The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1919-10-23
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A SCRAP OF PAPER
BY EsTELLE N. TiDD.
tCopyrisht. Mcclure Newspaper syndi

The first time the telephone ran
that morning young Mrs. b picke'
4 up the receiver and heard the follow
ing:
"That you, Nell? Say, did you no
tice little folded piece of paper OF
the hall floor after I left? Didn't
Well. will you look, please; and say
Nell, If you find it, don't look at it
| please, do you hear? It's little bi
| private. I'll hold the line. Hurry
back"
The paper was quickly found ant
| Nell rushed back to inform her hus
! band Of her success.
"Good don't want to lose that,
was the reply. Put it In the little
drawer in my desk, and you won't
look at it, will you. Nell? Promise"
lawfully private, 1t seems to me, but
you needn't worry. won't look at
your precious paper. Good-by."
She sat for moment, regarding the
bit of paper with hostile eyes.
pretty fussy to call it folded
piece of paper" she unused indignant
ly. Looks to me like note-a regu-
lar note"
Presently there rushed in upon her
Julia D., her best and frankest
friend.
"Haye you heard the latest?" she
demanded. "Sue B. is here-came
Tuesday; she's going to stay month.
She's looking magnificent. Funny she
hasn't visited in town since your en-
gagement to Harley was announced
over two years ago. She used to be
crazy about him. They made the most
stunning pair-everybOdy turned to
look. / wonder" she paused abrupt
ly, then ratified on: Say, Nell,
wouldn't dare to marry handsome
man-you never can tell-Goodness,
Nell, don't ever wear that shade OF
blue again. You look five years older
in it,"
Julia had just whirled out when the
telephone rang again. Harley's sister
Lou wanted Nell's new recipe for egg
less cake, and after hearing it she con-
tributed her share to the mornings
budget.
"Whose car were you out in last
night at Pinetree Heights? After you
had whizzed by, breaking every speed
law ever made, 1 realized that one OF
the men was Harley. 1t was SO near
dark / couldn't recognize anyone else, !
but / suppose you were along. You
certainly had reckless person at the |
wheel"
"I-Tll tell you all about 1t later,
Lou. II think there's something
burning on the stove. Good-by."
She hung up the receiver. Out at
Pinetree Heights last night, and he
had told her it was a business en-
that had kept him until 80.
He had been unusually high-spirited
during the evening, and then alternate
~ absorbed in thought.
What could it mean? Miserably she
went about her work. She thought in
cessantly Of that arch-charmer. Sue
B., and the mysterious note, and
though she felt wholesome distaste
In doing so, still she kept wondering
whether Sue B. and the note did or
lid not belong together.
mo, won't look at it." she assured
herself. II said I wouldn't, and I
won't"
But before she had finished speak
ng her hand reached straight to the.
lrawer, opened it and drew out the
PAPER.
"All the rest Of the day." she {
.hoked, 1--WE got to live with this aw-
ul note"
Springing up, she crumpled it in her :
land.
II know what I'll do. I'll burn up
he horrid thing. Harley shan't have
nobody shall have it, and if it's
urned up can't read it.
Lighting a match, she knelt before
be CRATE. She had just thrown down
he flaming scrap when the front door :
anged and her husband entered the I
DOM, going straight to the desk in the y
orner.
Building fire, Nell7 Say, where's ]
nat paper 'phoned about?' His voice s
as edged with excitement. THAT'S /,
Important"
Yes, of course--very important-to
on. Oh, I know all about it."
"What'd you look at it for? By
gorge, you said you wouldn't. like
lat /"
II didn't look at it /" she famed. Il
i'd some degree of honor, but I've
lrned the horrible thing, and didn't
ave to read 1t to find out few things
joy riding way out to Pinetree
Fights last night, for instapce-and"
"What!" broke in Harley. you
lrned that paper-you silly-and lit
: you know what was out to Pine
ee Heights for. That peachy little
Ingalow out there, you know, Nell,
at we are both crazy about. I've
nted it, with chance to buy 1t
ter, perhaps. We can have garden
d chickens and help out on our bit
was out there again this afternoon,
)king the place over, and have come
ok now to take you there. And, lis
4 here. I've just bought another Lib
" bond, my biggest yet, for you this
ne, and the horrible thing you Just
" fit to burn up was the receipt for
) fret DqvTnonf wac pnfnu +o Give