Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-12-16


recollect Pauline, my dear, that l
promised you should have that set of
furs in Wickel's?
How could forget, dad? You don't
mean that you have really ordered
them for me?" c:led Pauline delight
edly
II was about to do so yesterday
when 1 lost my pocketbook. I'd been
to the bank and drawn the cash. was
bringing 1t home to you. when some
how, somewhere not far from home,
/ lost the COMPOUNDED thing. You'll
have to wait another week for the
furs, puss."
What sort Of pocketbook was it,
dad" asked Pauline mechanically.
The question seemed a natural one
enough now-she had interviewed so
many lost property owners that day.
New one | bought week ago, red
Russia, had four hundred in it and a
clipping of some sort about queer uses
of electricity"
Dad" cried Pauline tragically.
"Well?" asked her father II know
1t was careless. but
1T isn't that, but | believe l found
that very pocketbook yesterday. | ad-
vertised it in this mornings paper"
well, by Jove where is it," asked
her father, with keen interest
Il don't know where it is now" con-
fessed Pauline. I've interviewed doz-
ems of people today. 1t does seem as
though the streets must be strewn with
pocketbooks, so many have been lost.
l was most particular about identif-
cation, and it happened that the last
young man who called described the
pocketbook so accurately that l gave
it to him"
Mr. Lester knitted his brows thought
fully. That's very queer, Pauline.
You better tell me all about it and be
sure and recOlect all you can about
the people who called in regard to the
matter You see, there are many dis
honest men, and women, too. for that
matter who make business of an
swerinS advertisements of that sort.
Sometimes they can guess very ac-
curately at the appearance of a lost
article. Indeed, so clever are they
that they manage to possess them
selves of many articles to which they
have not the slightest right. Did you
hnd clipping in the bookf'
Pauline flushed at her own vanity
In attributing the possession of her
picture to some infatuated young man
when 1t was that dearest of men, her
father, after all. who had preserved
her likeness.
II didn't notice the clipping. dad"
she said. but l did find a magazine
reproduction of my portrait-that and
the money"
II certainly did not have your pic
ture. Pauline, but that is a detail. Tell
me what you can about the people who
came today"
Pauline did so. emitting no incident
that she could remember and calling
upon her. maid to substantiate any
doubtful points in her narrative When
she had concluded Mr.. Lester shook
mirthfully.
"Never mind. Pauline; but it is rath-
er funny, you know. I'm afraid there
was more avarice than romance in the
situation. Very likely the last half
dozen men who called were in league
to claim the pocketbook. By clever
guessing and the process of eliminat-
ing certain facts the last claimant was
able to give rather accurate descrip-
ton Of the article and SO assured you
Of his ownership. There, my dear,
don't feel badly. Almost anybody
might have been deceived in the same
way. Suppose you come to my study
and show me the picture. You say
you kept that"
Quite mortified and very penitent,
Pauline fetched the clipping from her
room and laid it on her fathers desk.
Mr. Lester adjusted his eyeglasses and
looked critically at the clipping. Then
he nodded approval.
VERY good indeed. Pauline" Then
he turned the paper over and smiled
humorously. Some Peculiar Uses Of
Electricity" he read, handing the
clipping to her.
Pauline looked and blushed painful
ly. "What vain goose | am! Are
you not ashamed to have such n fool
lsh daughter? But it was a coinci-
1ence, wasn't it?"
Mr.. Lester drew her down to his
knee and kissed her gently. 'There
is more to this matter, Pauline. l hap
pened into Frank Seymours office to-
day and picked up this clipping from
his desk He had just cut it from
magazine, and it lay electricity side
up. l read part Of it and asked him
If l might borrow the clipping. He
seemed rather embarrassed. | under
stand the reason now. The sly young
dogw
Pauline buried her blushing face on
his shoulder. You don't mind. dadT
she whispered.
"Yes and no. Pauline" he admitted
between a sigh and smile ut is
not unexpected, and when Frank