An Oregon Girl

irst outbound car at the junction of Twenty-third and Washi

f day the ground he had traversed a few hours previous, and particularly the spot where Virginia had met th

length arrived at the spot which he recognized by the clump of firs close to the row of the esplanade benches. He examined the ground as carefully as the uncertain light would permit. Discovering nothing unusual, he was about to

ng was emerging from the deep darkness of night, mild, clean and fresh. The base of the distant eastern hills was yet shrouded in inky

ile the irregular points of the rugged mountain tops were sharply defined against the soft emera

ct above the high altitudes of the range that encompassed them, and even as he looked, a soft, rose-red tinge tipped the a

, in a basin-the city s

ently glided along its sinuous course to the Columbia; while patches of thin mist flitte

gave his usually bu

admiration to a reflective mood, in which the strange b

think of him in no other light after the night's experience. There was no doubt, f

l establishment vibrated the air and aroused him f

t grass. He picked it up. It was a narrow piece of soiled and worn ribbon, but attached to it was an old oxidized bronze medal, about the size of a silver quar

nd unweathered appearance of the ribbon,

the man talking to Virginia last night?" Th

into the inside breast of his coat to show the knife, when it was quite possible the medal either became unfastened

is uncle's reception, and connected the old Italia

so, was he the same party that met Virgi

train of thought had been started and rushed

ars he had heard Virginia men

keep it secret? And what business had Beauchamp out on the Barnes road la

led to the tangle of vines. There was the very spot. No mistaking it. Along that fence he had crept in the darkness of night. Those the leaves he ha

e he made his way, derisively fearl

oliage to let in more light

ttom. There the man had stood-not more than a foot of space separating them when Sam's hand touched the leave

r clinging to the end of a broken twig in the cavity of the tangle, which he at once conjectured had been torn from the man's false beard. These stra

soil, found nothing more to interest him, and squeezing himself through the aperture in

for their morning's work. Several bustling women, hotel stewards and others were out early, marketing. As he wended his way through the bargain-driving throng, the loud voice of an olive-skinned huckster standing on the r

o stood by, at the same time talking volubly-evidently in an effort t

da lady. Nice

Put in those other ones,

da black-a da skin. Look-a," an

over there. I think I'll buy some of them.

hands. "Eesa 'chink' wagon. Show all-a da good-a side, hide-a da rotten side. Da morrow, Eesa sell-a da turnoppsis, carrottsis, cababa

again began to bawl out in his peculiar Dago dialect: "Or-ran-ges! Ba-nans! Nice-a da ripe-a banans. Ten-a cents-a doz-z. Me-lo-

iend. Take-a eem a da home, two for-a da fifteen-a

high pitch, as he shouted: "Me-lo-nas! Ba-nans!

moved along slowly, a pace or two, rumaging his brain for identification, he suddenly remembered the

go dialect from a close study of this very man. The similarity of speech

ppended to a bit of soiled ribbon. He halted and ostentatiously displayed it, turning it over and over in h

u can describe certain marks

. Eets a Garibal

nformation, for he immediately became convin

at man, with huge, flat face, who was at once apprised of

had claimed it, but seemingly was unable to identify it. "I will d

wo Italians, the second one declaring it belonged to Giu

wagon license number 346, "is own it. I'm sure he

and shouted bac

an continued to address Sam. "His fa

you lost your

curb. With a surprised look he instantly

em?" the short,

day. Why for youse-a

fact that Giuseppe's frank

eliev

is man pick eem up there. It b

t-a da m

tify it," replied Sam. "Now, to prove it is yours,

uarter dollar. "Look-a da close. Eesa one-a da side 'Emanual Rex.'

ing the man searchingly and commit

dder side, 'Palestrino, MDCCCX

ct!" s

bit of ribbon?" a

leetle-a da faded

d he smiled as their eyes met full, face to face. And the Italian smiled at Sam's open-faced frankn

live to whom you loa

e street, then down the street, but finall

did h

side Nort Pacific Mil

is his

e-a da

ontinued, "I have no doubt the medal is yours, but it is a valuable souvenir, and as Mr. Golda may have something to say, I sha

all at the police station and put in his claim and I will be on hand with

ed, "Sacre da-be damn! Eesa mak George-a Golda

. That Giuseppe was not the man Sam was after, appeared certain, bu

d Golda to get the medal back, as it was e

t on his way to Detective Simms' office, and had nearly reached Alder street when

esponded Sam, re

came into his eyes-"axcipt for a sore spot in me he

s allusion, and said sympathetically, "

to the church whin she married him? And she was kind to my poor wife, too, whin she suffered bet

, but it's nothing, I guess! Are

hrole, wid me eye

s of

tchur! Sure, I do be always

" suggested Sam significantly; "

ackguard thaif has sthole the little sunbeam of her heart, which do be nearly broken entirel

u thin

d

yo

lay me hands on the wan who is raysponsibl

igent and discreet inquiry. With that idea he beckoned Smith into a lobby of an adjacent building, which at that early hour was unten

at all, at all!" said Sm

i medal. I can t

ne?" Smith respo

g the shanties and scow dwellers below the North Pacific mill. Show

ng it in his inside coat pocket. "

bronze lives-there will be found the little one." Sam had spok

followed, he looked at

ave it?" he

d

e own hart. I tould thim

so loud. If a fellow by the na

lda!" repe

If he will not come, track him, and let me know w

hink he's the wan?" whispere

. "But don't part with the

d Smith spat on his hands and made other significant manifesta

to Simms' office, and there, closeted wi

out in the vicinity of the Plaza fountain, and no matter what position he occupied