Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-16
TheEvening Story
Making an
Acquaintance
By EVERETT CLARKE


next window-the paying tellers-try-
ing to count a fat roll of bills. The
lady was young and pretty-indeed,
was very much struck with her ap-
pearance. l thought OF Offering my
services to count the bills for her. but
this would put her on guard against
me as desiring to play a confidence
game and get her money.
Finally she gave up the attempt and.
rolling the bills into a wad. stuffed
them into a portemonna1e and left the
bank / went out at another door,
hailed a street car, got aboard; a lady
got in behind me and sat down oppo-
site me. She was the one l had seen
In the bank. She was carrying her
portemonnnie in her hand, inviting. so
1t seemed to me, some thief to snatch
1t. No one taking advantage Of the
offer, she laid 1t on the seat beside her
and proceeded to put on her gloves,
which she had removed to count the
money. The portemonnAie lay on the
smooth surface OF the seat ready to be
shaken out of sight or into some thief's
possession. but the lady didn't appear
to worry about 1t, seeming far more
afraid OF tearing her gloves, which
could not have cost over 81, than Of
losing a fat roll of bills.
There is nothing that viii touch the
heart like stupidity. And 1t seemed to
me that there was quite enough stu
pidity in this beautiful ereature-her
eyes were great soft brown ones and
her hair was a shining chestnut-to
make me love her forever. watched
her and her pocketbook till l saw it
slide into the crack between the seat
and its back, disappearing behind the
folds OF her dress.
The car logged on, most Of the pas
sengers gradually getting out / was
carried far beyond my destination, but
If had been intent on possessing my
self of the lady's pocketbook l could
not have been more absorbed in the
situation. In fact, 1 did have designs
on that pocketbook, but for a purpose
different from that OF using the money
in II.
Having got her gloves on--without
tearing them-the lady felt Of her back
hair, folded her plump little hands and
was evidently lost in a day dream.
She did not leave the car till 1t reach
ed the terminal. and when she did she
and l were the only persons in It
waited till she had arisen and started
for the door. There was the portemOn-
maize resting safely In the junction be-
tween the seat and its back. The
lady's face was turned from me; the
motorman was busy; took up the
portemonnaie, put it in my pocket and
left the car. The lady started up a
street | followed her and, presently
passing her, raised my hat and said:
II beg pardon. Can you tell me
where Mr.. Smith nves7"
She turned her eyes upon me and
asked:
what Smith,"
''Why, the Mr.. Smith. Of Counsel
There's always one particular Smith in
place"
Il don't know any Mr.. Smith at ALL"
This was said with hauteur
Would you mind my walking with
you till you reach your homer
asked.
II certainly would"
well, then, will leave you. pre-
dict. however, that before twenty-four
hours have passed you will give me an
invitation to visit you. Here is my
card"
She took the card and. tearing 1t into
bits. scattered them on the sidewalk
At the same time her color was rising
like bay of Biscay tide.
Good morning." said. raising my
hat with infinite politeness. and left
her. At the same time | kept her In
sight till saw her enter a dwelling
standing in handsome grounds and
afterward inquired all about it and its
occupants. Returning to the city.
mailed one of my cards to the ad-
dress and waited. By noon the next
day l received a note from a Miss
Edith Belford stating that If | was the
gentleman who had sat opposite her in
the car the day before and could tell
her anything about a pocketbook she
had lost she would be obliged If I
would do so. l replied that had join
ed her the day before for that purpose,
but. noticing that there seemed to be
something in my personality that was
distasteful to her. had felt it incum-
bent upon me to leave her. To this
she sent an invitation for me to come
and see her. did so and was eagerly
received
do you know anything about it7''
she asked hurriedly.
Have you found ont anything about
where Mr.. Smith livesT" | asked in
reply.
Her big eyes grew bigger. What
could ] mean?
took her portemonnaie from my
pocket and handed 1t to her. The
change from the worried expression on
her face to one of delight was ravish-
Ing.
.VUhara did vo,Y And a. ~ aha astral