Catoctin clarion., 1921-08-18
From THE City of
Mystery
BY DOROTHY WEITcoMB
w. .szl. wssIern newspaper uplon !,

Inc hammer or the aucti0neer came
down with final tap. The man of
bids waved his hand towards the
cashiers desk. Earle Barton paid
four dollars, gave his name and ad-
dress. received II package wrapped
In tissue paper and regained his COM
panion. Ward Tolman.
"Whatever induced you to pay that
money for toy that looked to me
like cross between a baby's rattle
and nutmeg grater?' rallied young
TOlman.
'It's prayer mill from Thlbet." said
Earle. ut Is made by the priests in
that great city Of mystery, Lhussa, a
place where they visit the intrusion
Of stranger with death. The dew
otee, when he wishes to pray, sim
ply turns the mill and his work is
done for him."
II See" nodded TOlman carclessly /;
but how do you come to know so
much about these curios?"
Earle flushed deeply and evaded a
direct response. He Went on to tell
that he had certain liking for an
tiQues. The auctioneer had interested
him by narrating the story of ma
tive priest of Thibet travelling in the
: United States, who had died in debt
and whose effects had been sold to
bury the poor fellow. The name Of
the man was engraved on the mill
"Zuelphi."
The friends parted, ToIman, who
had money and position, to attend
some social function. Earle, who had
very little, to proceed to the nearest
express office and send the prayer
mill package to Miss Velda Tresham,
Maybrook. Then he went to his
rather cheerless room where he was
making struggle Of life trying to
write for the newspapers.
Maybrook was the little country
town from which Earle had come six
months previous velda Tresham was
the one young lady In that village for
whom he entertained a warmer senti-
ment than she had ever OWNED. Toll
man, making visit to the city, had
come across Earle. Only casually had
Earle ventured to ask about Eelda. He
had heard incidentally that Tolman
had been paying some attentions to
the young lady, and did not seek a
gratutous heartache by exploring the
intimacy.
Earle knew that the erudite Profes-
sOr Tresham, the father of Velda, was
a great collector Of unique oddities.
He had sent the prayer mill to Nelda
hoping she might write to him.
The next day Earle happened to
meet Tolman. The latter dropped
into jewelry store and produced an
exquisite little ring.
IL wish you would engrave this for
me-" he said to the jeweler. and care
lessly scribbled on card: Ward to
Velda."
Earle CHANGED to glance at the in
scription ordered.
The discovery killed good deal
Of the ambition of the young writer.
He changed his room for cheaper
one. Things did not go very well
with him.
And then suddenly, by rare chance,
there awoke one day in the experience
of this lonely city waif the most ex-
travagant soul of hope. Magically,
poverty was gilded and forlorn dis
tress became fading wrath of the
past.
A man, a lawyer, hunted him out
after long quest, he said. Was he
Earle Barton? Yes, He lived at such
an address formerly? Yes, again. Was
he the purchaser, on such a date. at
such an auction shop, Of certain
prayer mill?
The long and short of 1t was that
the owner Of the prayer mill was a
member Of one Of the richest, noblest
families In Thibet. His relatives had
too late learned of his fatal, stranded
situation. Now they had ordered his
remains returned to his native soil-at
any expense. The mill must be found
If 1t took fortune.
Ten thousand dollars was offered
for the return of the prayer mill. 1t
was at distance. Then 60 for it
dHu c&pcuScS duNduCtu. HIS was the
gist Of the strangers proposal.
The first thing Earle learned when
he reached his native town, was that
Velda was not married. The next
was that Ward Tolman had welded a
lady In the next town named Velda
Morse. Then Earle Barton realized
his error.
In an hour he was at the Tresham
home. Through an open window he
saw Velda. She was looking at a
photograph. Her face grew pale and
she trembled as she admitted him to
the house, He told her of his mis-
sion.
II will get the prayer mill for you"
she said, but in arising her unsteady
hand brushed the photograph to the
flOor-his own!
wait" said Earle, q new light shin.
ing In upon his soul-"why did you
never write"
II did. twice, and no reply, and
then"
He drew a step nearer.
"You really cared?" he faltered.
"Oh, could you doubt it! !" she cried,
and dropped to a chair and burst into
tears, and Earle Barton knew that
he had life partner to share his new
fortune.
The Only Way.
She-Do you really think I shall
ever succeed in making an impression