Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1919-08-23
Scraps From the
Waste Basket
BY Lillian HALL CROWLEY
{. 1919. BY tho Mcclure News
paper 9yndieAtS)

John Armstrong sighed pleasantly
us he dropped into the hammock.
His eyes wandered over the lawn
and across the street 10 the bay be-
yond; the beautiful shlmmering wa
ter the blue sky above and the quaint
ly charming houses along the street
protected by towering elms.
At last he had come AWAY from the
rush Of business; the noise of the city
aud the endless engagements To- take
much needed rest In the quiet little
village.
Here he could rest Ia his hearts
content. No one was Ia II hurry. No
one had lofty ambitions Just to get
through each day. one like another
and for recreation IL dance in tn.
town hall where every one was wei
come.
lie certainly did need the rest he
thought. Why. his nerves We're calm.
er already. Not thing here TO jur
them. In II little while he would don
bathing suit and Z" into the de
lIciou> suit water. M big waves even
" NtlllI JhNN tll'uEil VI NNtH
TO make him kccrly enjoy the trouble
of going in. Then delicious NAP
when he became rs druW>y ~ If ht
were druggcd And he would l.,
drugg-d too. 10y the rrstful beauty Of
II all.
Oh, yes life was good again lie
would 90 hnck To Wall street a new
man but now he wouldn't think OF
business. lie would put away MI ex-
citcmcnt and enjoy TIA" present
Just then II little. flirting breeze
one more vigorous thnn any Of her
companions. waited u piece Of paper
right at his feet lie looked NJ Il
carrl">>l y-thcn was attracted 10y III,
beauty of the handwriting He picked
II up 1t was evidently II letter with
top aud bottom torn IN the page
II certainly WAS beautiful writing
and he read "a few words. II was only
scrap. and even II II Wrr" SOM
ones letter il cnulu not be- impol.
tnnt or IL would not l.. blowing about
or course. it WAS auybody's now
Siill ndmirng the writing he read ON
And nov. EVnn-rline hay" the kid
be- at the house tor >ninc practical
purpose before hr rohS and murders
the old mnn; oth-rwiS" your idea Is
good one. Let me know daily how
you are getting on. Gund-hy.
OWEN"
Armstrong leaped To II sitting posi-
ton. What foul plot was this, and
who WAS ENungcliue: The paper was
new. So SON. one must be planning Il
murder right nov his very minute.
lie dropped back In IN. hammock
He saw his duty plainly lac must foil
his >he-dc,il Elangrlinc Evungr
line. What IL name Tor II murdcrrss
More suitable FOR a pure and h-nutI
fu wnmnn. What could he dor
Nothing
Still he could be- on III. alert. He
looked about the lawn for more scraps
OF paper. and was rewarded In his
search by another torn piece. same
writing. sam" pnprr. He reHd:
YES Evnngeline. you have done
wisely Ia choose such Il quiet place
and un sure You will succeed in your
plnn>. No onc here suspects.
EVungelInr again The name was
alI he had to 20 on. lie would walk
about. talk Ia people ana listen for the
name.
His lundludys little daughter came
TO sit with him IN the hammock, They
had become good friends ia the past
week
Tell me" he said To the child. do
you ever have rubnrri-s here. ar any
thing of the kindf'
"Oh. no" she answered. 1--WE never
lock our doors. Nobody steals any
thing ever"
Tint night he tossed about In bed
the swish of the waves did not soothe
him us II usually did Ii was his duty
To uncover this crime aud he must
hurry or the murderer would sue
coed
Hr was awakened In the morning
by girlish voice calling from the
street:
"Evangclinr. Get up. you idle
creature. here IL is high tide and
in II minute" answered sweet
voice from the window next To his.
He leapcd from his bed EvnngclIne
Was he dreaming ar lid he hear that
name:
Wh", the creature must be- living
In the same house with him. There
were other lodgers hut he had been
too taken up with his own feelings
Ia notice them. Most of them were
artists aud were on painting before
he arose. lie supposed they did ~
he did IN regard 10 meals Went TO
different plncrs.
He heard II dnol slam and then soft
patter!ng down the stairs. lie hurried
To the window and saw II tall, slender
figure cuVpl0ppd IN "A cape hurry