Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-06
woman who gave YOU sucn

oh. her name is Mary Weston,
said the Judge. smiling. Il don't be 1
lieve you know her. for she was from I
California, and Was visiting here only /
for few days. She sailed for Europe /
the next day"
That closed the incident, and. so
far as the mystery was concerned,
only added perplexity to it.
Durham purposely remained down
town, merely having clerk telephone
home for him that he had gone out of
the city and would not be home until
late, so they need not wait up. He
did this. because he did not wish to
have his mother or his sister ask him
any more questions about the missing
hat and coat. Then>h took twenty
mile trolley ride into the suburbs and
back, to make good his word that he
had gone out of town.
A little after midnight he arrived at
the clubhouse, secured his suitcase
and the hat-box, and took a cab to his
home. He left the vehicle at the cor
lest the sound of 1t waken his mother
or sister.
He let himself silently into the
, house with his Iatch-key, and tip
toed up to his room. The light was
/ burning low. He put the hat-box in
I the farthest corner of his closet, then
/ he took out the rain-coat, and, slipping
of his shoes, went softly down to the
/ hall closet
/ In utter darkness he felt around and
/ finally hung the coat on a hook under
! another long cloak, then gently re-
/ leased the hanging loop and let the
! garment slip softly down in an incon-
/ spicuous heap on~the floor. He stole
upstairs as guiltily as if he had been
naughty boy stealing sugar. When
he reached his room. he turned up his
light, and, pulling out the hat-box.
surveyed it thoughtfully. This was a
problem which he had not yet been
able to solve. How should he dispose
Of the hat so that it would be discov-
cred in such a way as to cast no fur
Their suspicion upon the maid?
He took the hat out and held it on
his hand, looking at it from different
angles and trying to remember just
how the girl had looked out at him
from under its dropping plumes. Then
with sigh he laid it carefully in its
box again and went to bed.
The morning brought clearer
thought. and when the summons to
breakfast pealed through the hall he
took the box boldly in his hand and
descended to the dining-room, where
he presented the hat to his astonished
sister.
81 am afraid am the criminal, Cor.
nelia," he said in his pleasantest man
ner. I'm sorry l can't explain just
how this thing got on my closet-shelf
must have put 1t there myself
through some unaccountable mix-up
It's too bad | couldn't have found /;
before and so saved you a lot of wor
: ~. But you are enc hat the richer for
it, for l paid the bill yesterday. Please
; accept il with my compliments"
Corneha exclaimed with delight ovcI
the recovered hat.
But how in the world could it have
: got into your closet, Tryon? 1t was
impossible. I left it in my room,
know did, for spoke to Norsh about
il before l left. How do you account
for it?"
oh l don't attempt to account fol
it," he said, with q gay wave Of his
hand. I've been so taken up witt
other things this pest week, l may
have done almost anything. by the
/, way, Mother. I'm sure you'll be glat
. to hear that Judge Blackwell hal
made me a most generous offer O
: business relations, and that I have de
c!ded to accept it."
. Amid the explanations of deHgh
over this bit of news, fhe hat wa,
. forgotten for a time, and when tn,
> mother and sister finally reverted to /
j. and began to discuss how it coul,
= have gotten On the closet shelf, h.
: broke in upon their questions with
= suggestion.
: Il should advise. Mother, that yc'
make a thorough search for your rain
. coat. l am sure now that you mus
(. have overlooked it. Such things Otter
happen. We were so excited tn
). morning Cornelia missed the hat tina
= suppose no one looked thoroughly.
. But that is impossible, Tryon," sal
>, his mother, with dignity Il had tina
= closet searched most carefully"
. Nevertheless, Mother, please me b
= looking again. That closet is dark, an
= / would suggest light
He beat hasty retreat, for he di
not care to be present at the fndin
:. Of the rain-coat
= There is something strange abou
this" said Mrs. Durham, as with ru
fed dignity she emerged from the ha
closet, holding her lost rain-coat &
!, arms length. You don't suppose you
= brother could be playing some kin
= of joke on Us. do you. Cornie?
- never did understand jokes"
- "Of course not" said practical Co
- nelia. with Z sniff It's my opinio
that Moran knows AL about the ma
ter. and TTyon has aeen relping he
:, out with a few sggssst;aus'
N Now. Coruefa, what do you mea
by that? You surely dOn't sJppos
. your brother would try TO deceive US
his mother and sister,
81 didn't say that. Mother" snswe
= ed CoTnslia with her head in the a.
= You've got your rain-Ooat back, b.
IL you'd better watch the rest of yoi
I'LL ,r.rI~nna irfa to lar Mars