The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-10-31
6he MYSTFPY
0FMARY : :
Grace Livingston Hi1I Lutz
AUTHOR q "rARcA SCHUYLER" "PHoEBE DIANE" =
DAM OF THE hORhIHG" ETC.
ILLUSTRATIONS Gc ny WAkTsxz
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CHAPTER VII.

Three days later Tyron Dunham en-
tered the office of Judge Blackwell by
appointment. After the business was
completed the Judge said with a
smile, We'll. our mystery is solved
The little girl is all safe. She tele
phoned me just after you had left the
other day. and sent her maid after her
hat. 1t seems that while she stood
I by the window, looking down into the
street, she saw an automobile contain
ing some OF her friends. II stopped
at the next building. Being desirous
OF speaking with a girl friend who was
seated in the auto, she hurried out to
the elevator hoping to catch them.
The elevator boy who took her down
stairs went off duty Immediately,
which accounts for our not finding any
trace of her, and he was kept at home
by illness the next morning. The
young woman caught her friends, and
they insisted that she should get in
and ride to the station with one Of
them who was leaving the city at
once They loaned her a veil and a
wrap, and promised to bring her right
back for her papers and other posses
sions but the train was late, and
when they returned the building was
closed. The two men who called for
her were her brother and a friend OF
his, II seems. l must say they were
not so attractive as she is. However,
the mystery is solved, and got we'll
laughed at by my wife for my fears"
But the young man was puzzling
how this all could be II the hat be-
longed to the girl he knew-to Mary"
When he left the Judges Office. he
went to his club, determined to have
little quiet for thinking it over. He
was annoyed when the offlce-boy ap-
peared to tell him there were some
packages awaiting him in the Office.
Bring them to me here, Henry"
The boy hustled away, and soon
came back, bearing two hat-boxes-
one of them in a crate-and the heavy
leather suitcase.
With a start of surprise, Dunham
sat up in his comfortable chair.
Say, Henry, those things ought not |
to come in here" He glanced anxious
ly about, and was relieved to find that
there was only one old gentleman in
the room, and that he was asleep.
Suppose we go up to a private room
with them. Take them out to the ele-
vator, and I'll some in a moment"
"All right, sah."
And say, Henry, suppose you re-
move that crate from the box. Then
it won't be so heavy to carry"
"All right, sab. III be thah in Jest a
minute"
The young man hurried out to the
elevator and he and Henry made a
quick ascent to a private room. He
gave'the boy round fee, and was left
In quiet to examine his property.
AS he fumbled the strings Of the
first box his heart beat wildly, and he
elt the blood mounting to his face.
Was he about to solve the mystery
which had surrounded the girl in
whom his interest had now grown so
leep that he could scarcely get her
,ut of his mind for a few minutes at
time?
But the box was empty, save for
ONE crumpled white tissue-paper He
ook up the cover in perplexity and
aw his own name written by him
elf. Then he remembered. This was
he box he had sent down to the club
y the cabman, to get it out Of his
ray. He felt disappointed, and turned
uickly to the other box and cut the
ord. This time he was rewarded by
eeing the great black hat, beautiful
nd unhurt in spite of it's journey to
hicago. The day was saved and
Iso the reputation of his mothers
aid But was there no word from
lie beautiful stranger? He searched
through the wrappings,
llled out the hat quite unceremoni-
lsly, and turned the box upside down.
1t nothing else could be found
hen he went at the suitcase. Yes,
.ere was the rain-coat. He took it
1t triumphantly, for now his mother
'uld say nothing, and, moreover, was
~ ulS Jlu5L III ll1S ldlI I
fed? He had done well to believe
her. He began to take out the other ar
rments, curious to see what had he
en there for her use. fr,
A long, golden brown hair nesting wi
the collar of the bathrobe cleaned bo
a chance ray of sunlight He looked
it reverently, and laid the garment tn
wn carefully, that it might not be br
5turbed. AS he lifted the coat, he to,
W the little note pinned to the lapel, de
d seized 1t eagerly. Surely this he
'uld tell something! sis
But no, there was only the message
1T she had arrived safely, and her ne
lnks. Stay, she had signed her ne
L. II.