The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-02-10
Loose Change
tcopyriEht.)
By HELEN HOLDEN

This was the first domestic difficulty
Mrs. Hoy had had. Various things had
disappeared from her boudoir.
Mrs. Hoy had sudden inspiration.
She few across the room to the
dresser.
After rummaging for few seconds
she brought to light long, narrow
pocketbook.
She cleared a corner of the drawer,
and into 1t dumped the contents. the
bills and loose change Of the pocket
book.
She picked out from the loose
change, two quarters, two dimes, and
q nickel.
These she returned to the pocket
book in her hand.
Two quarters, two tens, and nve,"
she counted. before shutting the
pocketbook that's enough bait. Now
to see II can catch my FISH"
II the pecketbook disappeared, she
would have proof positive that Della,
the maid, was the guilty one.
She laid 1t ON the sideboard.
Just at this point her train Of
thought was interrupted BY the ar
rival Of her husband.
Luncheon was an unusually silent
and hurried meal.
Immediately after luncheon Mr.. Hey
hurried away.
I'm sorry. Heater" he said, AZ he
was leaving, "but I'll be late tonight"
How little he suspects" Hester =,
shut the door slowly behind him.
About six o'clock a man stood out
side the Hoy apartment. Nolselessly
he fitted key in the lock and gently
pushed the door open.
There's still something for which
to be thankful" he sighed, as he sank
into the nearest chair.
1t was Kenton HOY.
II, who never lost as much as a
nickel beforel" he exclaimed irritably.
Losing pocketbook with twenty-five
dollars is something Of blown
"Pshaw." he added quickly. II
haven't lost it I've just mislaid 1t
somewhere.
"And it must be found before Hester
gets home"
After FIVE minutes of frenzied
search. Mr. Hoy paused for breath.
But there's Della" sudden
thought striking him. "Delia might
have picked it up while busting round
and tucked 1t away somewhere.
Goodness, gracious me, Kenton
Hoy, how you scared mew exclaimed
Mrs. Hoy, letting herself in suddenly
at the front door. II thought you
weren't coming home till late"
''We-you see, I-er-got through
early, after ALL" replied. Mr.. Hoy.
'Well, I'm thankful you did," said
to dinner tonight"
go out to dinnerT asked Mr.. Hoy
family.
"Delia's gone," announced Mrs. Hoy
shortly.
.Gone7" gasped Mr.. Hoy.
"Yes; come on, and I'll tell you as
we go along"
Mr.. Hoy did some rapid thinking.
He had in his pocket just seventy-five
cents In change.
All the way down. the car was
crowded.
Mr.. Hoy found himself helping his
wife out Of the car, across the street.
and into the restaurant
Before he had time to think further,
he was beginning in earnest the part
he had Just been rehearsing.
His look Of startled surprise, a. his
hand came out empty from his pocket.
was perfect.
The head waiter came hurrying up.
"What's the matter? Something
lost?" he asked hurriedly.
"My pocketbook. It's gone," an
swered Mr. Hoy truthfuily.
Then he glanced swiftly at his wife.
1t was now up to her.
"Don't make such a scene," his wife
whispered hurriedly. II have enough"
Mr.. Hoy could scarcely refrain from
dancing down the room to the table
where they were to eat.
"Tell me about losing your pocket
book" suggested Mrs. Hoy, as soon as
they had given their order.
.You saw what happened" 1t was
all Mr.. Hoy could do to keep from
smiling. Probably some one in the
car-er.-must have"
"Then. how do you account for
this?' and his wife laid on the table,
between them, the lost pocketbook.
How-when-whereT' stammered
Kenton Hoy.
"On the floor in front of your chif-
fonier this morning, just after you
left" replied Mrs. Hoy.
"A fair exchange is no robbery"
he smiled. as his hand. in restoring the
lost pocketbook to its usual place in
his pocket. came in contact with
small, fiat object.
Pulling it out of his pocket, he tossed
1t across the table to his wife.
my pocketbook |" screamed Mrs.
Hoy SO loud that the diners at the
other tables turned to see what had