The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-29
THE DAILY
5EIORT STORY
The Return Of the Thief
BY A. W. PEACH.


been absent from his summer cot
|tage In which he held forth in full
array as 4 bachelor. somebody had
strolied{ In noted his typewriter
ON rs convenient stand, and de-
parted With the machine.
HIS sense of humor had oftenI
saved him during rough days as a
free-lance writer, but It disap-
peared az the present situation.
That typewriter, an old comrade
OIL many q year. was In protane
hands calmly taken while he
had been out for a swim.
As he changed from his wet
swimming toys into his flannels,
his wrath mounted. His cottage
was detached from others at the
lake; he seldom locked the door
while busy outside, for he consid.
cred his neighbors respectable. al
though he saw little Of them.
ANYWAY. he could not so serenely
i.bout asking them II they had
fswipedp his machine. There was
1othing tokdo but to order an.
hher typewriter. and walt preci-
Gus days until 1t reached him.
BE wrote the order, Jumped Ia
TO his car; and rolled along to tho
little confer where the post office
was located and the various stores
where supplies were purchaCej.
he stopped IN the post office to
look over the bulletin board with
It's odd array, Of notices, and sud
ldenlytfiis bump Of humor bump
I'd him slightly. He wrote a notice
Ind pinned It on the board. Tic
notice read: .If the person who
stole myStypewrlter will call again
& willigiye them or him or her the
stand that goes with 1t. Preston
Drew, Gray Ledge Cottage"
ut wont get a rise but | nope
the sinner who sees It will get
bit Of inflammation Of the con-
science anyway" he muttered' TO
himself as he rolled cottageward.
II would at least start some dis.
cussion among the resort folk and
lead Perhaps to the thiefs finding
II Necessary to keep the machine
under cover.
The next day found him with time
on Ills hands He went fishing In
the morning, leaving his cottage
door open. When he returned the
stand was stlll there. In the after.
noon he sarted tiEkering with his
canoe, which had sprung a minor
leak.
AS he was busy he glanced
across the bay and saw a canoe
coming in I. A sharper glance told
him that It was being driven by a
.siarl shaired girl whose smooth
snoulders were sending the light
canoe along at q steady pace, as
her arms drove the paddle deep
He watched her with interest. foj
there was grace and skill in every
motion. l'sa.N
Suddenly she swung inward: anI
Il dawneh upon him that she was
coming to his dock. "I'm not In.
terested in girls, but this speci.
Menu she advised himself, and
promptly began to remove some
Il the crime of his toll.
The canoe came closer and he
saw the fair face OF its owner
lifted to mark a landing.
In q few moments It came be.
side the deck and he steadied It
looking down into as pretty eyes
rs he had ever seen-dark brown
and fong-lashed.
She smiled in a slightly em5ar
raised way and said in a voice
that was music to his ears:
Il wonder II I may have the
typewriter table which under.
stand you offer"
He saved himself from falling
OH the dock by. grabbing the edge.
pazed he certainly was. II a
feathered angel had appeared,
making q similar request, he
would mot have been more sur.
prfsed.
he started to say something
but only suffered. The faint
laughter in her brown eyes was
the last upsetting factor. There
was nothing to do but retreat. He
stumbled up the dock to the cot.
tage, yanked up the table and re-
turned He handed It to her ser.
enely, gradually gathering his fac
nlties and making up his mind to
play the game, as his notice hal
brought him just what he suggest
ed.
She took the table with a cry Of
pleasure. .,1sh,tS It a little dear?"
at isior was a little dear to me-"
he replied. II hope you will find it
conyenient.r
She noddeds '1knowI shall, and
THANK You very, much"
THE pleasure Is all mine" he
started to say, but reversed his
words and said, 1.-THE pleasure you
viii have with It Is worth the trou.
Bile TO come for II, l hope"
She turned the canoe with a
graceful swirl OF the paddle looked
up At him with brown eyes that
were a bit puzzled andNsomethiur
else, and departed,
He looked after her long. "Con.
found IT. there's grill could tum.
e5le into love with. She either had
In immense amount OF gan 70
swipe that typewriter and then re.
turn for the table, orwell. hans
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