The Press., 1914-03-11

would pay were you not 07erstocKed."
 q would pay the highest price-in- deed, more than the highest price-On account of the extreme length" He named a sum that the hair was worth.
 If the lady will accept that amount" said, "I will gladly pay it.
 "Are you dealer in such goods. senorY" asked Senorita Garcia.
 'N-o," I stammered. "I am not"
 "Then may ask for what you want it?"
 I have never been good at white ly- ing. If lie is excusable I would rather tell big one than a little one.
 T will explain said. "I am about to be married to a young lady who Is recovering from, fever from which she lost her hair. It Is grow ing again, but very thin. It occurs to me that I could make her no more valuable present than a switch made of your splendid hair"
 She appeared to believe the state ment. but could see from her expres- sion that she doubted the propriety of
 
 ful glance in a mirror at the treasure on her head, she accepted my offer.
 twill you take it now, senOr" she asked.
 "No, senorita. l have not enough money with me, but I will pay you a sum to bind the bargain and you need not deliver the goods till the balance Is discharged"
 1 went through my pockets and found enough money to pay 70 per cent on the purchase.
 But, senor, you do not know me. You are taking risk
 'I know a lady when I see her"
 'I assure you, senor," said the pro- prietor, you run no risk whatever; the senorita's family are we'll known in Mexico. They have in their veins the blood of one of the conquerors."
 May 1 ask when the senOr will call for my hair?' asked the girl.
 "I? Call for it?" I said to gain time to construct another lie. 'The date of the wedding is not yet fixed.
 The wearer of my property said nothing more, but from the curious way she looked at me it was evident that there was something ill the trans action she did not understand. Writ ing her address on a: card she handed it to me and left the store. l sent her the balance of the amount of the pur- chase money the same day. with a caution on no account 10 cut off her hair till l called for it.
 SenOrita Garcia. not having any Oc- casiOn for my address, had not asked for 1t. Since had no use for her hair and had only bought it to save it for her, did not care for it. Weeks pass ed before we met again. Meanwhile I wondered if she would recognize me at seeing me again. She had merely glanced at me in the pawn shop. and in the rear room at the hair dealers there was not enough light for her to see me distinctly. Our third meeting was on the street. AS l passed her she stared at me. as if uncertain whether I was or was not the owner of her hair. I looked straight ahead. But she stopped me and said:
 "Senor?'
 "I beg pardon" raising my hat
 Are you not the senor wh-who'-
 "WhO what, senorita?'
 Bought my hair?"
 was fixing for another lie, but saw in her eye that it would not pass. smiled.
 Come, senor," she continued, with great seriousness. "There is some thing about this transaction that I do not understand. Several weeks ago you bought my hair for your fiancee. so you said. You have paid the price for it. but have not called for it. It is yours, and insist on delivering it to you or returning the money"
 "Senorita," I said, putting a slight tremolo into my voice. ''the lady for whom I made that purchase is no more.'
 "Oh. senor, how pity you!'
 Do not talk about returning the money. I could not bear it let ns Father find some other way, if you in sist upon it, by which you may reim- purse me. Will you permit me to call upon you and talk the matter over with yOuY'
 II can understand your feelings, but l do insist on reimbursing you and "',Il be glad to receive you for the purpose you mention"
 "YOu are very kind"
 If SenOrita Garcia had known that the reimbursement l was after was her own sweet self she might not have incictod On raimhurSfnO mo I called on her. not once, but many times, when got the reimbursement l de sired. I surprised her by turning over to her without any further payment the emerald brooch had bought from the pawnbrOker.