The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1917-03-08
OPIUM and OLIVIA
BY

DduDle CduSnl Ills eye WIN u 6iA"'SA
in the bright morning sunshine. He
stopped and picked it up.
Even to his eyes, ignorant as to the
price Of feminine adornment, the locket
fairly screamed aloud its worth from
the costly mas Of jewels in the gold
frame.
There was q mysterious catch that
gave the doctor NJ little amusement
and trouble before he could open the
tightly closed locket. When his
fingers discovered the secret and the
locket few open his eyes expanded,
then contracted, in professional scru-
tiny.
The locket was filed with tiny
opium pills!
"Dope!" muttered the doctor. In
voluntarily he sighed. There was so
much wreckage floating about the
world. Here was startling evidence of
human tragedy. Some wretched wom-
an was no doubt suffering the tor
lures Of the condemned because she
had lost her opium.
His inner conviction was that the
woman. whoever she might be, would
never claim the locket for fear her
CHASTITY skeleton should become public
property.
Skcptical though he was as to re-
suits. he inserted n woll.wOrded ad-
vertiscmcnt in the daily papers.
Whom Oltyio NVactip fnItpI tho ol-
vertisement she had been seeking,
her eyes lighted in triumph until they
twitched with excitement.
She arose and took up the tele-
phone. The number she called was
the one given in the advertisement.
Doctor Rylance was in his Office.
When he took up the telephone re-
ceiver q little snatch Of song was
waited along the wire. After that de-
lightful sound Ollvia's voice reached
him.
81 am most anxious about my lock-
et," she said.
1 am sorry 7 opened It," Rylance
said to her. "But as you may know, a
mans curiosity is n thing quite be-
yond his power to control" He ap-
preciated the little laugh that bound
ed along the wires. "When can you
call for the locketT He was con-
scious Of keen desire to study this
opium fiend at close range.
81 will call this afternoon" Olivia
said eagerly.
The growing tone in her voice
caused the doctor to sigh as he hung
up the receiver. It was evident that
she was joyous over the prospect Of
regaining her lost property.
When the neat little nurse who act
ed rs office attendant ushered in
Olivia it was nearing the twilight hour.
The doctor was forced swiftly to his
feet. Having expected human wreck
age in one of its most terrifying forms,
the sight Of Olivia was frightfully un-
setting.
ut was silly Of me to lose my pre-
cious locket," she said. 81 don't know
how it happened. It is usually so Sc
cure" She gazed calmly, If admir-
ingly, at Rylance.
"You-you don't look like an opium
fiend," was his startled somment.
Olivia laughed gleefully.
"Neither am l." she told him. ~
am only q poor, harmless writer whose
brain has been squeezed dry Of every
plot that it yer possessed. I hadn't
written a story for ten whole days."
She turned tragic eyes full upon Doc
tor Rylance without needing the effect
on his masculine senses. ~ DELHI
crately lost my lockct-just to see who
would find it and"
"But what thieves are you asso-
ciated with from whom you obtain
opium" he questioned. Its q crime,
you know"
my brother" said Olivia loftily
with flaming cheeks, SIS a chemist"
"And q fool If he gives you opium
to make plots for stories out Of"
"He-he didn't give 1t to me. l
knew where it vas kept" She glanced
up swiftly in defense Of her brother.
He thinks me all kinds of a foolish
person because Of the things l do to
get atmosphere for stories"
Doctor Rylance was looking at her
in a way entirely uncalled for, consid-
ering the newness Of the acquaintance
Olivia feared. from the manner in
which her heart had taken to beating,
that something other than a short
story was going to be the outcome Of
her act. Never had 1t acted in this
unusual way in the search for mate
rial.
"You may be silly" Rylance finally
voiced some Of the thoughts running
riot in his brain during that long meet
ing with Ollvia's eyes, "but you are
also-many other things-of much
nicer order" He rejOiced at the swift
rush Of color into Olivia's cheeks. 81
don't get much time to read the maya
zines, but I suppose they occasionally
take a story Of love at first sight. If
you want any facts or suggestions re-
oo rdfnO tho p%mOtiOns Of q man who