The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1916-12-28

Of rich father living in the next vii
lage. He had all but made serious
love to Ellice, when all her dreams
were shattered. He did not call upon
her for a week, and when Ellice began
to inquire around, her discoveries re-
suited in sorrow and tears many sleep
less nights thereafter.
What she CLEANED from her inquiries
was that Roland Dexter chad got into
trouble" Some valuable jewelry dis
appeared from the safe in his fathers
Office and he was suspected. hr. Dex-
ter was a stern, determined man and
had driven this "black sheep of the
family" into exile. Rumor had it that
Roland was baniShed to some remote
Western ranch. There was hint of
his arrest being threatened had he re-
NAMED in town. Guilty or innocent,
however, Roland Dexter had faded out
of Ellice's life. He had not written
her q line since his abrupt disappear
ance.
Lacey Delavan was somewhat of
chum of Roland, but when Ellice asked
him for details of the cause of Ro-
lands departure Delavan simply
shrugged his shoulders, declared he
knew only that it was "some Jail of
Tense" and Elice almost hated him
for the cold-blooded sheer. Since then
Delavan had worked himself into the
good graces of Mrs Barton and called
regularly upon Ellice once week,
despite the cold and distant way in
which Ellice received his unWelcome
attentions.
She was all on fire with indignation
and resentment one especial evening
when he called, for there had appeared
in the weekly paper one of those broad
hints at "a local engagement between
two of the bright stars in our social
armament" The initials palpably in
dicated Ellice and Delavan. Ellice
fairly cried over it. When Delavap
called, however, his disavowal of any
hand in the publicity seemed so sin
cere that Ellice eXculpated him, but
she did not change her disatfected
hearing towards him in any way.
OF all this Ellice was thinking as
she tidied up the kitchen, removed her
work apron and went into the sitting
room to rest. She was, indeed, tired,
for she had worked hard, and she
drifted into q delicious slumber before
Oh oil p1nnly jn
out five awakened her. Ellice jumped
up and hurried to the kitchen shed to
remove the doughnutS and cookies to
their respective pantry crooks, for Mrs.
Barton would soon be due from the
sewing society weekly meeting.
"Why what is this" she exclaimed,
as she came in sight of her afternoon
cookery set out to cool, for the dough-
nut bowl was half denuded and the
cookie heap had vis'bly diminished.
And there under a fork on the board
was dollar bill and scrawled on bit
of paper were the extraordinary
words: Hungry, but honest"
In profound amazement Ellice was
trying to solve the mystery of the
moment when Mrs. Barton returned.
"The whole batch didn't cost a dol
lar, Ellice," was her philosophical de-
duction. at must have been Il we'll
meaning tramp to pay so literally,
though"
Lacey Delavan came around before
dusk. There was a game of croquet
and he was invited to hang up his
coat on tree limb, as the weather
was warm. He left early, for Ellice
was not very sociable. He had been
gone only half an hour when he re-
turned in great furry. He had missed
valuable memorandum book out of
his coat pocket. 1t must have fallen
out when he took off his coat, he
suggested.
Ellice got lantern and they went
out into the garden, but there was no
trace found of the missing article and
Delavan went away looking worried
and alarmed, hoping that he might
have left the memorandum book at
home. U
Ellice, taking another search after
his departure, gave a start, as, pass
ing among some bushes, her name was
spoken.
"Ellicew
She stared and trembled as the
speaker came into view. 1t was Roland
Dexter, bronzed, roughly dressed, but
bright of eye and manly In his pose
as ever.
"You-you have come back!" she
stammered incoherently.
"To find out if little item l CHANGED
across intimating your engagement
was true" he said.
ut was falsew spoke Ellice vehem-
emily.
II judge that. Set down the Ian
tern and come into the shadow.
have something important to tell you"
She Joined him fearlessly. Her heart
was bounding with JOY and love.
"You know how / left home under
a cloud" said Roland. ut looked bad
for me, that missing jewelry. Even
my father believed me to be the thief
and, then and even now warrant Is
out In behalf of his client who owned
the property. SO | had to hide this
afternoon, when l got here, and, as |
was hungry, l helped myself to your
superb cookery. And l found mem
orandum book belonging to Delavan.
In 1t Is scrawl in his disguised hand
writing-that item in the paper. There,
too, l found a pawn ticket covering