The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-08-03
Guarding
the Valuabkes

cew quarters Mrs. Blake still kept her
account at the outlying bank where
she had always done business. That
was the reason when she received the
note and the mortgage she did not in.
stantly put them into her safety de-
post box.
When she was preparing to leave
the house for the first time she hid
the papers successfully behind a sofa,
under pillow. under rug, under the
dresser scarf and behind the picture
Of Sir Galahad in the library. Then
when she was block away she re.
turned hastily, because it had Just
occurred to her that the house might
burn down during her absence and
then where would she be in respect
to those precious papers?
She discarded the small mesh bag
she was carrying and got out her big
gest leather shopping bag, although It
was decidedly inconvenient to take
TO an afternoon tea. However. she
could carry the papers in 1t. The bag,
being big and square. bumped into
everybody and got her disliked. She
nearly wept that evening as she
begged her husband to take care Of
the papers for her.
Il will mott" he told her. "You sim.
ply must learn to look after your own
business affairs. SO you might as well
make up your mind to it! Why on
earth are you carting jewelry around
IN that bag, too?" He asked It In the
tone that man uses when the fool.
ish peculiarities Of the feminine half
OF the world are utterly, absolutely
beyond him.
Because it's the safest place for my
rings and things!" retorted his wife.
Every woman does IT,"
HIS demeanor still disclosing skepti.
cism, she went on: IF you leave
things at home and the new servants
don't turn burglars, then the bogus
gas inspectors and the sham telephone
men will get them! I've read about
all those tricks!"
/, You'll lose the whole AFFAIR."" de.
clared her husband.
Il certainly won't when the bag is
slipped right over my army like this"
said Mrs. Blake, loftily. II shall 70 to
the bank just as soon as 1 can, and
you are perfectly horrid to make mo
carry this bag to the theater tonight.
The papers won't tuck inside of nv
waist and there's positively nothing
else can do with them!"
frequently that evening the bag
slipped from her lap and each time
she almost had Mysteries, thinking
she had lost It, After Blake had
bumped his head the third time while
fishing out the bag from beneath the
row of seats in front he put it in his
chair and sat on it, But he made her
carry 1t home.
Something happened every day for
three days to prevent Mrs. Blakes 70.
ing to the bank She ate, slept and
visited in company with her leather
shopping bag and she positively began
to grow thin from her continuous and
strenuous efforts to keep a watchful
eye on it.
An afternoon progressive bridge
party nearly finished her, because she
insisted on hanging the bag over her
chair back, and each time she moved
she forgot 1t. Missing It. she would
imagine that she had lost 1t coming
to the party and would have to be re.
vived with fans and kind words till Il
was discovered. She was a nervous
wreck when the afternoon was over
and had in addition the consciousness
that all her partners disliked her in.
tensely because she had 30 lowered
their scores by her wild, distracted
playing.
It'll go to the bank tomorrow II IL
is the afternoon party that have to
miss!" she declared.
Then she lugged the fatal bag to q
club directors meeting. to luncheon,
where 1t fell to the floor and was
nearly eaten up by the hostess pet
dog before 1t was discovered, and on
q shopping trip.
She hung to the bag with an energy
that gave rise to the idea in the
AAA00o VI Cd6OdA OUb0EV0ES LQ6C l8
must be filled with dynamite or dia-
monds.
Thank goodness!" she muttered as
she neared her home. 1--WE got these
awful papers safely through whole
week and the first thing tomorrow
morning sees them in the safety de-
post box, and then maybe can draw
a long breath! What's that door
open for?"
She ran up the steps and through
the swinging door. It was most un.
usual. The house appeared tranquil,
however. Laying down her bag, she
pulled of her gloves and coat and
then, being still uneasy, mounted to
the second floor. The second floor
also was calm.
Its the queerest thing" she said as
she started downstairs and headed for
the kitchen to see II the cook had re-
turned, 1t being the cooks day out.
In the hall she stopped transflxed,
With her eyes staring at the table
where she had laid her shopping bag.
m ~.