Missouri Valley times., 1919-12-04
Bse
Creaki1lg Sign
go
ByT. 4. AIDERsON
By 7. B. ALDERsoN
Copyright. 1919. BY the western News.
paper Union.l

key with its gilt all Worn off and its
hinges creaklng mournfully, was
spot suggestive of gloom and tragedy
rather than romance, vet there lived
and died-a dream of beauty many
years ago.
For nearly half a century Adam
Wald, lOcksmith, had done business
there and for five years Adrian Ross
had been helper, clerk, business get
ter and collector for the old hermit
like artisan. There were established
business houses that had dealt, father
and son, with Wald through two gen
erations and would have no other.
Ross had secured the patronage of
number of Office buildings where du-
plicate keys were a big feature. 1t
was because of this that he had met
Lura Baynes. She was stenogra-
pher in the Office Of public building,
had sent to No. % to have some du-
plicate keys made, and Ross attend
ed to these needs and became ac-
quainted with her.
Friendship grew into love, but un,
spoken, and one night walking home
from the theater Miss Baynes express
ed wish to see the antiquated shop
Of the pioneer locksmitll of the city.
"That sign has been up there for
over fifty years. said Adrian. Its day
Is nearly over in this age of brass
and plate glass. Hear it iangle and
to endure servitude of decades"
1t was solemnly silent. Lura lift
ed her dovelike eyes timorously to
the handsome face beaming down up
on her. Love was in his face and her
own, and in his dear company she
realized deep sense of protection
and soul interest.
ITO me it is sweet music" she said
-"like some old refrain so sweet that
one never tires of hearing the patient
story of the years." and the heart of
Adrian thrilled, for he comprehended
that love spoke.
When Adrian bade Lura adieu Mt
the door of the home of a, relative
with whom she boarded, he fixed in his
mind the resolve to tell of his love the
next time he called. Two evenings
later he met with great disappoint-
ment. He was told that Lura had
been summoned to her former home
in the country, where married Sis
ter was reported seriously i'll.
"She may not return" spoke Mrs
Dale. "but she told me to say to you
that she would write you"
A week went by and no letter came
A month and Adrian sadly made up
his mind that he lad been mistaken
ih supposing that Lura cared for him.
Later he received a very flattering Of
fer for his services in another city.
He had been two years in his new po-
sitlOn, when one day he received a
letter from Adam Waldos lawyer. 1t
announced the death of the old lock-
smith, and that Adrian had been left
heir to his little property. Adrian
took up his residence in the old fa-
miliar place. He had never recovered
from his one love disappointment. and
somehow the place was treasured by
him, because at Its very threshold the
full glory OF his life's affection had
come to him. He cheated HIM
self into belief that he needed a
rest, and fingered week after week,
the solitude of the lonely place har-
4monizing with his sOrrowful thoughts.
One night lie could not sleep. and
he arose, dressed himself and sat
down by the open street window. 1t
was just such an evening us that
great key, only that high wind pre-
| vailed, and as lie listened to the low
| wailing, and then the raucous whist
ling of the ,lilapidated key, he was
reminded of Lura more than ever
Suddenly fierce blast of the wind
| tore at the trembling sign. He saw II
wrenched from place. 1t fell into the
street. Thence came allow cry Of af
fright and pain combined.
.'SOme0ne is hurt!" exclaimed
Adrian, and. glancing beyond the win
dOwsill, he made out the shattered
key lying in fragments on the pave
ment, and staggering to the railing II
front of the building for support {
female figure.
Adrian ran down the stairs and int
the street. He approached the eviden
4 victim of the freak of the wind. A
that moment a passing automObil,
focused it's headlight across the fig
ure clinglng to the railing.
"Lura z fairly shouted Adrian, an,
caught her weakening form in hi
!. arms There she tainted. He carrie,
her into the house and placed a wettet
bandage across her brow, which show
ed discolored abrasion. She movet
finally and opened her eyes.
| 1.-THE dear sweet old music, tn,
creaking sign !" she murmured be
wilderedly. 81 had TO come once NOR
to listen to 1t, Adrian'
The old sign was no more, but th
love born under Its shadow lived, deep
I, er, more intense than ever. AS Lur:
told her story Of writing Adrian an,
receiving no reply; of coming back t.
the city and finding him gone, of TAX
ing up life's duties with crushe,
heart, he marvel.-d, hut amid hap
piness that nlade up for all the sol
4 rowing of the past. And later, whel
/ they found her letters where Adam
Wald had hidden them loath to hay
! Adrian marry and leave him, the mya
terry was explained.