The Washington herald., 1915-03-03
DAILY SHORT STORY.
GWENNIE'S BOOTS.
Il, IZOLA FORESTER.

Copyright l9ljl
Gwennie left them herself under the
bed in the hotel room the night be-
fore she sailed for England. They
were very nice boots. She had had
them made specially for all those Won
derful tramping jaunts chat she had
been planning on for months. They
were No. IS, made of soft flexible calf
with the duh gun metal finish. The
heels were not too high. just what a
proper walking heel should be. Alto
gether they were eminently desirable
boots.
Il don't see what you can do about
it now" Amy said. in cousinly apathy.
sitting back in her steamer chair. and
looking dreamily over at the studious
parson near by. Amy had noted him
the first hour out. and was preparing
for battle already. You can write
TO the hotel to save them for you"
save them" repeated Gwennie.
Where are they now? Probably the
chambermaid grabbed them. Maybe
they're not under the he'd. Come to
think of it, think / stood them just
behind the dressing room door. or was
1t in the wardrobe?'
wireless after them. murmured
Cecily, the next cousin in the steam
er chair row. or. wait, can't you
send letters back by the pilot: We
haven't dropped the pilot yet"
Thus il happened that strenuous
somewhat urgent note went back to
the proprietor of the st. Alban, the Sc
Iect private hotel near Gramercy
Park, and the rest Of Mr. Hubert Sea-
bury was disturbed thereby.
He mad only taken the room for the
night. and had left an early call, in
tending to sail the following morn
Ing for Southampton. The tap on his
door about IL o'clock was disturbing.
He did not know that Gwennie had put
special delivery stamp on her letter
to make doubly sure of her boots.
'Boots?" he repeated. cropping under
the brass bed. There aren't any
boots here. Whose boots?"
Ladies'. sir" said the beIlboy pleas
antly. No. 3s black calf Maybe she
left them in the wardrobe"
All around the bedroom they hunted.
and into the small dressing-room AMI
bath until Seabury pulled them out from
behind a door. Something like a definite
thrill passed through his hand. wrist.
arm. and SO to his heart from those
boots. They We're small yet sensible.
distinctive vet modest. He eyed them re-
fiectively. approvingly.
to he sent on to London" vouchsafed
the boy. Its good thing the cham
bermair didn't cop them
II am going to London unused Sea-
bury. 81 could easily deliver them.
sail in the morning. Tell the proprietor
I'll bring them down myself"
And being a persuasive and respectable
individual. he succeeded in get
ting the boots into his personal custody.
as II were, and had given his word that
they should be delivered to Miss Gwen
dolin Marsh. Willoughby square, Cres-
cent Park, London. W.
she's to be there until the 1th," added
the man at the desk
Il land the 9Th" returned Seabury. We
assuringly. and the boots went into his
suitcase next to his pigskin brush case
and a volume of French idioms.
The boat was overdue. and 1t was the
night Of the eth when he drew up In q
cab before I Willoughby square He .nad
straight for Crescent Park. 1t was a
place. but the maid at the
door informed him that Miss Marsh and
her cousins had left for Scotland with
their aunt, Mrs Cavendish Leland. The
address was Cavendish Lodge. Dunlevy.
Seabury ascertained the exact spot n
the Highlands where Dunlcvy lay. rest
ed overnight, Stunned London. and went
up on the morning express Only one
thing he had gained from the maid. He
had asked her quite casually vhsthsr