Putnam patriot., 1913-09-19
 Q detectixe at oncef-

a detective at oneei~
 ~Cornelis. you'll do nothing of the kind, her brother protested, now thor oughly aroused. m agree to pay for the hat and the raincoat if they are net forthcoming before a fortnight passes. but you simply shall not ruin that poor girls reputation. insist. mother. that you put stop to such rash proceedings Tll make myself personally responsible for that girls honesty"
 Well, of course, Tryon, if you wish it." said his mother. with anxious hesitation,
 T cei tainiy do wish it. mother. I shall take it as personal if anything is done in this matter without consulting me. Remember. Cornelia, I will not have any trifling A girls reputation is certainly worth more than several hats and raincoats, and know she has not taken them"
 He walked from the dining room and from the house in angry dignity. to the astonishment of his mother and sister, to whom he was usually cour- tesy itself
 Tryon Durham took his way to his office much perturbed in mind. Per | plexities seemed to be thiekening about him. With the dawn of the morn i ing had come that sterner common sense which told him he was a fool for having taken up with strange young woman on the street. sho was so evil dently fyir.s from justice
 An, the ring, A sudden warm thrill shot through him, and his hand searched his vest pocket. where he had hastily put the jewel before leav- ing his room. That was something tangible. He could at least know what . il was worth. and SO make sure once for all whether he had been deceived. The stone seemed to be of unusual ! beauty and purity, but he would step into the diamond shop as he passed and make sure. He had friend there who could tell him all about it.
 After the morning greeting, he hand ed over his ring.
 This belongs to 6 friend of mine" he said, trying to look unconcerned. T should like to know if the stone is ] genuine, and about what it is worth. '' l His friend took the ring and retired behind curious little instrument for ] the eye. presently emerging with a re- spectful look upon his face.
 Your friend Is fortunate to have such a beautiful stone. It is unusually 1 clear and white. and exquisitely cut l l should say it was worth at least"-he paused and then named a sum which startled Dunham, even accustomed as he was to counting values in high fig ures. He took the jewel back with a kind of awe. Where had his mysteri- ous lady acquired this wondrouS bauble which she had tossed to him for a trife? Tn a tumult of feeling. he went on to his office more perplexed than ever.
 Meantime. the girl who was speeding along toward Chicago had not forgot ten him, She could not if she would. for all about her were reminders of him. The conductor took charge of 1 her ticket, telling her in his gruff, kind way what time they would ar rive in the city. The porter was so- 1icitous about her comfort, the news boy brought the latest magazines and box of chocolates and laid them at | her shrine with smile of admiration and the words, "Th' gn1mun sent lem't"
 By and by, she opened the suitcase, half doubtfully, feeling that she was almost intruding upon anether's pos. sessions
 There ~sere a dress ssIit and a change of fine linen, handkerehiefs, l neckties. "a pair of gloves, soft. black felt negligee hat folded, a large black | silk mufiier, a bathrobe, and the usual slhver-mounted brushes, combs and other toilet articles. She looked them po@er in a business-like way, trying to see how she could make use of them. Removing her hat. she covered it with the silk muffler, to protect it from dust. Then she took off her dress and wrapped herself in the soft bathrobe, wondering as she did so at her willing ness to put on a strangers garments. Somehow, in her brief acquaintance with this man. he had impressed her with his own pleasant fastidiousness so that there WAS a kind of pleasure in using his things, as if they had been those of valued friend
 She touched the electric button that controlled the lights in the little apart meut aDd lay down in the darkness to think out her problem of the new life that lay before her.