Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-02

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she saw no one near who could have
dropped 1t, she took It to her room
where she found that II contained bills
amounting to fifty dollars.
! Fifty dollarsf Just what I hopet
to win in that contest!' Then Elinol
saw that the purse also contained some
cards. III I don't know whose It II
| can't return It; and II don't looi
at these cards I won't know, but
She laid the bills on the dresser and
slowly removed the cards without look
ing at them, but stood running her fin
ger across the slightly raised lettering
ITO a man who carries purse OF
this quality and who uses engraved
cards fifty dollars probably means very
little," she unused, "but to me 1t means
winter suit and a months board. y
Slowly she began to tear the cards. but
rs the tough pasteboard began to yield
to her trembling fingers she stopped
abruptly.
"Horrors!" she. gasped. ~ said I
must win. and this is losing even my
honor. Oh, I hate you!" And she
swept the money from her and looked
at the cards.
"Mr. Joseph Stanley Morton" she
read, but the name meant nothing to
her. She looked in the telephone book
and found the following: ~. Stanley
Morton, Broker. SIS City Blk. Bldg" No
residence number being given, she
could not notify him that night.
Elinor had no opportunity to tele-
phone during her busy morning. 50 she
went during her noon hour next day to
deliver the purse to its owner. The
specialized, self-important woman who
admitted her to the outer Office looked
her over carefully from her simmer
ing brown hair, all past the white col
lar and blue serge suit, down to the
neatly shod feet. When Elinor had
stated that she wished to see Mr.. Nor.
ton on a matter Of Importance to him
the woman disappeared into the pri-
vate once, from which she reappeAred
very soon and nodded to the waiting
girl.
As she entered Elinor saw that the
only occupant Of the room was tall,
we'll built man whose dark head was
bent over typewriter statement ly-
ing on the table before which he sat.
Hearing the door close, he looked over
his shoulder, and at sight Of Elinor he
Immediately rose and turned upon her
kindly glance from pair Of dark
gray eyes.
care you Mr.. Joseph Stanley Nor
ton?' Elinor began.
Yes The deep voice had a slight
ly rising infection.
Here is something of yours that
happened to And last night" She hand
ed him the purse.
'eWhy what pleasant surprise to
find the purse, and how kind Of you to
bring It to me! I thank you sincerely.
Now, won't you sit down and tell me
about it," Stanley Morton was too
thoroughly gentleman not to recog-
nize getnility in others, and he knew
that here was girl to whom he dared
not offer a reward In money, but he
wanted time to find other means of
showing his appreciation OF her kind
ness Elinoo sat down and told him
briefly where and how she found the
purse.
"1'm sping to confess to you," said
Morton, that this very day rye been
thinking that honesty Is an unknown
quantity these days, 30, you see, you
have restored to me far more than my
lost money; you've restored my lost
faith IN humanity" He was leaning
toward her with the friendliest look In
his clear eyes, but the sudden change
which swept over Nlinor pushed him.
Don't. please DON'T" she almost
walled. III you knew how near came
to keeping 1t you'd hate me. Oh. I
must tell somebody" and graspins
the arms Of her chair as If to support
herself, and looking into her lap. she
told him Just what she frst thought OF
doing with his money. Az she talked
her cheeks faded from crimson to
white. Then she rose to leave. Stan
lev Morton had been sitting with his
elbow on the table and his right hand
shielding his eyes, but he rose quickly
and stood between her and the door.
with his right hand extended and Z
sympathetic smile in his eyes.
please let me cay that understand
fully, and that I honor your bravery as
much AZ your honesty. Many Of us are
r,assively honest when It's convenient,
but YOU are actively honest even when
il means a hard fight. You've made
the world seem right again for me, and
now won't you promise me that If
can ever make things easier for you
you will let ne serve your" The mans
sincerity was uf,mistakable, and Eltnor
extended her hand and smiled up at
him frankly
you've already made things easier