The Forrest City times., 1914-02-13
CHAPTER VII.

Three days later Tyron Dunham en- . tered the office of Judge Blackwell by appointment After the business was completed the Judge said with smile. Well, our mystery is solved. The little girl Is all safe She tele- phoned me just after you had left the other day. and sent her maid after her hat It seems that while she stood by the window, looking down into the street she saw an automobile contain ing some of her friends. It stopped at the next building. Being desirous | of speaking with girl friend who was seated in the auto, she hurried ont to the elevator, hoping to catch them. The elevator boy who took her down stairs went off duty immediately, which accounts for our not finding any | trace of her, and he was kept at home by illness the next morning The young woman caught her friends, and they insisted that she should get in and ride to the station with one of them who was leaving the city at once. They loaned her a veil and a wrap, and promised to bring her right back for her papers and other posses slons, but the train was late, and when they returned the building was closed The two men who called for her were her brother and a friend Of his, it seems. l must say they were not so attractive as she is. However, the mystery is solved, and I got well laughed at by my wife for my fears.
 But the young man was puzzling how this all could be if the hat be longed to the girl he knew-to Mary" When he left the Judges office he went to his club, determined to have little quiet for thinking it over. He was annoyed when the office boy ap- peared to tell him there were some packages awaiting him in the office.
 Bring them to me here, Henry"
 The boy hustled away, and soon came back, bearing two hat boxes one of 1em in a crate-and the heavy leather suitcase.
 With a start of surprise. Dunham sat up in his comfortable chair
 Say. Henry, those things ought not to come in here" He glanced anxious ly about, and was relieved to find that there was only one old gentleman in the room, and that he was asleep Suppose we go up to private room with them. Take them out to the ele yator and I'll some in moment"
 All right sah."
 And say Henry, suppose yos re move that crate from the box. Then it won't be so heavy to carry"
 All right, sah I'll be thah in jest minute"
 The young man hurried out to the elevator, and he and Henry made quick ascent to a private room. He gave the boy a round fee, and was left in quiet to examine his property
 As he fumbled the strings of the first box his heart beat wildly. and he felt the blood mounting to his face Was he about to solve the mystery which had surrounded the girl in whom his interest had now grown so deep that he could scarcely get her out of his mind for a few minutes at a time?
 But the box was empty, save for some crumpled white tissue,paper. He took up the cover in perplexity and saw his own name written by him self. Then he remembered This was the box he had sent down to the club by the cahman, to get it out of his way. He felt disappointed, and turned quickly to the other box and cut the
 
 seeing the great black hat, beautiful and unhurt in spite of its journey to Chicago The day was saved. and also the reputation of his mothers maid But was there no word from the beautiful stranger? He searched hurriedly through the Wrappings. pulled out the hat quite unceremoni- ously. and turned the box upside down. but nothing else could be found Then he went at the suitcase Yes. there was the rain-Coat He took 1t out triumphantly, for now his mother could say nothing, and. moreover. was not his trust in the fair stranger jus tifed? He had done we'll to believe in her He began 10 take out the other garments, curious to see what had been there for her use
 A long, golden brown hair nesting on the collar of the bathrobe gleamed in chance ray of sunlight He looked at it reverently, and laid the garment down carefully that 1t might not be disturbed As he lifted the coat. he saw the little note pinned to the lapel. and seized it eagerly Surely this would tell something,
 But no, there was only the message that she had arrived safely. and her thanks Stay sha be5 sto,od ho.