The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-01-12

an acquaintance and put them in his
safe. ] did not wish them to be re-
covered by search
| As soon rs ! had done this I wrote
my uccuspr IL note telling her that !
had inadvertently appropriated some
letters belonEin. to tier and that she
might have them by withdrawing her
charge against me. She had become
so sure that was professional thief
that she wrote back stating that she
would withdraw the charge and give
M $500 for the letters wrote her
that did not ask money for The let
tiers and that she was welcome to them
II she would withdraw her charge
against me. To this she acreded. and
instead of sending some one to me with
an order for them she appointed
meeting with me in one of the hotel
parlorS. did not propose to be out
done by woman. so l left the letters
where had put them.
We met as agreed. The lady was
not over twentyfour years old and
was quite comely. She was evidently
of the upper class and had wounded
my amour propre by not recognizing
ME for social equal instead of mis-
taking me for IL thief. She opened the
negotiations.
Are you IL tool of George Norton:"
she asked abruptly.
II haven't the pleasure of the gen.
tleman's acquaintance"
| In
the letters. They We're addressed to
him."
Il locked ut one address. which con-
WINGED me that the letters did not be-
long to me-"
do you mean to tell ME that you
haven't read them:"
II do"
Then how did you know would
value them SO far us to offer so much
for them?'
II didn't until you made your offer"
will you please tell me how you
restrained yourself from reading the
letters?'
"Othcr peoples letters don't interest
me-
II should have read them had | been
you"
Then your standard of honor is diff
fcrent from mine"
Il have made Il mistake"
Several Which one do you mean:"
Il have been engaged to George
Norton. was warned against him.
but would not listen. stole my let
ters. which he would not return. |
supposed he had employed you to get
them back for him."
Does he employ gentlemen for such
purposes:'
For the first time she looked asham.
ed. She dropped her eyes and 6dgetcd
with the ring | was to be tried for
stealing.
II didn't observe you closely when
you came out of my room. see now |
was very much mistaken. l ask your
pardon"
Now that you have begun where
you should have begun before. at the
beginning. we can get on rapidly. Per
NIT me to apologize for having mis-
taken your room for mine. | was alb
sorbed in Il matter of business. l put
your package Of letters in my pocket
without being conscious Of what l was
doing"
II see. l have acted very hastily"
arose and touched Il button. Their
l wrote on the back of an old envelope
an order for the letters. When an at
tendant came | told him to send fol-
them. In fifteen minutes he returned
and handed me the package. l handed
them to the lady.
"But | have done nothing toward
withdrawing the Charge" she said.
"You will. l have no fear of that"
"Why?
because know you for lady. an(
lady once convinced that am :
gentleman. not thief
"Please don't"
would never think of charging m
with being one"
"What shall do to stop the thing?
advised her Of the necessary steps
) after which we went on With our cha1
"It seems to me-" she said, that
,. am the real thief in this NATTER
"Why 500"
II stole the letters from George MOI
ton"
THAT was not stealing. They bt
), longed to you. You only took you
. own"
= This had the effect to comfort he
somewhat, though she still SCENE
:, much mortified ut her treatment of mi
= l was not disposed to permit her
. escape too readily from this mortiic;
- ton.
- II don't quite underestimate remarl
ed, "why you thought it necessary
offer so high price for your letters. y
=. 81 supposed" she replied sham
:. facedly, that you were an agent {
- George Norton. I wished to indut
=. you to give me the letters instead {
= giving them to him."
"In other words, was considers
not only blackmailer, but subje
for Iribarv tO t11rn AGAINST my or