The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1915-01-21
Making an
Acquaintance
BY EVERETT P. CLARKE

pearance. | thought OF Offering m,
services to count the bills for her, blu
this would put her on guard agains
me as desiring to play a confidence
game and get her money.
Finally she gave up the attempt and
rolling the bills into wad, stuffed
| them into portemonna1e and left tn,
! bank. | went out at another door
hailed street car, got aboard; Lady
! got in behind me and sat down oppo
site me. She was the one l had seer
in the, bank. She was carrying hel
| portemonnaie In her hand, inviting, sc
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 portemonna1e lay on the
smooth surface of the seat ready to be
shaken out of sight or into some thief's
possession, but the lady didn't appear
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 bad arisen and started
for the door, There was the portemon-
maize resting safely in the junction be-
tween the seat and its back. The
iady'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 a
street | followed her and, presently
passing her, raised my hat and said:
81 beg pardon. Can you tell me
where Mr.. Smith lives?"
She turned her eyes upon me and
asked:
What Smith,"
why, the Mr.. Smith, Of Counsel
There's always one particular Smith in
| place."
Il don't know any Mr.. Smith at ALL"
This was said with hauteur.
Would you mind my walking with |
vou till you reach your homer |
sked
Il certainly would"
We'll. then, will leave you. pre-
let, however. that before twenty-four
ours have passed you will give me an
INVITATION to visit you. Here is my
ard'
She took the card and. tearing 1t into
its. scattered them on the sidewalk
t the same time her color was rising
Ike bay of Biscay tide.
Good morning. l said, raising my
at with infinite poIteness. and left
err At the same time | kept her in
ght till | saw her enter a dwelling
.anding in handsome grounds and
fterward inquired all about it and its
Returning to the city,
ress and waited By noon the next
ny received a note from q Miss
dith Belford stating that If was the
sntleman who had sat opposite her in
e car the day before and could tell
sr anything about a pocketbook she
Id lost she would be obliged II |
ould do so. | replied that l had join
her the day before for that purpose.
IT. noticing that there seemed to be
netting in my personality that was
to her, | had felt it incum
mt upon me to leave her. To this
e sent an invitation for me to come
d see her. | did so and was eagerly
ceived.
DO you know anything about itY'
e asked hurriedly
Have you found out anything about |
lere Mr.. Smith livesT' I asked In |
ply.
Her big eyes grew bigger. What
nld J mean?
took her portemonnaie from my
cket and handed it to her. The
ange from the worried expression on
r face to one Of delight was ravish
Where did you find iii" she asked.
Where you left 1t on the seat In the
;"
insisted on her counting the money
er till the amount came out twice |
Se-S260-then rose to go. By this
Ie my righteousness began to dawn /
IN her. She asked me If there was
hing she could do TO show her ap- 1
citation of my kindness In the mat
and told her there wasI should ]