The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-07-07

COulEiUuteU: MISS E1diest SouiA uoa
decide. She knew only that the spec
tacie was infinitely pathetic.
Subsequently she observed many In
stances of the same morbid watchful-
cess over his possessions. He seemed
TO dread the disappearance of even the
simplest objects. and once when sill
ger pencil which be had let her take
vanished somewhat mysteriously his
anxiety was pitifnl She found the
Dencil In her hand bag. and he receiv-
ed it from her almost with sob Here
were possibilities Of comedy. but Miss
Hallett could not see them.
The day was cold and dull. and pres
emily 1t began to snow heavily. Ry
nightfall the drifts We're high. and
! next morning the train was some hours
late in Buffalo But beyond that poinr
the condition Of the tracks was much
worse 1t was the severest storm Of
the winter and indeed of years Ry
+ afternoon the train was blocked. and
there seemed no prospect Of release
Meanwhile every morsel Of food had
/
In the Pullmans. and walls Of real dis
+ tress had begun to arise from the day
coaches.
In this emergency Wilbraham head
ed relief party which fought its way
through the blizzard to the nearest
town and returned laden with sup
/ plies. which were gratuitously distrih
uted In this task Miss Hallett took
part. and she heard Wilbra hams
! name mentioned with fervent graft
| tude. but the utterance which impress
ed her most was from the lips OF Il
member of the relief party.
THAT fellow insisted on paying for
everything" said this man. He would
not let anybody else spend a cent"
Now. the cost of the supplies could
not have been less than $40, and Miss
Hallett was Mortified. Poor Wilhra
hams delusion of wealth had led him
to spend money which was not tIr:iv
his, but had been Entrusted to him Tor
specific purpose-his maintenance at
the Sanitarium. What would be DO
without it!
,, The thought tormented the girl dur
ing the wretched night that followed
BY morning the giri'had formed Wild
, resolution. in the execution Of which
she was singularly favored by fortune
/ Mr. Wilbraham left his wallet in his
| overcoat pocket when be went forward
to inquire about breakfast. and Miss
Hailett secured it. A hasty glance
sho wed her that 1t contained less than
$50 and the girl made up the sum to u
hundred from her own funds. being
well assured that he would never
know the difference.
To do this without being seen by the
other passengers was matter of some
| skill. and she had just accomplished it
when Wilbraham appeared. The girl
tried to put the wallet back into the
overcoat. and it fell upon the door
She picked 1t up in panic and thrust
1t into her hand bag.
The next four hours were unique III
! Miss Hallett's experience. She was n
thief Try as she might. she found 10
, opportunity to restore the plumber
! They breakfasted together. they chat
ted afterward. they changed ears toF
Midvale. they reached that destination
and were driven up to the sanitarium
i In q sleigh, and still Wilbra hams wal
let remained in the girls possession
Every moment she dreaded that he
would discover his loss. Indeed she
kept fancying that he had done ~:
and was concealing 1t from her.
/ The instant that she reached the san
Itarium she sought her uncle. but hr
was from home. She waited for him
In dire suspense. and ut last with In
Unite relief she heard his voice In tie
vestibule But what was this tina, he
was saying:
mir Wilbraham has gomez The
Doctors strong voice arose to her when
she leaned over the baniSter on the
second floor why what does this
mean"
HE has left note for yon." serv.
ant said
Miss HaIlett few down the stairs
and pursued the doctor into MS rnutu
III Is my Iallt. Sha rfitu Mf
Wilbrahan has missed his money. and
be d"esn't know what to do Send
after him ut once
And she poured out her story half
hysterically.
why. what's all thiS?" exclaimed
the doctor. interrupting her after the
9Th attempt Mr. Wilbraham ism
INSANE"
He thinks himself rich"
''Weil, why shouldn't he: Good gra
cious: Hes John wilbraha ham of vii
brabam & Co He's worth millions
He hasn't come here as II patient. He's
come to see a cousin of his But here's
the mans note Let's see what he
says"
The doctor opened the note and read
aloud: E..s..
my Dear DR.. Hailett-i will speak very
frankly to you. ! have become very deep
~ interested In your niece You who
know her unfortunate condition will rec
,gnize the folly Of encouraging q feeling
which can end only in sorrow l know