Putnam patriot., 1910-07-22

--+~HN%AA- AfA'NEA fNR NrTRTe her with q look of adoration in his dark eyes. 50 kind of you" be nur- mured. And Helen soon became ab- sorbed in her music. forgetting all else save the wonderful voice which echoed through the room When the applause had ceased he hent oyer her
 "it is yea said he. ~who have made my song 3 success
 But Helen WIS staring fncreauleaslr at the fefgetmrnut charm suspended from his siiken fob "Whe gave veu that leckets@ she demanded curtiv. The siager straishteued suddenly and looked surprised
 T 'beg your pardon be said coIdiy. Then she smiled
 "it is such a beautiful design" she said and held out her hand. May | see ittr
 Unelasping the tocket. he laid 1t in her palm. Would you mind if l opened its''
 The singer smiled. ''It took me some time to find the hidden spring. be said Allow me to show you hew."
 But her finger unaided had found the spring. Her friends name with Is curling Il" and the well known motto were dancing before her eyes.
 Mfr Malcolm" she sad quickly. this is strange: Il friend gave me the very counterpart of this lockef several years ago. and I lost 1t today in the park"
 That was Indeed unfortunate" said the singer. The owner of this little charm desired me to wear 1t this eyen- ing. She has had it for number of years"
 Helen's fingers frightened about the locket as the man held out his hand to receive 1t.
 Mrs Tom came toward them, a bevy of laughing girls in her train. MT 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 Mir. 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 | secluded corner. screened from view by palms and plants and apparently lost in gloomy meditation. Helen joined him uncere- monieusIy.
 ..l have seen it again" she announc- ed His face brishtened as she en- tered
 .'I am afraid do not understand you" he replied.
 "Mr. Malcolm is wearing my loeket," she explained. inscription and all Did you give it to him?"
 .'I never saw the man before" he said solemnly, He has probably been fortunate enough to find your lost charm and will return It 10 yeu."
 Helen shook her head He says il is not mine." She looked up at him meaningly. "i suppose fl has been loaned 10 him for an occasion"
 ..See herer' said Mr. Bryce indig nantly. He ought to give better explanation. You wait here for few moments while l hunt the fellow up and find out
 The girl seemed 10 have forgotten her animosity toward Mr Bryce How good you are" she said. and the look iu her eyes was fiattering
 But when he returned his face wore a perplexed frown
 Did you get the locket?" she asked eagerly The man avoided her eyes.
 "It is no longer in his possession he said.
 Well. where is il = she persisted.
 Mir Bryce spoke very slowly. He seemed to think il was none of my affair
 .'l sec" said Helen. and her friendly feeling toward the young man fed Good evening. Mir. Bryce"
 His tall figure blocked the passage .'One moment. please. before you go, he said desperately. May I call some time if am able 10 bring an explana- ton of this annoying affair.""
 "You may call" she answered weari- ly, when you can return my locket to me- He bowed and stood aside for her to pass.
 Later when Helens mother was making her adieus 10 Mrs. Tom. Mau- rice Malcolm approached T regret exceedingly" he said. that l am un- able to give you any information re garding that liftle charm If should at any time find solution of the mys- tery may caIl?"
 Helen gave an odd little laugh "l will be pleased 10 see you she said. twhen you can bring the Iocket with you"
 My dear" said her mother as they were driving home. are you not well! You have been so unlike yourself all evening"
 ..I lost Lolita,s charm today. moth CT" she answered and success seems to have vanished with 1t.
 A week or two passed and Helen might have forgotten the lost locker If the blond young man had not con stantly appeared 10 remind her She seemed to meet him every where. as she descended the steps of her own home or waited for car ct the cor her. and once he had been sitting upon the well remembered bench as she happened to walk through the park IJpon each of the occasions she mere ly inclined her head In greeting ana passed on One morning the florist had delivered a box with the card Of MT. Bryce attached. and as Helen re- moved the tissue wrappings from the