The Washington herald., 1914-01-28

and solid. aoad. man. there's . bunch
Of money!
From the bottom of the box shafnel
drew two pictures and letter. yellow
with age. addressed to Mr.. John .
Trskner"
Here's . love letter. bgum." SAX
Snafner. opening II up.
1t was written in fine. dainty hand >ans
every line showed the care with which
II had been written % % always to D.
plain. 1t was Q woman's regret FOR
hasty decision. a hope that he woult
come bach to her. despair that he haf
not. and her dreaming that he would no
forget. Before them q heart lay bare,
longing that was written into words By
one who knew that longing would never
ind fulnilment this side Of the grave
In every line was a heartache. At times
As she penned the words that said she
knew she was doomed to die. was ever
dying as she wrote. the thought seemed
70 wander. but ever and always 1t came
back to her love for him.
Shafner gazed at the small sheets after
he had finished. and Freddy walked
away and sat down. There was a con.
straint between them.
Shat. I'll never agree" began
Freddy.
You'll never have to-it's taking
things from q dead woman's hands" an
swered Shafner, putting back the thick
roll. and the letter. What d'you sup
pose she left the money to him fort"
He was wild one. probably
wish We could find the chap" Shat.
ner said, picking up the photographs.
The pictures were of a girl and a smil-
ing-faced fellow on the verge of man.
hood. The latter picture was much worn
Shafner turned IT over: on the back was
written From John to Mary" Beneath
II was the photographers address.
That may help" Freddy said, noting
that 1t was town near at hand,
A letter was written in a guarded way,
and an answer received. The answer
brought CONSERVATION into the small
room The letter said that Trakner was
living in the city they were in. and the
address was given. He had visited his
old town and friends. after wandering in
South America, and was searching for
a woman whom he had known when a
girl. e.
Shafner stared at Freddy and Freddy
stared at Shafner.
Let's look him up: he's over on Yard
street. 126. so this letter says Come on,
Freddy urged.
Hold on: we don't want to get tangled
in this, you know"
I'VE won't: we'll get him in his room
tell him this has come into our possession
in a personal deal. and ask him II II Is
his? Wen get away all right. Anyway,
I want to get this off my hands"
A brisk walk brought them to Yard
street. and a quick search left them at
a cheap boarding house. where they were
told a Mr.. Trakner was staying
They were led to a room where gray
headed man was seated. He rose TO meet
them. BY some indefinable look on his
face the two felt the presence OF life
that had been Swallowed by bitterness or
something else-perhaps the unrest that
drives a man over the world
In answer to their greeting he quietly
said he was Trakner.
Without a word more Freddy pushed
the box toward him That. sir. was
given me by friend. and 1t was intended
to go to John B. Trakner."
He took II wonderingly and opened it.
Freddy had started -out. but Shafner
held him with a whispered word. wait
and see: il he's the man he'll show
The tall form bent over the box and
took out the pictures. One glance at them
and his fingers closed upon them con-
vulsively.
It's Bess.'
The two men went like shadows out.
down the stairs, and into the night