The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-10-08
LOST and FOUND
BY ANNE BRoADHuRsT.

! Detter cure IOT Lne DlueS tnan taxing
"a good cry Elinor went out as soon
as she had finished her dinner and
walked until the darkness drove her
in. AS she neared her boardsing house
she saw at the edge of the curb a
mans leather bill purse. which she
\ picked up. AS she saw no one near
who could have dropped it, she took
1t to her room
Fifty dollars' Just what | hoped
to win in that contestn Then Elinor
saw that the purse also contained
some cards. IF don't know whose
| 1t is ! can't return it; and if | doa't
look at these cards | won't know,
but
To a man who carries purse of
this quality and who uses engraved
cards fifty dollars probably means
very little.v she unused, but to me it
means winter suit and months
board Slowly she began to tear
the cards, but as the tough paste
board began to yield to her trembling
fingers she stopped abruptly
Horrors" she gasped. Il said
must win, and this is losing even my
honor. Oh, 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 Bk. Bldg
No residence number being given, she
could not notify him that night
Elinor had no opportunity to tele-
phone during her busy morning. so
she Went during her noon hour next
day to deliver the purse to its owner.
As she entered Elinor saw that the
only occupant of the room was tall,
welI-built man whose dark head was
bent over a typewriter statement
lying on the table before which he
sat. Hearing the door close. he turned
upon her kindly glance from pair
Of dark gray eyes.
Are you Mr.. Joseph Stanley Nor
ton2' Elinor began.
Yes The deep voice had slight
Iy rising infection
Here is something of yours that |
happened to find last night She
handed him the purse
"Why what a pleasant surprise to
find the purse, and how kind of you
to bring it to me- | thank you sin
cerely. Now, won't you sit down and
tell me all ahoiit it?"
EIinor sat down and told him briefly
where and how she found the purse
'Tm going to confess to you.'' said
Morton, that this very day I've been
thinking that honesty is an unknown
quantity these days, so, you see, you
have restored to me far more than
my lost money: you've restored my
lost faith in humanity" He was lean
ing toward her with the friendliest
look in his clear eyes, but the sudden
change which swept over Elinor puz-
zled him.
Dent, please don't" she almost
walled. If you knew how near
came to keeping it you'd hate me-
Oh. must tell somebody" and
grasping the arms of her chair as II
to support herself. and looking into
her lap. she told him Just what she |
first thought of doing with his money. |
AS she talked her cheeks faded from |
crimson to white. Then she rose to
leave. Stanley Morton had been sit
ting 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 sympathetic smile in
his eyes.
please let me say that 7 under
stand fully, and that honor your
bravery as much as your honesty. |
Many of us are passively honest |
when it's convenient, but you are ac-
lively honest even when it 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 me serve you2' The mans !
sincerity was unmistakahle, and |
Eiinor extended her hand and smiled /
up at him frankly
You've already made things easier
by forgiving RE, and you've under
stood, and that is what counts most, |
ycu know" 1t was only after she had |
gene that Stanley Morton realized that
she had not told him her name or
given aim any clue about her work
One morning, month later. as
Elinor was at her work in the book |
store she turned from the shelves with |
half dozen books in her arms and
near-sighted customer intent upon
book he held collided with her, scat
terirg the books in all directions A
gentleman who was approaching |
picked up two of the books and was /
about to pass on with a formal ac-
acknowledgement of Elinor's thanks.
waen their eyes Glanced to meet. 1t
was Stanley Norton
AT last I've found you, as r knew
I should find you s3me day" His
words came deliberately, but his tone
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