The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-18


slid back from the top Of the desk. un-
locking all the drawers down the sides
by the same motion.
Our plumber burglar searched the
interior with quick eyes and hands. He
paused for a moment at q handsome
silver inkstand and set 1t aside Then
suddenly he pounced upon common
ink bottle Of round brown DELPHI, set
back in one Of the pigeon holes Of the
desk. with some papers pushed in
front Of it. He examined his prize
eagerly; he even poured a few drops
Of ink out on sheet Of note paper.
smelied and tasted It.
Then he wrote with the same ink a
brief memordandum on a sheet of pa
per. waved 1t until 1t was dry without
plotting. and put It into his pocket.
In a quarter of an hour more the ink
Jar was back in its place. the desk
locked. tho door unlocked, and the
puncture in the gaspipe repaired.
None too soon. either. AZ the plumb
er came out Of the study he met Mr..
Meredith in the hall smiling and good
humored from q particularly substan-
tial lunch.
What done already, my mann" he
asked pleasantly. That's quick work
Here's sixpence for yourself"
All that afternoon In defiance of
omens. Mr.. Marmaduke Meredith was
in the very best Of humor and whistled
softly to himself at his writing like
one with whom the world goes
smoothly.
After dinner. over his fourth glass of
sound old port. finding Give shy and
distract, his good uncle delicately ap-
preached the subject Of the marriage.
Il am anxious for your happiness
| only. my dear Give" he said. But
you are very young. Are you quite GER
tain your happiness will be secured by
this alliance?"
OF course Give was desperately. fer
vently, vehemently certain.
Then shall be no bar" said his IN
Gle grandly. You shall have my con-
sent without the asking"
Give started from his chair in a
CULVER Of delight. IT cannot tell you,
uncle" he cried. with simple sincerity,
how grateful am. I shall take care
you do not suffer from your gener-
osity."
/ But his uncle nobly put aside his
| nephew's protestations and promises
Il need no reward" he said, but the
approval Of my own.conscience and the
feeling that I have made two young
people happy without any weary wait
ing for their happiness People think
I have been improvident, Give, but
they are mistaken. have, thanks to
your poor father. for many years en-
joyed a handsome income. and I have
put by enough to keep mo in comfort.
for the poor remainder Of my days"
Presently Mr.. Marmaduke Meredith
went on: When a good thing 10 to be
done. it cannot be done too SOON" he
said softly. Drink your wine my boy,
and come with me to my study"
He unlocked the American desk,
spread out a sheet Of foolsccap before
him and dipped a gold pen in the little
round brown delphi bottle Of ink. The
bottle was fuller than he expected, and
a big drop plopped upon the foolscap.
Mr.. Meredith tore the blotted paper
into tho waste-paper basket. and took
another sheet
In a large flowing hand he wrote his
consent to Gives marriage. dated and
| signed It with q flourish.
Mamie will be SO surprised and de-
lighted. knew I was right all along.
but she thought"
His uncle eyed him keenly for a mo-
ment, then smiled kindly. taking pity
on his embarrassment. Poor little Ma
mie!" he said in his gentlest way. II
suppose she thinks me a wicked mon
ster; a Babe-in- the-Woods kind of
uncle. Well. Give, we must not blame
her She don't know me as you do. and
she's very young and believes in fairy
tale monsters. We will give her little
lesson. though, II you don't mind"
He took the signed paper from his
nephew's hand, folded 1t up and put II
into an envelope which he carefully
sealed with a big red seal
Il want to teach her to trust US"
he explained. DO you mind promising
me. Give, that you won't show her
the consent-that you won't even open
this envelope till after your marriage!"
''Of course. uncle. TIL do what you
WISH" Give answered gratefully. Ma
mic will take my word for anything.
or after a significant pause" yours
either, for that matter"
But Mamie was not satisfied when
she heard the whole story, and was
allowed to look with eyes vainly in
quisitive at the outside Of the sealed
envelope.
Il trust you. Of course. dear. but
don't trust him. He's too sweet to be
wholesome I'm sure he means to cheat
you"
For a second time Mr.. Beck was ap-
pointed umpire, and they went straight
to his house.
Il think I can guess what has hap
pened," he said to Give Your uncle
has signed the consentT'
Give nodded.
Perhaps he volunteered to sign TT
How did you guess that?"
Never mind. have guessed mort
than that IN my time. After signing 1,
he put 1t in an envelope. sealed It, and
, made you promise you would not oper
, 1t until after your marriage"
Give was too surprised to answer.
There. told you So" cried Mamie
mr.. Beck has guessed the trick at the
nrst guess. OF course. he changed tbs