The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-08-06
Making an
Acquaintance
By EVERETT P. CLARKE

One day on leaving my bank after
making a deposit ] saw lady at the
next window-the paying teller's-try-
ing to count fat roll of bills. The
lady was young and pretty indeed.
was very much struck with her ap-
pearance | thought of offering my
services to count the bills for her, but
this would put her on guard against
me as desiring to play confidence
game and get her money.
Finally she gave up the attempt and.
them into a portemonnaie and left the
bank. went out at another door
hailed a street car. got aboard; 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 thiefs
to worry about it, seeming far more
afraid of tearing her gloves, which
could not have cost over So, than of
losing a fat roll Of bills
There is nothing that will touch the
heart like stupidity. And 1t seemed to
me that there was quite enough stu
pidity In this beautiful creature-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 ! saw 1t
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 ] could
not have been more absorbed in the
situation In fact | did have designs
on that pocketbook, but for purpose
different from that of using the money
in it.
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 day dream.
She did not leave the car till 1t 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-
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 Il
street followed her and. presently
passing her raised my hat and said:
81 beg pardon. Can you tell me
where Mr. Smith iives2"
She turned her eyes upon me and
asked:
what Smith?'
There's always one particular Smith In
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. 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 ber color was rising
like a 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 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 | received note from 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 II
would do so replied that | had join
ed her the day before for that purpose.
but. noticing thai there seemed to be
something in my personality that was
distastefnl to her. | had felt 1t incum-
bent npOn 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 it3"
she asked hurriedly.
"Have you found out anything about
where Mr. Smith livesP" asked in.
reply.
Her big eyes grew bigger. What
could J meanf
took her portemonnaie from my
pocket and han@Hd ii to her. The
change from the worried expression on
her face to one of delight was ravish-