Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-10-07
THE MILLIONAIRE;
MARAUDER
All He Had Really Stolen Was
a Girls Heart.
ny MARGARET muzzEY.

mot In this food. MY umbrella mas
n broken rib"
"You are almost a surgeon. why
don't you set itT' asked Joe. "Take
mine and have yours mended."
"Have mine fixed. too, will your"
called a voice from the next room.
mine needs PATCH" said another
young student OF medicine. appearing
in the door.
III say, get the handle put on mine
while you're about it," demanded a
third.
Dick departed with Joe Darts UNI
brella over his head and three disabled
ones besides his own under his arm.
After leaving them with an umbrella
member he did some shopping and went
into a corner drug shop to wait for a
car. He was absorbed in the marvel
GUS representation of a new patent
medicine until, glancing out Of the
window, he saw his car. seized the
nearest umbrella and hurried to the
door. As he passed out a feminine
voice cried:
"stop thief He's stolen my UNI
brellap'
WITHOUT tue IdluLcSC buSpicioh thut
It referred to him Dick ran and jump
ed on the car.
When he reached the boarding house
he carried Joe's umbrella to his owD
room and forgot 1t until the next rainy
day, when his friends inquired for
their mended property.
''The repairs win DO finished today.
I'll bring your umbrellas on my way
back from the hospital" he told them.
When he went out with Joe's umbrel-
Ia, which he had not returned, 1t struck
him as being rather small for a man.
although 1t had not occurred to him
when he carried 1t before.
As he seated himself in the car go
ing uptown the woman next to him
muttered an angry evacuation. Dick
moved his bunch of umbrellas and
apologized, fearing he had set it on her
foot. when. to his establishment. she
whispered:
'T congratulate you, young man.
You have had very successful morn
ing. II It were not for making n
scene that would get my name into
the papers should denounce you here
and now"
Dick was speechless. He started to
his feet.
Don't you suppose I recognize my
stolen umbrella right there In your
handT
NORTH streetr bawled the con-
ductor.
81 win leave you to your own con-
SCIENCE" added the woman and was
gone before Dick recovered sufficiently
TO retort.
isn't this your umbrella2 he asked
Joe when he reached the house.
TITS i've times as good Where did
you get it7"
81 must have exchanged with some
body" said Dick ruefully.
Take my silver watch out and swap
It or for a gold one, will your said
Joe.
"Who shall you take to the next as
semblyT Joe inquired later.
'T have asked Miss Mildred Wells.
but as ! have met her only once she
will probably decline"
mot Mil with the mercenary moth
or. She won't be permitted to refuse
an invitation from the only son Of a
gold mine"
"Her mother has never even heard
of me-" said Dick GROSSLY.
She'll find you out soon enough. She
keeps regular Bradstreet's Of eligible
men. She has married all her nieces to
diamond tiaAas and is just waiting for
a chap like you to crown her daughter.
Her permission won't be asked this
IT, a. " To
night Milly told me so this after
noon"
Joe was right, and Mildred accepted
Dicks invitation. During her mothers
absence she was relegated to the chap
eronage of much married cousin, who
was too engrossed In the pursuit of
sterilized nutriment and sanitary ap-
parel for her children to keep vigi-
liant eye on her guest.
The night Of the assembly found her
unable to leave her youngest, who.
having deposited dime in his insides.
refused to honor draft Of mustard
and warm water for the amount. The
distracted mother was easily persuad-
ed to allow Milly to go with friend.
az shah have to leave early" Milly
told her escort Mother will be home
ut / o'clock. and 1 must be there to
greet her. have been staying with
Cousin Carrie, you know. but prom
ised mamma ] would be back ut our
own house when she arrives
They left the dance at midnight and
started for Mildred's home. When they
reached the house Dick inserted n
latchkey, but 1t would not turn.
Bridget has slipped the night LATCH"
exclaimed Milly. "She sleeps on the
third story and Is 30 deaf she can't
even hear by r1ail. What shall we do?"
"Isn't there window l can open
eomewhere7
Suppose you try mothers room.
The windows are on the piazza. and
they are seldom locked"
al will do my criminalist." said Dick.
"Just inside the window at the left is
a stand with candle and matches. You
can easily find the front door when
you have light"
Dick opened the window, stepped In
aida. felt around with his hand which
@WDR mw 81