The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1928-05-04
Mildred and the Lost
Umbrella
......-......
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS



smiling very charmingly into Toms
anxious eyes when she suddenly
leaned forward and stared at the
umbrella in the hands of the man In
the seat ahead Of them.
"Tom," whispered Mildred and had
to lean so close to Toms ear that her
soft lips almost brushed his cheek
and naturally Tom didn't mind how
long her whispering conversation
might be, shat man has an umbrella
that looks exactly like Brother Fred's
in fact" she added, craning her
neck bit, II am absolutely certain
1t Is Fred's umbrella-the one / had
the misfortune to lose when was in
London two years ago. Tom," and
Mildred became fearfully coaxing, "do
you mind asking that young man
where he got that umbrella?"
Mildred! Have you gone nutty?
Do you think / want to question all
the people In this bus as to where
they got the various bits OF personal
belongings they have with them?"
Mildred shook her head. "No-l
know that Is it. Fred only lent 1t to
me that day in London because had
on my new Paris suit and he didn't
want me to spoil 1t first thing. left
1t on the train and didn't have time to
go back and inquire as we sailed the
next day for home. Please, Tom, ask
him."
But Tom steadfastly refused.
"All right" Mildred's chin had
gone out a bit and her eyes flashed
her intention. Before Tom could stop
her she had leaned forward and In
the most heavenly voice In the world
was asking the perfectly strange man
to excuse her being rude, but would
he mind telling her where he got that
umbrella.
The stranger turned round, looked
only once into Mildred's eyes, and
Tom had a beastly feeling that the
game was up.
why no." Jim Weldon answered
with a ready smile which side slanted
and included Tom In Its generous pro-
portions, "as q matter of fact, I got
it In London at small lost property
Office on the Strand. 1t came on one
of those swift showers while was
just outside the funny little passage
that leads to the Office and / stepped
in."
Mildred laughed. "Well, it's really
quite funny" she said, ito see that
umbrella again for lost 1t on train
in London. My brother lent 1t to me
and / felt dreadful when / lost It."
'And I've had 1t with me constantly
for some eighteen months. You know
they keep all lost property certain
length of time, then sell 1t off for a
song. gave three shillings and siz
pence for this" he laughed.
"You know" conf1ded Mildred, ani
Tom was beginning to feel quite out
of the picture and bit gloomy, "my
brother would give lot to get that
back. His girl, who is now his wife
gave 1t to him for an engagement
present and she has always sort o1
| felt that 1t was very careless Of ms
| to lose it.''
Tom felt that the conversation hat
gone quite far enough now and ht
| didn't in the least like the new ant
interested expression that had flunl
| itself into Mildred's eyes nor the very
admiring glances the strange mar
| was giving Mildred.
WELL" he put In tride roughly
"what are you going to do about it?'
"Give 1t back to Its ,rightful owner,
said the young man rather curtly.
Mildred, too, was bit snappy. Sht
felt annoyed that Tom could be X
petty about nothing at all, and sht
decided she was not going to b<
snapped at by anyone. Her eyes were
belligerent.
I'm fact" continued the strange
young man calmly, "if you will be &c
kind as to give me your brothers
name and address + will take greal
pleasure in taking the umbrella t.
him myself. I'm sure we could enjoy
chat about London, too."
Mildred choked back a desire t.
laugh. Toms brow was like q thun
dercloud.
mo need to take all that trouble
about returning an umbrella" he
said with an effort to seem genial
Miss Caldwell can certainly give II
to him.
Tom! Don't be- absurd" flashed
Mildred with laugh. "Don't you see
that this gentleman could easily think
US couple Of crooks. How does he
know l have a brother-if he doesn't
meet him. / think he Is perfectly
right In wanting to put 1t In the right
hands" And In order to hide the
expression of her eyes. Mildred bent
over her vanity bag and extracted
therefrom card on which she wrote
the address Of her brother. She hand
ed this to the young man.
Thanks" he said, "and-is there
any particular time, Miss Caldwell
any special t1me-when / would be
most likely to find your brother?
Mildred bit her lip hard. She sim
ply dared not show her dimples and
her appreciation of the subtle man.
ner In which the young man was ask
Ing just when she was likely to be
visiting her brother.
Brother is always In on Wednes
day evening" she said.
And Jim Weldon got OF the bus
nor did he look back, for there were
those Wednesday evenings to looh
forward too
Lost property isn't the word, y
grOwled Tom.
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