my rocket
to me-" He bowed and stood aside
for her to pass
Later, when Helen's mother was
making her adieus TO Mrs. Tom. Mau-
rice Malcolm approached, Il regret
exceedingly" he said, that | an I'M
able to give you any information re-
garding that little charm If | should
at anv time fnd q solution of the myS.