Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-09-28
THE SOLUTION
Hy AGNES C. BRoeAN.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

the pOcketDo0k as soon as She hau
seated herself In the car. 1t was ly-
ing clasped by a rubber band. close at
her side. She held up the purse. look
ing questionlngly toward those about,
but it was evident that the lost peck
eibo0k was neither the property If the
fat gentleman upon the opposite cross
seat. or the woman near by
"a soldier got out of that seat Just
before you came in," the woman whis-
pered. probably he left it there"
Before placing the purse In the
hands of the conductor, Kathleen de-
clded 20 examine its interior for clue
OF ownership. Besides a small roll
of bills, she noticed in a separate
compartment several folded papers.
These contained no desired infOrma-
ton: but as she opened the last sheet
Of smooth. unwritten paper. Kathleen
Pasped in surprise. for looking out
ar her from its protection was a very
hfelike picture-of herself. And the
remarkable thing about this picture
was that she had had but one copy
made from a large photograph which
was her own-in order to send IL to
fer-away aunt.
To enter Kathleen's sitting room,
divided by doors from the city
boarding house parlor. was like enter
ing a beautiful flOwer-garden at the
end of a dreary road. In Kathleen's
room all was soft rose colOred light,
and inviting comfort.
"After ALL" she told herself. zone
lives upon the inside. and not the
outside" So, this evening of the
finding Of the pocketbook. Nora. the
housemaid. met her I'm the hall. And
because her excited spirit must have
confidant, into Nora's ears Kathleen
poured her tale of adventure.
81 shall advertise the purse tomor-
row. Nora" she said. But the follow
ing evening IL was Nora. who burst ex-
citedly into Karfleen's room.
Violently she slapped newspaper
Down on the table
"Read that" she demanded. Jlnt-
Inc 10 the Lost column. And here
Enthusiastically was a plea for the re-
turn Of the purse Kathleen had found.
Suitable reward to finder" the adj
Nertisement ended. Kathleen spent
much time in the wording Of her re-
sponse. II was necessary that the
owner must call to Identify his prop
erty: also necessary that lac describe
contents before claiming. And how
was she 10 stand there before strange
man. while he described 10 her the
appearance of her own photograph and
his strange wish for its possession?
''T'll tell you" suggested Nora. "just
leave the whole thing 10 me. I'll open
the door when he calls: then I'll tell
him the picture was of a friend o.
mine. an find out about IL before I
Civ him the purse. You won't have
10 see him at ALL"
"Very well." Kathleen assented
douhtfully.
When, therefore Nora went one eve
ming 10 answer the summons OF the
door ben. palpltatingly Kathleen lin
gered behind the closed door of her
sitting room. Distinctly she heard a
mans tread following Morals shut
fling one into the stiff parlor. His
voice had a pleasing sound.
$50 Won found the purse?" he said.
and proceeded I'm detail to describe its
contents. Shamelessly Kathleen lis
tened. "And-" he said abruptly, "the
Photograph OF young woman"
"What sort Of lookin' young woman,
nowg" asked Nora.
"The sort Of a face" he unused,
which would make a man believe I'm
oil the good Of the world. True. steady
eyes"
"The queer part Of A." said Nora,
SIS that the girls a friend o. mine.
An we've been wonderin' how you
rome by her picter."
"a friend of youIsT' repeated the
nan. Astonishment spoke In every
word. 81 owe your friend an apology,
then" he went on. 'Pm afraid my
ret and my motive both viii be hard
q. explain. You see, was down at
the photographers here one day, hav-
ing my picture taken before starting
overseas, and-I wasn't feeling very
happy at the time. Then all at once
this girls face looked up at me from
Q counter fun Of photographs. the
very eyes seemed speaking of cour-
pge and smiling bravely.
'fWho Is it2' asked Of my friend
the photographer. But he evaded the
question.
''That picture was copied from n
large one which made for the sit
ter" he said. at was not satisfactory
10 me. so kept IL aDd gave her bet
ter one"
"'That picture IS my mascot I said
decidedly. I'm going TO carry n through
The wars and he laughed. making
no objection" The soldier paused.
Then a sigh came quivering from the
girl behind the closed doors. "And