Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-12-30

thought she raised her head to listen.
Look at this hand" he was say
ing. Regular pianola; you could play
it with your feet"
"He's a dear, isn't he" Alison said
Unexpectedly. mo matter how DE-
pressed and downhearted I am, al
ways cheer up when I see Rfchey."
Hes more than that" returned
warmly. HE is the most honorable fell
low know. If he wasn't SO much that
way, he would have a career before
him. He wanted to put on the doors
of our offices. Blakeley and Mcknight,
P. B. H., which is Poor But Honest"
From my comparative poverty to
the wealth of the girl beside me was
a single mental leap. From that
wealth to the grandfather who was
responsible for it was another.
II wonder If you know that had
been to Pittsburg to see your grand
father when 1 met you?" said.
"You!" She was surprised.
'Yes. And you remember the ALL
gator bag that I told you was ex-
changed for the one you cut on my
arm?" She nodded expectantly. well,
in that valise were the forged Andy
Bronson notes, and Mr.. Gilmore's dep
osition that they were forged"
She was on her feet in an instant.
Tn that bag!" she cried "Oh, why
didn't you tell me that before? Oh.
it's SO ridiculous, $3.50 hopeless.
Why, I could"
She stopped suddenly and sat down
| al 4
ry. after ALL" she said after pause.
"Mr. Bronson was a friend OF my IA
Tiers. II suppose 1t was bad
thing for you. losing the papers?"
"Well, 1t was not a good thing" I
conceded. while we are on the SUBJ
ject Of losing things, do you remem-
ber-do you know that l still have
your gold purse?"
She did not reply at once. The sha.
dow of n column was over her face,
but I guessed that she was staring at
me.
"You have it," She almost whis.
pered. .
II picked 1t up In the street car" I
said, with a cheerfulness did not
feel. TT looks like very opulent lit
tie purse"
Why didn't she speak about the
necklace? For just careless word
to make me sane again!
"You!" she repeated. horror.strick.
en-. And. then / produced the purse
and held 1t out on my palm.
Il should have sent 1t to you be-
fore. l suppose. but. as you know. I
have been laid up since the wreck"
We both saw Mcknight at the same
moment. He had pulled the curtains
aside and was standing looking out ut
us. The tableau Of give and take was
unmistakable: the gold purse. her out
stretched hand. my own attitude. It
was over in a second: then he came
out and lounged on the balcony rail-
Ing.
They're mad ut me In there" he
said airily. so I came out. I suppose
the reason they cali It bridge is be.
cause SO many people get cross over
IT, .'
, The heat broke up the card group
soon after. and they all came out for
the night breeze. I had no more words
alone with Alison.
| went back to the Incubator for
the night. We said almost nothing on
the way home: there was q constraint
between us for the first time that I
could remember. 1t was too early for
bed. and SO we smoked in the living
room and tried to talk OF trivial
things. After n time even those failed,
and We sat silent. II was Mcknight
who finally broached the subject.
And SO she wasn't at seal Harbor
at all"
mo"
DO you know where she was. LoI.
Iie?''
Somewhere near Cresson."
"And that was the purse-her purse
with the broken necklace in it?'
Yes. II was. You understand, don't
you, Rich. that. having given her my
word, couldn't tell you?"
Il understand a lot OF things" he
said. without bitterness.
We sat for some time and smoked.
Then Richey got up and stretched
himself. I'm on to bed, old man." he
said. Need any help with that game
arm Of yours!'
mo. thanks" I returned.
heard him go into his room and
lock the door. 1t was n bad hour for
me. The first shadow between us,
and the shadow OF a girl at that.
CHAPTER XVII.