Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-04-17

have turned on my heel and left him.
But | was becoming every moment
charmed with this Maynard creature.
.'You are inclined to be compliment
tary." | replied.
There war something connected with
the letter that deprived Miss Chalmers
of any reas0nableness she may have
possessed In her caimer moments. She
plunged deeper into the q~uicksand.
do tell me If you have posted my
letter"
Il assure you that I have not done
anything of the kind"
This seemed to give her some re-
lief. I'll do this for you." | said.
"I1l go to my room and If | find any
thing there belonging to you Ill bring
it to you"
Twill you? Oh. how kind, knew
you for a gentleman the nlomen l laid
eyes on you
"Indeedr.' replied with difficulty.
restraining a smile.
In order TO preserve the letter If not
the spirit of truth. | went +p my room
then to the hotel Office and asked the
CltIh ~ give tue LIE tluS- - A. ~
and ! returned with it to the young
lady, who was impatiently waiting for
me. i.
Here is your ring" | said. handing
1t to her.
1.-THE letter."
1T is moi there"
"Oh. heavens" she moaned.
Ao-ft nrotno6 ~ ovnYTCo Dnucolf for
my action ON this occasion. except on
the ground that ''all's fair in love and
war" And this excuse may be far
fetched. From the lady's action. |
fancied that this Mr.. Atwood was an
object of interest to Miss Chalmers.
and my own interest in her was de
veloping with lightning rapidity.
Are you quite sure. | asked. that
you did o post it?"
mo. | did not. thank goodness, but
l nearly did | put it into a letter box.
but ! held on to one corner andididn't
drop it."
Are you fearful of its reaching the
wrong person?" | asked. throwing sym
pathy into my voice.
I'm fearful of its reaching the right
person"
Cant You write a letter recall
ing itY'
The person for whom it was in
tended starts for the Philippines to-
morrow morning. But that isn't the
chief difficulty in the way. TO recall
it would expose a contemplate tickle
ness"
"A lady is always privileged to
change her mind. you know"
IF she says No a change may be
excusable. but If she says Yes it's a
very different matter"
My conscience. which should have re-
strained me in holding this advantage
we the girl and permitting her to tell
her affairs TO a stranger, was really
growing weaker all the while under
the excuse | have offered. for ! was
becoming very anxious to discover
whether all was fixed between my
charmer and this army man. Her last
statement was a dead giveaway. 1t was
now plain to me that the letter In ques
ton was an acceptance and that that
acceptance was regretted. Such being
the case. the pleasure | had taken in
tormenting her ceased. and | began to
plan how | could return her property
without discriminating myself.
II have an idea.' | said, pretending
to think very hard.
"About what?" she asked eagerly.
what has become of your letter."
do tell me-"
mo: should | be mistaken you will
meet with Il disappointment. Remain
here for a few minutes while l make
an Investigation"
She followed me eagerly with her
eyes as | left the room. | went to the
clerk of the hotel and asked him TO
take the letter | had given him to Miss
Chalmers room and leave 1t on the
dresser. He assented, and on his re-
turn l asked him to send a maid to
the room and bring it to me. When the
maid did so | took her with me to the
parlor and told her to give 1t to Miss
Chalmers.
The look of relief on the lady's face
was a sight to behold.
Where did you find it?" she asked
the maid.
ION the dresser in room "a. miss"
Are you sure?"
"Yes. miss"
81 can explain it." I said, continuing
my Ananias performance. when yon
met me this morning you were very
much ratified. Indeed, you said some
very unkind things to me-"
Forgive me-"
"You must have thought you left the
letter in my room, whereas 1t was all
the while on your dresser"
II wonder II did"
81 am certainly very happy to be the
instrument for the return of that which
you seem to prize so highly"
81 wish / could reward you for your
kindness and make up for my horrid