The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-07-05
Scraps From the
Waste Basket
~
ey Lillian HALL CROWLEY
ErH@8N$R%S1S1VV%VS VSVSS~VSVVN"0
Copyright. 1919, by the Mcclure Ne"S'
paper Syndicate.)

Copyright l9lS, Dy the hCSiuA9 AVN"
paper Syndicate)
John Armstrong sighed pleasantly
as he dropped into the hammock
His eyes wandered over the lawn
and across the street to the bay be-
You'd; the beautiful shimmering wa
ter, the blue sky above and the quaint
ly charming houses along the street
protected by towering elms.
At last he had come away from the
rush of business; the noise of the city
and the endless engagements to take
much needed rest in the quiet little
village.
Here he could rest to his hearts
content. No one was in hurry.
Just then a little, flirting breeze,
one more vigorous than any of her
companions, waited a piece of paper
right at his feet. He looked at 1t
carelessly-then was attracted by the
beauty of the handwriting. He picked
it up. 1t was evidently a letter with
top and bottom torn off the page.
1t certainly was beautiful writing
and he read few words. 1t was only
scrap, and even if it were some
ones letter it could not be impor'
tant or it would not be blowing about
Of course, it was anybody's now
Still admiring the writing he read on
"And now, Evangeline, have the kit
be at the house for some practica
purpose before he robs and murders
the old man; otherwise your idea II
a good one. Let me know daily how
you are getting on. GOOd-by.
owen"
Armstrong leaped to a sitting posi-
ton. What foul plot was this, an
who was Evangeline? The paper wa
new, so some one must be planning
murder right now-this very minute
He dropped back in the hammock
He saw his duty plainly-he must TO
this she-devil Evangeline. Evang'
line! What name for murderess
More suitable for a pure and beaut
full woman. What could he do?
Nothing!
Still-he could be on the alert. e
looked about the lawn for more scral
of paper, and was rewarded In h
search by another torn piece, san
writing, same paper. He read:
Eyes, Evangeline, you have dol
wisely to choose such quiet plac
and am sure you will succeed in yO
: plans. No one here suspects"
), His landlady's little daughter car
to sit with him in the hammock. Tn
had become good friends In the pa
week.
y 'Tell me-" he said to the child, "
> you ever have robberies here, or al
II thing of the kind?"
I :Oh, no." she answered, Eve new
r lock our doors. Nobody steals al
u thing-ever
> That night he tossed about in be
III the swish of the waves did not SCOT
Il him as it usually did. 1t was his oil
iie to uncover this crime and he m
v hurry or the murderer would
~, coed.
III He was awakened in the morn
Il by a girlish voice calling from
street:
oe "Evangeline! Get up, you
~ creature; here it is high tide {
81 we're ready for swim. Come on
- 'In a minute" answered a SW
hu voice from the window next to
. He leaped from his bed. Evangeli
IL IL Was he dreaming or did he hear t
name?
w W Why, the creature must be li'
ne in the same house with him. Th
w were other dodgers, but he had b
'e too taken up with his own feeli
to notice them. Most Of them v
artists and were off painting bel
'es he arose. He supposed they did
'a' he did in regard to meals-went
49, different places.
Is. He heard q door slam and then
lie. patterlng down the stairs. He hur
- TO the window and saw tall, slel
NC figure enveloped In a cape h
.+ro across the street and join the O
v,,. bathers on the beach.
On Hastily he donned his bathing
,,ra and was soon in the water. Eva
Geo line proved to be wonderfully b
600 tiful young girl, about twenty-tl
- he thought. She swan like a
~ maid and seemed full of the 10
han living.
,on Armstrong often read that G
of thieves choose young and IL
,,,,a women to do the most hellish
.sa1 because they would not be suspe
-. But why was she so careless @
No, her letters?
:, - Still, the cleverest of them &
ALL times slipped up on some small
b,oh of carelessness.
After his swim and breakfas
again went to the hammock to
u., and think. He heard the landla'
. the distance scolding the new
H for her untidiness. "You let p
Z blow all over when you empty