Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1919-07-18
Scraps From the
Waste Basket
nv Lillian HALL CROWLEY

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright. 1919. By the Mcclure News
paper Syndicats.)
John Armstrong sighed pleasantly
as he dropped into the hammock.
His eyes wandered over the lawn
and across the street to the bay be-
yond; the beautiful shimmering wa
ter, the blue sky above and the quaint
~ 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
and the endless engagements to take
q much needed rest in the quiet little
village.
Here he could rest to- his hearts
content. No one was in a hurry. No
one had lofty ambitions. Just to get
through each day, one like another,
and for recreation dance in the
town hall where every one was well
come.
He certainly did need the rest, he
thought. Why, his nerves were. calm
er already. Not a thing here to jar
them. In a little while he would don
q bathing suit and 60 into the de-
licious salt water. No big waves even
to thrill him. Just enough Of a swell
to make him keenly enjoy the trouble
Of going in. Then q delicious nap
when he became as drowsy as If he
were drugged. And he would be
drugged, too, by the restful beauty OF
1t all.
Oh, yes, life was good again. He
would 60 back to Wall street a new
man-but now he wouldn't think Of
business. He would put away all ex.
element and enjoy the present.
Just then a little flirting breeze,
one more vigorous than any Of her
companions, waited q piece Of paper
right at his feet. He looked at it
carelessly-then was attracted by the
beauty of the handwriting. He picked
it up. 1t was evidently a letter with
top and bottom torn off the page.
1t certainly was beautiful writing
and he read a few words. 1t was only
a scrap, and even if it were some
ones letter it could not be impor-
tant or it would not be blowing about.
OF course, it was anybody's now.
Still admiring the writing he read on:
"And now, Evangeline, have the kid
be at the house for some practical
purpose before he robs and murders
the old man; otherwise your idea is
a good one. Let me know daily how
you are getting on. Good-by.
"OWEN."
Armstrong leaped to a sitting posi-
ton. What foul plot was this, and
who was Evangeline:. The paper was
new, SO some one must be planning q
murder right now-this very minute.
He dropped back in the hammock.
He saw his duty plainly-he must foil
this she-devil Evangeline. Evange-
line! What name for murderess
More suitable for pure and beauti-
full woman. What could he do?
Nothing!
Still-he could be on the alert. He
looked about the lawn for more scraps
of paper, and was rewarded in his
search by another torn piece, same
writing, same paper. He read:
Eyes, Evangeline, you have done
wisely to choose such quiet place,
and am sure you will succeed in your
plans. No one here suspects"
Evangeline again. The name was
all he had to go on. He would walk
about, talk to people and listen for the
name.
His landlady's little daughter came
to sit with him in the hammock. They
had become good friends in the past
week.
"Tell me-" he said to the child, do
you ever have robberies here, or any
thing of the kind7"
"Oh, no." she answered, I'VE never
lock our doors. Nobody steals any
thing-ever!
That night he tossed about in bed;
the swish Of the waves did not soothe
him as it usually did. 1t was his duty
to uncover this crime and he must
hurry or the murderer would sue
coed.
He was awakened in the morning
by q girlish voice calling from the
street:
"Evangeline Get up, you idle
creature; here it is high tide and
we're ready for q swim. Come on"
in q minute" answered a sweet
voice from the window next to his.
He leaped from his bed. Evangeline!
Was he dreaming or did he hear that
name?
Why, the creature must be living
in the same house with him. There
were other dodgers, but he had been
too taken up with his own feelings
to notice them. Most of them were
artists and were off painting before
he arose. He, supposed they did rs
he did in regard to meals-went to
different places.
He heard door slam and then soft
down the stairs. He hurried
to the window and saw a tall, slender
figure enveloped in cape hurry
across the street and Join the other
hatherS on the beach,