The Holly chieftain., 1914-08-07

name Mary" She had told him he
might call her that. Could 1t be that
1t was her real name. and that she
had meant to trust him with SO much
OF her true story?
He pondered the delicate writing OF
the note. thinking how like her 1t
seemed. then he put the note In an In
ner pocket and thoughtfully lifted out
the evening clothes. 1t was then that
he touched the silken lined cloth OF
her dress. and he drew back almost
as II he had yentured roughly upon
something sacred Startled, awed. he
looked upon 1t. and then with gentle
fingers lifted, 1t and laid It upon his
knee.
Gradually, as he looked, the gown
told its own story, as she had thought
1t would: how she had been obliged
to put on disguise, and this was the
only way to hide her own dress.
With a sigh, he carefully folded up
the cloth gown, wrapped It in folds of
tissue paper from the empty hat box,
and placed 1t In his suitcase. Then
he transferred the hat to its original
box. rang the bell, and ordered the
boy to care for the box and suitcase
until he called for them.
During the afternoon he took oc-
casion to run into the Judges private
ONCE about some unimportant detail
OF the business they were transacting,
and as he was leaving he said:
by the way. Judge, who was your
young woman who gave you such a
fright by her sudden disappearance?
You never told me her name. Ia she
one Of my acquaintance, wonder?"
"Oh. her name Is Mary Weston"
said the Judge, smiling. Il don't be-
lieve you know her, for she was from
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 1t.
Dunham 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. 30 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 he 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 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 latch-key, and tip
toed up to his room. The light was
burning low. He put the hat-box in
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 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 q
problem which he had not yet been
able to solve. How should he dispose
of the hat so that 1t would be discov-
cred In such way as to cast no fur
ther suspicion upon the maid?
He took the hat out and held 1t on
his hand looking at it from different