The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-07-17
Making an
Acquaintance
By EVERETT P. CLARKE

AouJ was youA5 NAN PASSSJ
was very much struck with her ap'
pearance. l thought Of Offering my
services to count the bills for her, u
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. stu1ed
them into a portemonnaie and left the
bank. ] went out at another door.
hailed a street ear. got aboard; a lady
got in behind me and sat down oppo-
site me. She was the one ] had seen
in the bank. She was carrying her
portemonnaie in her hand. inviting. so
it seemed to me. some thief to snatch
it. No one taking advantage OF the
offer, she laid it 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 theirs
possession. but the lady didn't appear
to worry about it. seeming far more
afraid of tearing her gloves. which
could not have cost owe So, than OF
losing a fat roll Of bills.
There is nothing that will touch the
heart like stupidity. And it seemed to
me that there was quite enough stu
pidity In this beautiful creature-her
yes were great soft brown ones and
her hair was a shining chestnut-to
make me love her forever. | watched
her and her pocketbook till ! saw 1t
slide into the crack between the seat
and it's back. disappearing behind the
folds of her dress.
The car logged m. most of the pas
sengers gradually getting out | was
carried far beyond my destination. but
If l had been intent on possessing my
self of the Iady's pocketboOk could
not have been more absorbed in the
situation. In fact, l did have designs
on that pocketbook, but for u purpose
different from that of using the money
in it.
Having got her gloves on-withou'
tearing them-the lady felt OF her back
hair, folded her plump little bands and
was evidently lost in a day dream
| She did not leave the car till it reach
| ed the terminal. and when she did she
and | were the only persons In it.
| waited till she had arisen and started
for the door. There was the pOrtemon
naie 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 1t in my pocket and
left the car. The lady started up a
street followed her and. presently
passing her. raised my hat and said:
Il beg pardon. Can you tell me
where Mr.. Smith ives2"
She turned her eyes upon me ana
asked:
what Smith?'
why. the Mr.. Smith. Of course:
There's always one particular Smith, in
q place."
II 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. l will leave you. | pre-
dict, however, that before twenty -fonr
hours have passed you will give me m
invitation to visit you. Here Is nv
card"
She took the card and. tearing 1t intO
bits, scattered them on the sidewalk.
At the same time her color was rising
IKE = bay Of Biscay tide.
"Good morning" said. raising my
hat with Infinite p~oliteness. and left
her. At the same time ! kept her in
sight till l saw her enter a dwelling
standing In handsome grounds and
afterward inquired all about it and its
occupants. Returning to the city. !
mailed n of my cards to the ad.
dress and waited. By noon the next
day ! received a note from a Miss
Edith Bedford stating that II ! was the
gentleman who had sat opposite her In
the a the day before and could tell
her anything about a pocketbook she
had lost she would be obliged II I
would do so. replied that l 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. l had felt 1t incum-
bent upon me to leave her. 70 this
she sent an invitation for me to come
and see her. I did SO and was eagerly
received.
do you know anything about itr'
she asked hurriedly.
"Have you found out anything about
where Mr. Smith livesr | asked in
reply. .
Her big eyes grew bigger. What
could J mean2
took her portemonnaie from my
pocket and handed 1t to her. The
change from the worried expression on
her face to Of delight vas ravish,
ing.
Where did you lind 1T" she asked.
Where you left It on the seat in the
car"
insisted on her counting the money
over till the amount came ont twice
alke-S200 then rose to 20. By this