Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-07-14
her AUNT'S PIN
BY JACK LAYTON.
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Daisy May thought him IA very nice
side in the trolley. 1t was the only
vacant seat In the last car going to
the city and though Uncle Dexter was
emphatic IN advising against entering
into conversation with strangers
Daisy May found herself unequal TO
Stumbling this pleasant young mans
polite advances. He had been 50 kind
about adjusting the window to Just
the proper opening and had offered
his paper with immediate self-efiace-
ment.
Daisy May regarded him flriiycly
as he pretended to read He WAS not
much Older than herself, she thought,
and lad frank, open countenance.
More rohberies," commented the
young man. Ever see anything like
1t? Regular 'hodups' everywhere,
can't be safe walking down the street"
He flashed n sunny smile at her.
Better hold on to your purse when
you reach the city" he admoniShed.
II will answered Daisy May.
"Cncle Baxter warned me about that.
Not that they'd get much money" she
added laughingly.
She had been commissioned to take
two diamonds to the city to have them
reset In ring. The ring was to be "A
gift for herself, but this Daisy May
did not know.
She snapped the tassclcd bag to-
gether and rode on for some time in
silence. But the Young mans eyes
were upon her, she felt them con
sciously.
When he offered his magazine she
accepted 1t with rcmorseful smile.
How utterly unreasonable to suspect
every stranger of thieving motives.
The usually tircsome trolley trip
passed by as If on happy wings. Daisy
May was rcgre'uI that at its finish
she would see the young man no more.
His regret was evident With sue
ccedlns miles his gay spirits vanished
ana he grew sadly serious.
II suppose" he suggested tentative
ly, "there'd be no such luck MS meet.
Ing YOU occasionally on this same
train
Il do not" Daisy May severely in
formed him, continue acquaintance
with persons to whom have not been
introduced
The young man rclapsed promptly
into bn ,1aptbs pF
Daisy May opening the bag little
later for last precautionary glance
at Aunt Cynthia's pin, gave quick
startled cry, the pin was not there. In
troubled haste she turned to her
moody companion.
my diamond pin Is gone" she muir
INJURED. "iou saw it in my bag few
moments Ego did you not?"
The you x maa looked deliberately
into her g, cited race.
81 saw nothing in your bas," he in
sisted.
Daisy May gasped She had been 50
sure that he had. The conductor com
ing along at that moment was made
aware Of her distress.
Carefully, cushioned seats ana floor
We're examined The pin was not to
be found.
The young man ohlgingly entered
into the search. Daisy May sat per-
picked and bafiied.
''The diamonds were very valuable"
she said hopelessly, "and the pin was
not my own"
Surrounding passengers arose, shak-
ing their wraps and overcoats
"Plns sometimes fly about" they
said.
An italian nearby viudicntugly
tuned his pockets inside out, offer
~ his coat to be searched But the
young man made no cXamina-
! of his clothing, silently returning
; Jhis seat and paper.
y"Your coat please?" the conductor
demanded, "the pin may have become
fastened upon it,"
But the conductor did not shake out
the coats folds, instead his hand
passed into deep gaping pocket ana
when he drew it out again the CLEAN
Ing pin lay In his palm.
Daisy May leaned tensely forward
while the young mans questioning
eyes never left her face.
''Thank YOU" she said at last quiet
~. and took the pin. The conductor
bent over her.
"1his man should be forced to OK.
plain how the pin came to be in his
possession" he said But Daisy May
smiled.
at really does not matter" she re-
Piled "the young man is with me-"
When the conductor had gone her
sent companion turned toward her.
"Why did you say that?" he demand
ed. "Why should YOU try to shield me
when you believe | am guilty?'
81 know that you are not guilty."
Daisy May said slowly. 81 would know
that you were not, against all evidence.
DO not ask me to explain why. I be.
lieve in you, that's all"
The young man stopped to pick up
gray bah of a glove which had rolled
beneath the seat He gave it to her.
"You threw the pin out of your bag
probably when you opened it to get
this" he said. "and my wide gaping
,..,i>nt onuubt thn thing. lint ,ft,,