The Topeka state journal., 1919-08-02

of mere condolences But I think now
that he must have been dogging her
steps from shop to shop"
Has she explained anything to
you?" He sighed rather despondently.
I've given up trying to get much
help in that direction" he admitted.
After the-the last outbreak she con-
fessed to me that she'd hidden a Tiff
fany bar-pin by burying 1t up on the
roof. There's sort of arbor and roof
garden up there. with tubbed trees
and things. The bar-pin was supposed
to be in one of those boxes of earth.
But I could never find it,
And what were you wanting of
me?" I inquired.
He stood silent for quite a long time.
Il wanted to know If you would
marry me?' he finally said, in a very
quiet and deliberate tone of voice.
I don't think So" I told him in my
most matter of-fact manner.
''Why?" he asked
There are several reasons" ]
promptly and firmly announced Yet
the next moment confusion reigned in
my empty little head. for I was afraid
he was going to ask~me what those
reasons were. But he spoke about
something altogether different
DO you remember one day, In st.
Johns? Among other things I told
you didn't see how I could ever be
happy without you" he went on with
sort of deliberate non-commital
evenness of tone. I'd already awakened
to the fact that my Winkie was max
ing love to me. But 1t wasn't the way.
as girl. had expected some day to
be made love to. Perhaps I was too
old. told myself. with an odd little
fiutter of fear. too old and wise and
hard ever to feel the tug Of a heart
string. And that made all the world
seem a terribly empty and arid one.
There were certain things which ]
misunderstood" he went on, though ]
could see that he wasn't quite as calm
| as he was pretending to be. "And
what's more. I've Just had a talk with
that man Sloan today and he gave me
to understand that nothing would OF
| could induce you to leave the work
which you had accepted from him."
That seems to have been a more or
less definite statement of facts" I
ventured, wondering even while I spoke
why was so intent on walling happi-
ness out of my life.
But you are the person TO give tbs
answer to that" maintained winkie.
Some ghostly voice of lost ana van
| ished youth asked why, as he took my
hand In his. he had avoided the use OF
the word -love?" For his eyes were
saying what his tongue had been half
ashamed to- say. Then the goosefesh
turned into a nettlerash of nerve-ends
for a carefully modulated voice broke
in on our brown study of each others
face.
In
the open door behind me-
swung about and standing in that
open door I saw my war-widow her.
self, looking out of her street clothes
more pink and rounded than ever
yes. I've got her!" announced the
obviously triumphant winkie, with q
little shake Of excitement in his voice
At the same moment that ! heard
Mrs. Rumeall-shelton's sigh of relief
felt the reassuring pressure o,
Wrinkles hand about my fingers.
Then what are you going to do with
her~
I'm going 10 hold her" said winkie
| hold her to the shitter end!" And Il
was only then that I remembered 4
was about time for me to draw m,
hand away. I turned about. in fact
and faced Mrs. RumhaIl- Shelton. Al
I did so noticed two things. The frs
was a decidedly ridiculous one. 1t wa,
a cobweb on top Of her carefully coifet
head. The second was a peculiarly dis.
dainful movement which she had alb.
stractedly repeated. a movement o.
rubbing the tips of her fingers together
| as though to free them of dust
4 "Winkfred, I should like to see thi.
young woman alone for few mo,
ments"
I noticed, as she spoke. that ther,
were distinct stains OF moist earth OF
her hnger-tips And that set m,
| thinking.
Most certainly not" was winkie',
positive retort to his aunt's request
| Whatever you may think I am
Winkfred, I can assure you that thi
young person is something infinitel.
| worse"
What makes you think that?" sskeC
the preoccupied Wrinkle.
Because this is the woman wht
robbed mel" declared Mrs. Rumbau
Shelton with decision.
1T is perfectly true" I told him al
quietly as I could And I stood there
| waiting for it to sink in
And the diamond pendant ?" he saic
with a sort OF anxious gasp.
I
knowledge.
1t was the war-widow who spok,
next
Then the sooner we send for tn,
police the better" she announced a.
she started for the desk. But winkfe
who was closer. reached the telephon,
before she did. He already had-th,
nickeled transmitter in his hand, ii
fact when the call-belI shriNed out III
summons. He hesitated, looked frs
at me and then at his aunt and fnall,
lifted the receiver. Then he seemed t.
forget both Of us. I heard him ga,
only one word. 1t was a preoccupieC
Yes" The next moment his face wen
blank, and he was obviously listening
Then he slammed the receiver down OF
its hook and made for the door, alr1,os
on run. He threw a signal over hi
shoulder as he passed me, which
seemed to say, as plain as words: wal
| here" So 1 waited.
Il