The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1914-02-26
SEEMED VERY POSSIBLE
BY sALLlE ROGERS.

i. Having just returned from Q visit
down the state, Miss Spinks was full
Of her experiences.
." don't know why" she said to
her brother, ''but everybody talked to
me on the trains and street cara"
tits that new hat Of yours" her
brother said. Besides. you probably
smiled flrst.""
:" mean women and children. Of
COURSE" said Miss Spinks. "Now.
there was the Queerest woman on the
train coming back to Philadelphia.
At first I thought she was at least
fifty. and then l was sure she wal no
more than eighteen"
Her young life was probably
crushed" her brother said. 'Give
her a new slit skirt and she'd be all
right"
well. she was dressed queerly."
conceded Miss Spinks. "She wore her
hair in a braid and her blue dress
was trimmed with q good deal Of
red."'
mot half as gorgeous as that pink
dress Of yours with the brass stuff
on" said her brother.
That's a party dress. People dress
simply when travelling"
Don't be too severe" said her
brother. Maybe travelling was to this
friend Of yours what a ball is to
you"
We'll. anyway" continued Miss
spinks, "she sat and stared at me
for a long time SO fxedly that I
couldn't help looking at her. She
had very queer eyes and she carried
a patent leather satchel that she kept
polishing with her handkerchief.
Finally she spoke"
ASKED you where you were go
ing?"
mo. She said travel was a great
educator"
"she was hopeful for your future,
then?"
Il agreed it was" Miss spinks
went on, ~unheeding. "She told me
she was on her way to Reading,
where she was to visit a cousin who
knew the postmaster. The postmas-
ter had promised to show her all the
points Of interest In the whole place
and she was very much excited about
It," 81
HE must be a smart man. that
postmaster"
after a while she leaned over to-
ward me and said that I must be very
careful. I asked why, thinking of
wrecks and confidence men, and she
said that wherever n travelled there
were pickpockets and l must look out
not to be victimized."
What. a simple village maid you
must have seemed to her!"
Il said I never carried enough
money to tempt. any one, and she
whispered. back that she did. a very
great deal. She had. however,, an
invention that would catch them
whenever they came"
what q disappointment said the
brother. "She was nothing but a
travelling agent after any"
Indeed, she wasn't" said Miss
Spinks. "Her invention was not for
sale. She said she lined her dress
pocket with fish hooks!"
s"Fish hooks!" exclaimed her broth.
Ell. "How did she get her money out
h~erself?" <
+ don't know" confessed Miss
spinks. looking puzzled. II forgot to
ask her. 1t seemed very possible
then. but. somehow. now it looks
odd"
Sort of f1shy?"
"she said a friend Of hers tried ii
and a man put his hand into her
pocket and couldn't get it out again!
She thereupon led him to the police
station and had him arrested"
did she say any more?"
NO." said Miss Spinks, thinking
back. "You see, a man came for her
from the smoker and they got of at
Norristown."
Her brother gazed at her a minute
and then laughed.
Whats the matter?" she inquired
in injured tones. II don't see any.
thing so funny in that"
"You don't?" her brother asked,
"Why. Norristown's where the insane
asylum isl"