The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-09-07

small business.
Within a week 300 letters were
speeding eastward from the little Call.
fornia town, among them a letter to
Robert Chestwick, ST., which read In
part:
| Dear Father-I know you will be glad
| to learn that am about to follow your
advice and settle down in life. Miss
Seaton Is poor. but OF good family and I'm
every way such a person as you will con-
| slider an addition to the family.
All Of which was true, save for the
minor detail that Robert Junior had no
intention Of marrying the estimable
Miss Seaton.
| In time the presents began to arrive.
The rush was preceded by an enthu-
siastic letter from Robert senior, con-
tanning check with three figures and
the offer Of junior partnership In a
| paying business should his son desire
to return east.
Each day Chestwick visited Miss
Seatons Office, where the pair enjoyed
their secret hugely.
ut is the most impudent thing ever
heard Of" the girl would announce be-
tween bursts of laughter.
After carefully removing the ad-
dresses, Chestwick, laden with pack
ages, would return to his now first floor
front, for as funds went up Chestwick
came down. The spacious room soon
resembled jewelers. shop. Bric-a-
brac, china, cut glass, silver and even
gold sparkled from every corner, like
the treasures in pirates cave.
By the third day the amazement Of
good Mrs. Seaton knew no bounds. To
think that this youth, who a short time
ago had been without the price Of his
room rent; this philosophical young
man, who despised the treasures that
moth and rust do corrupt, who had
even thrown them away, should be the
recipient of such wealth as this Here
was an enigma indeed! At length the
worthy woman could restrain her curl
osity no longer. On pretext she Wis
tied Chestwick's room, where she found
him examining a wardrobe fresh from
around and blinked her feeble eyes In
the CLEAN and glitter of so much pre-
cious metal.
"You have LOT Of silverware," she
ventured. Cor perhaps 1t is not yoursT
"Oh, yes. 1t is mine," Chestwick as
sured her. "They are presents"
"Presentsw echoed Mrs. Seaton.
Presents! And from whom, prayT
From my friends lit is my birth
day."
Your birthday!' gasped the land
lady. "Your friends must be very fond
of you"
"They are" said Chestwick. II am
quite touched at their generosity. But"
he added to himself. II mean my
friends are touched"
Mrs. Seaton left the room more be-
wildered than ever. His birthday, In
deed! What young man, she would
like to know, would receive teaspoons
and sultcellars as birthday presents?
There was something suspicious here.
Could it be- All! She had it! Rob-
ert Chestwick was burglar! A
criminal, probably escaped from some
eastern penitentiary! He said he came
from the east. She would call the po-
lice ut once! She wouldn't have the
Jail bird in her house another hour
not she! On second thought, though,
she would wait for Marion. Marion
must be consulted.
So Mrs. Seaton placed her valuables
under lock and key and In fear and
trepidation awaited her daughters re-
turn.
Meantime Robert Chestwick, en-
sconced In q generous Morris chair
(the gift Of Aunt Lucy, was pursuing
a new line of thought, suggested by
Mrs. Seaton's questions.
"Tm dished this time and no mis-
take" he told himself. ''In the east l
am married man. Ergo, being minus
a wife, am exiled. What an ass
am! don't want to spend my days
wandering up and down those parts Of
the world in which j am not known.
OF course my wife might die. BY Jove!
That's it! She shall die! Mrs. Robert
Chestwick, Jr.," he announced solemn
ly to an imaginary listener, 'you are
doomed to an untimely end. ! am sor-
ry, my dear, very sorry, but 1t is quite
impossible that you should live any
longer"
He fastened out into the street and
returned shortly, carrying square box
under his arm. After carefully closing
his door he undid the fastening, remov-
ed the wrapping and, raising the lid,
drew forth some deep bordered mourn
Ing paper. He seated himself ut a
handsome black walnut desk (the gift |
bf Uncle Peter, took up a pearl han
died pen -the gift of Susie Thompson,
from whom he had stolen a kiss that |
June day under the chestnut tree). Dip |
ped 1t in cut glass ink well (the gift |
of Cousin Bessie) and commenced his |
doleful task.
Dear Father-My telegram will have
made you aware of the terrible misfor- |
tune that has overtaken me. ] am dis |
tracted, crazed, almost insane with grief. |
Poor. dear Marion--God bless her-was--
A knock ut the door interrupted him,
and he turned to see Miss Seaton enter |