El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-10
by Edith Nixon.

"HE professor was, to pu~ it mildly,
annoyed. Moreover, he was puz-
4 zIed. He could not understand ii
at all His roses were his especial
i pride, and now, for two mornings in
/ succession. he had found that some
robber had been at work amongst them.
The act, too had been deliberate.
! The roses were carefully cut deep at
/ the stem; moreover, traces of footprints
were evident after the showers of the
I previous night
The professor was completely taken
! aback, for to his mind such an act was
as incomprehensible as il was unpar-
alleled. 4 thief. even of roses. in his
, garden seemed unthinkable. For the
professor, young though he was, lived
rather in a dream world. and the quaint
little Surrey village in which he had
settled his bode was almost IS guile
less as himself.
y thief, He felt quite upset but
decided to say nothing about it to his
gardener He would try to discover
the key to the mystery himself.
Accordingly, he set his alarm clock
half an hour earlier than usual. and
the following morning found him in
the garden over go minutes before his
customary time But it was only to
realize that he was too late. Again
the thief had been before him: fresh
blooms had been cut, and fresh foot
prints made.
\ certain obstinacy made him deter
set his alarm fully an hour and half
in advance of its usual time, and the
third morning found him in the gar
den just IS the village clock was chin
ing half past six.
With a keen sense of satisfaction. he
saw that so far there had been no third
outrage, and his mouth set grimly as
he returned little distance and took
his scat in the heavy shadow IF a
yew. where he knew he would not
easily be detected.
The minutes passed, and urcschtIy
the clock chimed seven in slow. mel
odious notes. The professor began to
wonder If by any chance the thief had
desisted from his evil course, bat the
brain than the sound of 4 light foot
step upon the gravel made hip -,.art
and look up, and as he did 20 ne bad
Eard work to repTess an exclamation.
The thief was girl Lad IN a
simple gown Of linen. and wearing a
large straw hat. trimmed with cqUal
simplicity in black She lad oils OF
brown hair and .piquanI" type of
pretty, perhaps, but neVertheI IS strik-
ing. and her mobile mouth had rather
a wistful droOp.
Quietly. and apparently witluut hcsi-
tat1on, sHe began her task. caring
forward. she cut magnificent crimson
rose from the stem, and placed it in the
basket she had brought with her.
The professor was reused to action.
Taken Gback though he was by the an
pearance and sex of his enemy. he
could not calmly stand by and watch
her carry off his best roses
He got up from his seat and ap-
preached her.
Instantly she turned. ano an exclama-
ton escaped her, while she almost
dent alarm, as she gazed at the pro-
lessor with wide open eyes.
The latter Was unused to women;
they were an unknown species. Per
IN tod e. .
fact that he said quite the last thing
he meant to say.
Please" he please
don't be alarmed
But she still looked at him with her
large eyes open to their full
W hat is it? 1 mean, is anything the
natter she queried.
"Oh-ah-nothing. he RESPONDED
nervously, adding with most unscien-
tific inconsistency: Only you are tres
passing. you know
''Trespa ssing?' She looked at him
and he felt himself grow
red. "Oh, l didn't know. I thought"
The roses are mine" He felt little
more sure of his ground as ne re-
Elected that after all she was the rob-
oh" she quivered. and there were
tears of distress in her voice And
who are you?" she ventured appre-
MY name is Ainslie." he replied
simply
her DrOWS up1TteO.
Professor Ainslie?" she questioned. !
almost ii would seem. with a certain J
amount of awe in her tones. Il am so /
sorry, she sJammered. II did not I!
know. 1 didn't mean to rob you or /
anyone Oh, what must you think OF |
me. l wonder? Will you let me ex-
plain?"
AS she spoke her eyes evidenced the
tears that had formerly been in her
voice, and the latter quivered sus- I
The professor was rorribly i'll at /
ease.
Please don't tell me ANYTHING if |
you'd rather not" he found himself ]