The Red Cloud chief., 1912-10-31

an ADVANCE nt night express the bag
to----and so forth.
Many men would have done SO and
said the matter could go hang. but
Mr.. Rexford didn't. A faint snin OF
romance was in the air He was
aware of emotions to which he had
heretofore been total stranger. Back
he went to Hartford. II was eight
o'clock In the evening when he gazet
into Miss Merritts eyes and wondered
whether she was nfty-hve or sixty.
Shippers and 80 glads! SO sorry he
had gone to all the trouble he had
She was sure that he WAS one man out
OF a thousand. She had read Of such
gallant actions In books. but never ex.
pected to meet the hero OF them she
had hesitated to write nim not know
ing but he might be confidence man.
or want a missive from her to levy
blackmail She now sew that she had
wronged him and must beg his par
don million times over. Once she
had written a letter to man about
investing In silver mine stock. and
world she had poured out her heart
so eifusivcly that II had cost her $500
to get her letter hack. II was because
Of this sad experience that she had
written 80 formally to Mr.. Rexford.
Now that they had met and he had
seen her and she had seen him. she
was sure he would forgive.
Yes. Mr. Rexford would forgive. He
would even praise her maidenly dis
cretion. but was that her shopping
bag? Shopping bags with the initial
IN" on them were SO numerous that
mistake was easily made.
Oh. there was not a dosibt in the
| world about ownership. That bag hat
called up too many sad thoughts fol
her to be mistaken in 1t. 1t had beef
gift from dear friend--a very dear
friend. Indeed. she was not ashamed
to admit that she and that very dear
friend had been betrothed only the
week before he had been run down
by an auto Yes, she had loved and
lost. but.
Twill you please make sure OF the
bag. Miss Merritt?"
She opened it and plunged in he,
hand and thin stood up and shouted:
"You bold, bad mani"
"What is it?"
"Here-take it--go! was right II
thinking you a scoundrel of the black
est dye. Oh, IL were only mani
When Mr.. Rexford got back to New
York he had the bag with him. ane
he found a third letter awaiting him
The bag, SO the writer said. was care
lessly left behind when she left the
train at Hartford. and she would be
only too happy to pay any costs ant
get her property back.
Mr.. Rexford started on his thirt
journey. He was sure Of the curiosit,
and romance now. He found Mist
Merriweather at home. He found hel
petite and amiable. Almost her first
greeting was laugh as she said:
"The whole family will feel re
lieved now"
Sure it's yours?"
"Of course. Here's some falls,
hair for sister-a bottle Of hardy,
for mother-a pipe and tobacco To-
father-a jimping-jack for bub. and
my card tells you that am Mr.
Royal Rexford. of New York"
Yes"
"And ! want to--to---"
you want to see father?"
"No-er-nor. That is not Just nov
but soon!"
Miss Merriweather puzzled n mo
ment and then the bushes came. Sh'
didn't exactly know what she wa,
blushing for. but she keeps 1t up al
often as Mr.. Rexford lands In Hart
ford, and that is once a week. Ant
his mother has had to explain to sew
eral friends:
"Oh, yes. there can be romance II
lady's shopping bag as we'll as II
saving maid from drowning"
Copyright. 1872 by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)
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