The Red Cloud chief., 1912-04-04

He left the place admiring Alice
Darragh more than ever; but he was
altogether mystiticd. The ugly thought
which for an instant had sprung up
In his mind unbidden. he had quickly
banished.
Ho made n late visit to his law OF.
flee, and tried to settle down to a
routine Of business which should
have been dispatched earlier In the
day. The tasks kept him busy until
night. In fact. 1t was ten o'clock be-
fore he left the office free to seek the
rest In his apartments.
As he entered his sitting room the
glow from an open fireplace rendered
1t warm and inviting. He threw HIM
self In big armchair and yielded un'
resistingly to n sweep Of new emo
tions which the day had brought him.
After a while he drew the evening pa
per from his pocket and began to
read listlessly. Suddenly his eye was
arrested by a suggestive headline:
Theft at the jerks Store. Rare
Bric.a-Brac Stolen. Young Woman
Suspect. Reward"
The article contained little more
informe tion than the headlines. He
had scarcely finished reading 1t when
the telephone In his room rang
| sharply.
Hello" came a woman's voice over
the wire. rs MIR. Ralph Woodson
there?" This is Miss Darragh. Can
you come to my house right away?
regret troubling you SO late In the
evening. but II is imperative"
Ralph. surprised and little excited.
was ready and on his way to answer
the summons in a very few minutes.
Miss Darragh was In the hall when
he arrived.
Mr.. Woodsou." she began, II am
about to place strange confidence
In you. l have had very unhappy
day, and am compelled to call upon
you for help. The vase that I had
In my hand when we met this morn
ing was taken by theft from the jerks
store. You may have read an item
regarding II in the paper. The little
girl who took 1t Is a sort OF protege
OF mine. At least ! have been trying
for several years to help her In a
struggle against her environment. She
loves beautiful things. and she was
trained from her babyhood to steal.
but 1t Ia so long now since her last
ohense that thought she was cured.
1t certainly is discouraging TO have
her so back to her old ways again.
She Is heart.brOken about It herself.
and am trying once more to protect
her and help her toward n future. A
detective who has come to my assist
ance on other occasions was going to
return the stolen vase for me today
and conceal the facts. l was taking
1t to him when met you this morn.
ing"
Here Ralph interrupted:
And my awkwardness spoiled all
your plans. am sorrier than ever.
But can't we"
1T couldn't be helped" she inter.
rupted. I'm afraid. though, that I'll
have to let the vase which you gave
me be returned in lieu OF the stolen
one The detective thinks it's wise.
for suspicion is beginning to close in
on my little friend. Will you forgive
me II do this?"
Forgive you. Miss Darragh?" he
exclaimed. Il was going to suggest It.
This Is the first happy moment I
have had today. After the mess
made OF things this morning. am the
luckiest fellow In the world to have
bluundered upon a way to help you"
She held out her hand to him in
gratitude. Az he took It in his grasp.
the look in his eyes brought the quick
blood to her cheeks. In her woman's
heart she understood and was glad.