The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1911-11-16

then the system must be right and
my figures wrong. If my figures
were right and. the system wrong
all would have to do would be to
return the seventy-eight dollarsover-
draught and all would be well. Sim
pie now, wasn't it? / at once put
this plan into effect, using the near
est business houses to save the
trouble Of trip to the bank way
down town. andfsoon had the entire
in bills and silver in my
pocket.
Having nothing further to do
after returning to my room / opened
my suit case to get out book. Ly-
ing on top of the other things in the
case was picture of the Little Girl
as she had been before she began
the long years Of weary waiting. ]
fell to dreaming over it. Of course
she had changed since the picture
was taken. Her face would not be
quite so full and girlish. The big.
tender eyes would not have lost anv
of their great beauty but more Sc
rious look would have replaced the
gay sparkle that shone at me from
the card and a. quiet wistfulness
would have droojed the corners of
her mouth somewhat. I could pic
ture how the eyes and mouth would
light up when / returned to end the
years of lonely watching; | could
see the delicate color tremble to the
tips Of her tiny ears as / put my
arms around her. What was / to
deserve all this? I b ad brought
sorrow to her. heart, yet she loved
me. I had fallen in the ways Of
shame yet she was full of trust. And
here / was now aa1lying. needlessiy
prolonging her Shonrs of waiting.
AT the very moment 1 was marring
the great beauty Of the love which
had been so faithful to me during
the dark years of trouble by un-
necessary moments Of sad watching.
Hastily grabbing up my suit case, |
paid the landlady and caught the
next train east.
During the twenty minutes wait
in st. Paul a man came sauntering
through the car from the one ahead.
He dropped into the seat next to
mine and we started conversation.
He was good talker, and was not
loath to listen and get wised up a
bit on the topics of the hour, in fact
/ became so interested that the time
passed unnoticed until the train was
about to start. when the gentleman
rose and laying his hand lightly on
my arm said:
We'll, | suppose we'd better be
getting out or they'll take us along
At the same time he threw back the
lapel of his coat and-well / got out
The window beside me happened to
be open and the way / got out was
not at all slow! L was not acquaint-
ed with the yards in st. Paul mol
did that bother nae much. / headed
down the track toward the freight
sidings some little distance away
but the man with the swell line o1
talk seemed to be pretty nimble on
his pins; so much SO, in fact, that ]
was beginning to. have grave doubts
whether the sidirhgs or the man be.
hind" were gaining most. Then
Hey you! Hey you in there
What's the matter with your" called
the local Diogenes; flashing bis lam
tern into my eyes. Come out of it
The man next door says if you cam
keep step you can just quit march.
ing on his wall"
Moral: Never buck up against
mathematical law with your little
half pint of buttermilk which foi
the benefit of humanity men cal
brains, even though said law b
Steele Bard and you are on the out
side looking in. It's no use. Th'
man with the lantern is always OF
the job.
Il Mote: For the benefit of thos
.(who are trying to work the system
herein described be itsaid that tn
! Steele Bard dI n 0 state frou
which of the 1dmbers subtraction
should be made after the first re
yersal. And thereby hangs q tale.