Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-02-05
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The SOLUTION
BY AGNES G. BRoeAN.
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| the pocketbook as soon as she had
seated herself in the ca. 1t was ~
ing clasped by rubber band, close at
her side. She held up the purse, look
ing questioningly toward those about,
but it was evident that the lost pock-
etbook was neither the property of the
fat gentleman upon the opposite cross
seat, or the woman near by.
"a soldier got out Of that seat just
before you came in," the woman whis-
pered, probably he left it there" y
Before placing the purse in tine
hands Of the conductor, Kathleen de-
cided to examine it's interior for clue
of ownership. Besides small roll
of bills, she noticed In a separates
compartment several folded papers.
These contained no desired informa-
tion; but as she opened the last sheet
Of smooth, unwritten paper, Kathleen
gasped in surprise, for looking out
at her from its protection was very.
lnelike picture-of herself. And the
remarkable thing about this picture
was that she had had but one copy
made from a large photograph which
was her own-in order to send it to a
fer-away aunt.
To enter Kathleen's sitting room,
divided by doors from the city
boarding house parlor, was like enter
ing beautiful flower-garden at the
end of a dreary road. In Kathleen's
,oom all was soft rose colored light,
and inviting comfort.
"After ALL" she told herself, zone
lives upon the inside, and not the
outside" So, this evening Of the
finding of the pocketbook, Nora, the
housemaid, met her in the hall. And
because her excited spirit must have
confidant, into N .ra's ears Kathleen
poured her tale of, adventure.
81 shall advertise the purse tomor-
row, Nora," she said. But the follow
ing evening it was Nora, who burst ex-
citedly into KatKleen's room.
Violently she slapped newspaper
down on the table.
"Read that" she demanded, point
ing to the Lost column. And there
Enthusiastically was plea for the re-
turn of the purse Kathleen had found.
Suitable reward to finder" the ad-
vertisement ended. Kathleen spent
much time in the wording Of her re-
sponSe. 1t was Iecessary that the
owner must call to identify his prop
erty; also necessary that he describe
contents before claiming. And how
was she to stand there before strange
man, while he described to her the
appearance of her own photograph and
his strange wish for its possession?
'Tll tell you," suggested Nora, "just
leave the whole thing to me. I'll open
the door when he calls; then I'll tell
him the picture was Of friend o.
mine, an find aout about it before I
Civ him the purse. You won't have,
to see him at ALL"
every WELL" Kathleen assented
doubtfully.
When, therefore, Nora went one eve
ming to answer the summons Of the
door bell, palpitatingly Kathleen lin
gered behind the closed door OF her
sitting room. Distinctly she heard a
mans tread following Nora's shuf-
fling one into the stiff parlor. His
voice haf pleasing SOUND.
$50 found tho purse" he said,
and proceeded in detail to describe its
contents. Shamelessly Kathleen lis
tened. "And-" he said abruptly, 'the
photograph Of young woman"
"What sort of lookin' young woman,
now?" asked Nora.
"The sort of a face" he muso6,
which would make a man behave in
all the good Of the world. True, steady
eyes"
"The queer part of It." said Nora,
ais that the girls a friend O. mine.
An we've been wonderin' how you
come by her picter."
"a friend of yours!" repeated the
man. Astonishmen+ spoke in every
word. 81 owe your rlend an apology,
then," he went on. 'T'm afraid my
ect and my motive both will be hard
tt. explain. YOU see, I was down at
the photographers here one day, hav-
ing my picture taken before starting
overseas, and-I wasn't feeling very
happy at the time. Then all at once
this girls face looked up at me from
o counter full Of photographs, the
very eyes seemed speaking Of cour-
age and smiling bravely.
"Who is it?" I asked Of my friend
the photographer. But he evaded the
question.
"That picture was copied from a
large one which made for the sit
ter" he said, ut was not S: fEfactory
to me. so kept it and gave bet
ter one"
"That picture is my mascot I said
decidedly. I'm going to carry It through
the wars and he laughed, making
no objection" The soldier paused,
Then a sigh came quiverlng from the
| girl behind the c1oSod doors aAnd