The Ordway new era., 1910-12-09
A FILLIP IN
FUTURES

drop tnat. ThereS no teiNng WneEe
long. handled word will lead one.
He was out OF money on q certain
date-almost as penniless as q beg
gar: and he fell back on his wits to
make good. which he did. Straightest
fellow In Seldridge college. Lysdon
was: there's no disputing that.
Lysdon's remaining two months In
college he looked forward to with real
pleasure. but the string Of bills at
tached to the finish made the corners
Of bis mouth drop to an angle OF 4b de-
grees. That facial expression. however.
fled from his countenance like frost
before a summer sun when the idea
lodged in his brain. It took ten min.
utes to put 1t in printable shape. 1t
read like this:
Observation-Disclosures person to
drop a fat pocket book on the streets
Of Forreston and permit me to find 1t
and claim reward. ! need 1t. Worthy
Young Man. Box 90. Herald"
The thing done. he hurried It OF to
the Herald ONCE. took supper at a
cheap restaurant. returned to his room
and pored over his books till midnight.
then rolled into bed and slept like
log.
OF course. box 80 wasn't neglected
for a day or two. Lysdon had hoped
for an early reply. and was inclined to
be disappointed after three days had
elapsed without response. The
fourth day proved lucky one. He
opened his letter eagerly. but the only
happy thing about 1t was that no one
was present to see the chagrin that
spread over his face. The single para
graph ran as follows:
Would gladly accommodate you. but
] dropped my purse some time ago.
and 1t made such noise that It open
ed the eyes Of blind beggar. who
seized 1t and ran OF with It. He
hasn't returned It."
This was a sample Of half dozen
that found their way into box 90 In the
next forty-e!ght hours. Lysdon was
settling down to the conclusion that
the plan was doomed to failure, when
n tastefully addressed envelope found
its way to his table. With a new cour-
age he made O.. these words:
Dear Sir-ln accordance with your
request. ! will drop my purse at the
corner OF Castle avenue and Third
street. Wednesday. the I'd inst. at
4:l5 p. m. Fifty dollars reward II
safely returned to II Ashelot avenue be-
fore 1880 p. m. Failure on your part
will be serious. Miss Mex"
For Lysdon. the remainder Of that
Wednesday was full of interest-an
interest that grew in proportion as
the interval to the appointed hour d.
minished.
A wide margin before the time ar
rived he was sauntering resolutely
past the specified corner. his eyes
never omitting a movement of the Pc
destrians that hurried past the place.
There was a ladies' wallet directly
under his face and eyes. but how 1t
got there was a mystery he didn't
wait to solve. Quickly seizing the
purse, he went down the street, too
much dazed to voluntarily direct his
steps.
Collecting his scattered wits, he
found his way to his room. and threw
the thing on the table and himself on
a chair. His curiosity soon got the
better Of his inertness when he re-
called that he had neglected to open
the find.
Pulling 1t open. he brought to light
a fragment Of embroidered work, and
diminutive scrap Of paper on which
was penciled: Remember the hour
1880" Nothing more.
1t was enough-sufficient.
Quickly responsive to his ring. a
smiling young lady opened the door.
You are the worthy young mani"
she decided, before he had time to
speak You are SO prompt. 1t would
have helped me out finely II my plans
hadn't gone wrong"
Your plans?"
Yes" she admitted. a twinkle in
her eye. You see, we were going to
have curiosity party, and I was Co.
ing to introduce you as my offering.
OF course, it's all too ridiculous for
anything: but your ad struck me as
SO odd I simply couldn't resist. But
the party has fallen through at the
last moment. Wait a moment and I'll
get your reward"
"Wait!" broke out Lysdon. TITS a
Door conundrum that hasn't two solu-
tions. Listen to mine.
II don't need the reward"
Then why your advertisement in
the Herald?"
well, what really wanted was an
excuse, and"
AN excused" echoed the girl. II
don't understand. I'm afraid I'm COM
promising myself by listening to this"
Not at ALL" answered Lysdon. i've
a few weeks more in college. and l
promised the old man wouldn't send
for any more funds to carry me
through. I've tried my BEST but it
won't hold out That ad. was Just a
diversion. Now as to the excuse: