Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1911-07-28
A Shrewd
American Girl
BY HEL OISE BT2AYTOH
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

parents, was guest at the seat of the
Duke OF Brentnard. Miss Atherton
was In love with the dukes Oldest son
and heir. the Marquis of Middleton
Among the guests at the dukes resi-.
dence. Slapper Grange. was Kansas
girl. Miss Edith Brown. the daughter
of one who II be had been titled would
have been called the prince of packers.
Miss Brown was expected to inherit
large fortune. and this was the reason
for her being at Slapper Grange. for
the Brentnards were not overburdened
with ready cash. and the marquis was
on the lookout for wealthy American
wife.
Now. Miss Brown had no more rev.
erence for title than for member
ship OF a sewing society. She was one
of the kind to see through Il milestone.
and 1t was plain to her shat the mar
quis wanted her for her money. and
Miss Anterior wanted the marquis for
himself.
$50 long as | don't want him my
self" unused Miss Brown. why
shouldn't | help this young English
girl to. get himT"
Now. there was a skeleton In the
Brentnard closet. The duke. who was
an old man. was a klcptomaniac. He
WAS not allowed when in the city to
60 into the shops without footman
to follow him. and pay for what he
stole When the old gentleman appro
priated an article the footman would
step up to the clerk behind the counter
from which It was taken and say:
lis grace Is shopping today. 'Ow
much for the and mirror e took7''
II See" the clerk would reply. THAT
one is three and six"
This would be followed up by other
purchases acquired In the same way
and duly paid for by the footman.
There was nothing upon which the
marquis was so sensitive as this mania
of his father. He had made every eff
fort to avoid the disgrace. even to an
attempt to shut his father up, but as
kleptomania is not form Of insanity
that warrants combining Il person In
bedlam the duke maintained his lib
erty.
One morning Miss Brown remained
In her room when the others were down
to breakfast and. being alone on the
floor. went into Miss Atherton's room.
took all the jewelry the poor girl had.
carried II to the dukes apartment and
slipped 1t into the pocket Of coat she
found hanging In closet Then she
went downstairs to breakfast.
After the meal Miss Brown kept Miss
Anterior under observation so that she
might be The first 10 meet the English
girl after the discovery Of the loss Just
before luncheon Miss Atherton came
out of her room with terror stricken
look on her face Miss Brown was in
the hall.
My jewels!'' exclaimed Miss Ather-
ton.
What Of 'em?" asked Miss Brown,
putting a finger on her lip to enjoin
caution.
They're gone"
Hist! The duke? You know his
failing?"
"I've heard Of it."
Don't say word about 1t. The
marquis would never forgive you"
do you really think II bestT'
~ do
"And I must lose the gems?'
"Never mind that: they will come
back TO you
That night at dinner Miss Atherton
appeared without a particle of jewel
ry The marquis noticed It. but made
no comment After dinner he Joined
Miss AthertOn on the terrace He
never noticed the absence Of anything
belonging to any of his guests with
out dreading lest his father had pur-
Joined It,
christine" be said, "why did you
leave off your Jewels today ut dinnerf"
"Oh. they're so insignificant" she
said. compared with what the other
ladies wear
Miss Brown, for instance"
The lady named had that day ap
peared bcdizcned with small fortune
In diamonds.
Hers are very handsome"
"Umph. These Americans don't
know when or where to load up with
stones"
When on future occasions the mar
quis noticed thut Miss Atherton still
rcfrnined from wearing her jewels he
wondered. Then one day Miss Brown
spoke to him Of the omission.
"She doesn't wear them" said the
marquis. because she's ashamed Of
them"
Nonsense" replied Miss Brown.
That's not her reason, She has too
much Kindness In, her 10 hurt your
feelings by giving you the true one"
Good gracious. You don't mean
they have been stolcn!'
~ do"
"And the theft"
Search your fathers pockets"
The marquis made the search and
returned the jewels. The incident de-
cided him on marrying for love or
money. he propoSeu 10 MINI S'ii''f-
ton. much touched TINT she had pre-
ferred to lose her finery to accusing
his father.
"As for that American girl" he add
ed. "she had the indelicacy commo,
among heS countrymep. SHE did net
hesitate to remind me that rs father
Is thief"
Miss Brown left the grange covered
with jewels, hut when she got In
train she put them In her satrhc
. o .