The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-09-24
Miss Chittenden's
Purse

YES"
And $50 with I'll"
mo, papa only about Sc this time"
Only! Only! Only Sc! You speak
as II we had thousands to throw away
--as II S. were only six single nails!
Well, this is positively the last time
that trust you with more than half
a dollar at once Seventeen different
times in the last two years you have
lost your purse!"
That was the Homecoming OF Miss
Gladys Chittenden as she got back to
Bridgeport from a run down to the
city to do some shopping. Miss Gladys
was the daughter OF ex-Judge Chit
tenden. retired from the bench and
raising few chickens and maki.ts
himself disagreeable to the neighbors
on the block where he dwelt. He was
widower. and the girl was his only
child.
Miss Gladys had lost her purse
lost 1t in the usual way. She had been
behind time in her shopping and had
made a rush for the depot and her
train at the last minute In buying
her ticket she had left her purse on
the shelf and made run for the gate.
The next person to approach the
ticket window after Miss Gladys was
Mr.. Will Anderson, young architect.
He wanted to make some inquiries
about trains He had taken notice of
the young lady. and when the purse
fell under his eyes he lost a minute
In wondering and then hurried after
her.
But she was gone. Mr.. Anderson
pocketed the purse and started for his
office. He had the plans of a sky
scraper on his desk. but what is a
skyscraper compared to young and
handsome and unknown girl? He let
the plans lie and took careful note Of
the contents of the purse; $6 in cash.
key to trunk, bit of red ribbon
square of court-plaster. tiny little
knife-and three or four address
cards.
He had the clew, Miss Gladys Chit
tenden, Bridgeport Conn" No street
no number,
Three days later found Mr.. Ander-
son in Bridgeport. 1t wasn't much of
a task to find the family of Chitten-
/ den
Permit me-" said Mr.. Anderson as
he halted and presented his card.
Architect, eh?" growled the Judge
after putting on his glasses and read
| inn he Ill ..;-~ -
on! | was fool enough to have an
architect plan this house, and he had
! the stairways all running down cellar
instead of upstairs"
Your daughter, sir"
Never you mind my daughter. She
doesn't want any chicken coops built"
She wcs in the city the other day,
and"
And it's none of your business IL
she was!"
Mr.. Anderson turned and went back
/ to the depot and took the train for
| home. He would send the purse by
/ mail. He would send 1t by express.
He would send 1t by messenger-by a
big, husky messenger who would
throw the Judge over his own gate if
he didn't improve his conduct. No, he
/ would do nothing of the kind. He
wouldn't be bluffed. He would see
Miss Gladys and explain, and then
proceed to fall in loye with and marry
her If his life paid the forfeit.
| Ale worked on those skyscraper
plans for three days and then HE'D
him away to Bridgeport again.
The judge was standing right there
at his open gate again, and he was
in even a worst temper than before.
He recognized the architect half a
block away. and was ready to cry out
at him.
Didn't say did not require your
services!"
Il have not offered them" was the
calm reply.
We'll, that's all right, but will you
look at that mud heap right here on
the best street in town."
Official laxity, should say"
That's it-that's it! We have got a
board, sir. that doesn't know enough to
pound sand. Why. it doesn't know
sand when it sees it,"
Il agree with you. and the members
should be stirred up"
you agree, Ell? Shake hands. Ex-
cuse me If was little blunt the
other day."
Your daughter, sir. She was in
New York, and"
Come income in. Gladys happens
to be home now
And when they had entered the
house and stood before the daughter
he continued:
GLADYS. gentleman to see you. He
agrees with me perfectly as to the
board of public works"
The story of the lost and found
purse came out, and was laughed over,
and the Judge chuckled and slapped
his leg, and Miss Gladys blushed as
she thanked the finder. and half an
hour slipped away very pleasantly.
In taking his departure Mr.. Ander-
son suggested that the police ought to
be shaken up to their duty. and the
Judge shook hands over that and In
4 vited him to call again, and taken