Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-12-08

call ed, however, his disavOwal of any
hand in the publicity seemed so sim
cere that Ellice exculpated him, but
she did not change her disaffected
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 delicious slumber before
she knew it. The old clock jangling
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 visibly diminished.
And there under 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.
1.-THE whole batch didn't cost dol
lar, Ellice," was her philosophical de-
duction. ut must have been a 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 a 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.
Ellice, taking another search after
his departure, gave a start, as, pass
irg among some bushes, her name was
| spoken.
"Ellicev'
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 poise
as ever.
"You-you have come back" she
stammered incoherently.
ITO find out if a little item l CHANGED
across intimating your engagement
was true" he said.
st was false!" spoke Ellice vehem-
emily.
Il 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. 'It looked bad
for me, that missing jewelry. Even
my father believed me to be the thief
and, then and even now a warrant is
out in behalf of his client who owned
the property. So 1 had to hide this
afternoon, when I got here, and, as
was hungry, l helped myself to your
superb cookery. And 1 found a mem
Orandum book belonging to Delavan
In it is scrawl in his disguised hand
writing-that item in the paper. There
too, l found a pawn ticket covering
| jewelry l am sure is the same stolen
from my fathers office. Delavan was
with me there several times, but
never suspected until now that he was
false friend"
He was, indeed, proven such during
the ensuing few days, and the limo
cence of Roland Dexter came forth as
clear as crystal.
And before the year was out, pretty
Ellice was making cookies and dough
nuts for her husband solely.