Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-11-23
Guarding
the ValuabLes

After the Blakes moved into their
new quarters Mrs Blake still kept her
account ~. the outlying bank where
she haa always done business. That
was thss reason when she received the
note and the mortgage she did not In
stantiy put them into her safety de
posit b5x
Wher she was preparing to leave
the hot(ss for the first time she hid
the papt,z~ ~sgccasaively behind n sofa
under ssSEscws under rug. under the
dresserss and behind the picture
Of Sir Eaiahad in the library. Then
when she was q block away she re
turned hastily. because II had Just
occurred to her that the house Nigh,
burn down during her absence and
then where would she be In respect
to those precious papers?
She discarded the small mesh bae
she war carrying and got out her big.
gest leather shopping bag. although 1,
was decidedly Inconvenient to take
to an hfternoon tea. However, she
could carry the papers in II. The bag,
being big and square. bumped into
everybody and got her disIiked. She
nearly wept that evening as she
begged her husband to take care of
the papsrs for her.
Il win mott" he told her. You sim.
ply mus learn to look after your own
business affairs. so you might as well
make u2 your mind to Il! Why on
earth are you carting jewelry around
In that bag. too?" He asked Il in the
tone thnt q man uses when the fool
Ism pecuifarities OF the feminine half
OF the world are utterly, absolutely
beyond tim.
"Becaise it's the safest place for INV
rings ard things" retortsd his wife.
Every woman does IT,"
His desneanor still disclosing skeptt
cfsm. she went on: "If you leaye
Things &C home and the new servants
DON'T turn burglars. then the bogus
gas inspectors and the sham telephone
men win get them! I've read about
all those tricks,"
You'll lose the whole AFFAIR."" d.
clared her husband.
Il certainly won't when the bag IN
slipped right over my army like this -
said Mrs. Blake loftily. 'T shall 20 to
the bank Just as soon as I can. and
you are Perfectly horrid to make me
Ss-1E J-s-5ts FFUae SIIS...S4 CUnIgnS-
The papers won't tuck inside OF my
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 II. After Blake had
bumped his head the third time while
fishing out the bag from beneath the
row Of seats in front he put II in bis
chair and sat on It. But be made her
carry It home.
Something happened every day for
three days TO prevent Mrs. Blake's go
Ing to the bank. She ate, slept and
visited In company with her leather
shopping bag and she positively began
10 grow thin from her continuous and
strenuous efforts to keep a watchfui
eye on t.
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 H. Missing It. she would
imagine that she had lost Il 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 SO lowered
their scores by her wild. abstracted
playing.
'T'll 20 20 the bank tomorrow II 10
is the afternoon party that I have to
miss!" she declared.
Then she lugged the fatal bag to q
club directors meeting. to a luncheon.
where it fell to the floor and was
nearly eaten up by the hostess pet
dog before II was discovered. and on
Q shopping trip.
She hung to the bag with an energy
that gave rise to the idea In the
minds Of casual observers that 70
must be filed with dynamite or diar
monds.
Thank goodness" she muttered 40
she neared her nome. I've got these
awful papers safely through a whole
week and the first thing tomorrow
morning sees them In the safety de-
posit box. and then maybe I can draw
a long BREATH What's that door
open for?~
She ran mp the steps and through
the swinging door II was most un-
usual. The house appeared tranquil.
however. Laying down her bag. she
pulled on her gloves and coat and
then, being stil 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 10 see II the cook had 70
turned, II being the cooks day out
In the hall she stopped transfixed.
with her eyes staring at the table
where she had laid her shopping bag
The bag was gone!
The burglar" Blake explained %
her with righteous reproach that
night, "must have Just got inside
when you came and probably he bid
behind the piano. When you went up
stairs be grabbed your bag and de-
parted By the front door. can ax
M the note and the mortgage. but not
the rings!"
Anyhow" said his wife. Il don't
see why he couldn't have stolen II the