The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-03-06


It was her real name. and that she
had meant to trust him with 80 much
Of her true story?
He pondered the delicate writing Of
the note. thinking how like her It
seemed. then he put the note in an in
ner pocket and thoughtfully lifted out
the evening clothes. It was then that
he touched the silken lined cloth Of
her dress, and he drew back almost
as II he had ventured 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 q disguise. and this was the
only way to hide her own dress.
With a sigh, he carefully folded up
the cloth gown. wrapped 1t In folds of
tissue paper from the empty hat-box.
and placed It 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 q
fright by her sudden disappearance!
You never told me her name. Is she
n Of my acquaintances, l 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 a few days. She sailed for Europe
the next day"
That closed the incident, and. &c
far as the mystery was concerned
only added perplexity to II.
Durham purposely remained down
town, merely having a clerk telephone
home for him that he had gone out Of
the city and would not be home unit,
late. SO they need not wait up. He
did this because he did not wish t.
have his mother or his sister ask hin
any more questions about the missing
hat and coat. Then he took a twenty
mile trolley ride into the suburbs ant
back, to make good his word that hi
had gone out of town.
A little after midnight he arrived a
the clubhouse, secured his suitcase
and the hat-box. and took a cab to hi
home. He left the vehicle at the cor
lest the sound of 1t waken his mothel
or sister.
He let himself silently into tn,
house with his latch-key, and tip
toed up to his room. The light wa
burning low. He put the hat-box IL
the farthest corner of his closet, thel
he took out the %rain-coat, and, slipping
on his shoes, went softly down to tn
hall closet.
In utter darkness. he felt around an,
finally hung the coat on a hook unde
another long cloak. then gently re
leased the hanging loop and let tn,
garment slip softly down In an incon
spicuous heap on the floor. He stol
upstairs as guilty as II he had beel
. naughty boy stealing sugar. Whel
he reached his room. he turned up hi
light. and. pulling out the hat-bo1
surveyed It thoughtfully. This was
problem which he had not yet bee
able to solve. How should he dispos
Of the hat 30 that 1t would be discov
cred In such a way as to cast no ful
Their suspicion upon the maid?
He took the hat out and held It o
his hand. looking at It from difieren
angles and trying to remember jxl
how the girl had looked out at hir
from under It's dropping plumes. The
with a sigh he laid 1t carefully In II
box again and went to bed.
The morning brought cleare
thought, and when the summons I
breakfast pealed through the hall b
took the box boldly in his hand an
descended to the dining-room. wher
he presented the hat to his astonishe
sister.
81 am afraid I am the criminal. Co
nelia." he said in his pl~easantest ma
ner. I'm sorry I can't explain jul
; how this thing got on my ~closet-shel
I must have put 1t there myse
' through some unaccountable mix-ul
, It's too bad | couldn't have found
, before and so saved you a lot Of wo
r ry. But you are one hat the richer Il
t it. for I paid the bill yesterday. Pleas
accept 1t with my compliments"
r Cornelia exclaimed with delight ov<
q the recovered hat.
4 But how In the world could 1t ha,
got into your closet, Tryon? It ws
8 impossible. I left 1t in my room.
know I did. for I spoke to Norah abo,
1t before left. How do you accoul
for it,"
.