The Mystery of Mary

othing, about this stranger? And now her going had left things blank enough! It was foolish, of course-just highly wrought nerves over this most extraordinary occurrence. Lif

his moment when he had parted from her, when the memory of her lovely face and pure eyes lingered with him, when her bravery and fear were both so fresh in his mind, and the very so

e hill with an important telegram, leaving the station door locked. The platform was windy and cheerless, with a view of a murky swamp, and the sound of deep-throated inhabitants croaking

which lay a newspaper. He could read the large headlines of a column-no more, for

PEARANCE OF YOUN

to no purpose. Finally he turned on his heel and walked up and down for an hour, tramping the length of the shaky platform, back and forth, till the train rumbled up. As he took his seat in the car he saw the belated agent come running up the platform with a lighted lantern on his arm, and a package of letters, which he handed to the brakeman, but there was not time to beg the newspaper from him. Dunham's indignant mind continued to dwell upon

sterious disappearance of a young actress who was suspected of poisoning her husband. When seen last, she was boarding a train en route to Washington. She had not arrived there, however, so far as could be discovered. It was supposed that she was lingering in

scandalous sheet to the breeze. He determined to forget w

t who knew him, and procured a copy of every paper on sale. Then, instead of hurryin

the front page of a

USAND DOLLARS BY BEAUTIFUL YOUNG ADV

e shivered at the thought, and began to feel sympathy for all wrong-doers and truants from the law. It was horrible to have detectives

er paper, only to

OF FAIR

ndern

s to have recovered her senses, and professes to know nothing of what happened, but the physicians say she is liable to another attack of insanity, and deem it safe to keep

the paper from him

ED! BEAUTIFUL YOU

ris perfume and a vision of dainty opera cloaks. One of the men was a city friend of his. Dunham half envied him his unperturbed mind. To be sure, he would not get

od began to race more healthily in his veins, and the horrors of the evening papers were dispelled. In their place came pleasant memories of the evening at Mrs. Bowman's

ng. He awoke with a confused idea of being on a sleeping-car, and wondered if he

to breakfast? Do hurry, please. I've someth

d keep in her good graces, so he made a hurried toilet and wen

. I have put such implicit confidence in Norah, and I cannot bear to accuse her unjus

d you were sure you left

egin to think now I didn't have it with me at all. Then there is my opal ring. To be sure

r? Norah been appropriati

It is so unpleasant to charge a person with stealing. It is such a

rge her with it, is there? Are you quite sure it i

was becoming. She wanted some color about it instead of all black. I left it in my room, and charged Norah to see that the man got it when he called, and now the man comes and says he wants the hat

mp. "Cornelia, I'm ashamed of you, thinking that poor, innocent girl has stolen your hat. Why, she wouldn't steal a pi

o know a great deal about her eyes. You may feel d

h a thing as speaking to that poor girl about that hat. I know she hasn'

id the exasperated sister. "And I shall just

such an injustice done in our house. The hat will turn up soon if you just go about the matter calmly. You'll find it qu

her, "if she isn't honest, you

honest as the day is lon

r rose re

wonder if it is going to rain. I have a Reciprocity meeting on for to-day, and I'm a delegate to

presently returned with a di

. My new rain-coat! I hung it up in the hall-closet with my own hands, a

ely. "I think it's high time something was d

e rain-coat if they are not forthcoming before a fortnight passes, but you simply shall not ruin that poor girl's reputation. I

you wish it--" said his moth

r without consulting me. Remember, Cornelia, I will not have any trifling. A girl's reputation

d sister, to whom he was usually courtesy itself. Consulting him about household matters was as a rule m

e fallen in love with Norah, do you? Why, she's Irish

on is a Dunham. Whatever else a Dunham may or may

mother looked quite regal

ngs in the papers now. Of course Tryon wo

ician scream-"I forbid you to mention the subject again.

nly I do wish I had my hat. I always did like all bl

et, who was so evidently flying from justice. He had deceived not only his intimate friends by palming her off as a fit companion for them, but his mother and sister. He had practically stolen their garments, and had squandered more than fifty dollars of his own

That was something tangible. He could at least know what it was worth, and so make sure once for all whether he had been deceived. No, that would not

overing rain-clouds in the distance. And gloriously did the sun illumine the diamond, burrowing into the great depths of its clear white heart, and causing it to break into a million fires of glory, flashing and glancing until it fairly dazzled

greeting, he han

ng to look unconcerned. "I should like to know if

urious little instrument for the eye, presently

e perplexed than ever. Suspicions of all sorts crowded thickly into his mind, but for every thought that shadowed the fair reputation of the lady, there came into his mind her clear eyes and cast out all doubts. Finally, after a bad hour of trying to work, he slipped the ring on his little finger, determined to wear it and thus prove to himself his belief in her, at least until he had absolute proof against her. Then he took up his hat and went out, decidin

with exquisite plumes-her gloves, a costly leather purse, and a fine hemstitched handkerchief,

hich had made him the possessor of two parts of the same mystery-for he had no doubt

newsboy brought the latest magazines and a box of chocolates and laid them at her shrine with a smile of admiration and the words, "Th' g'n'lmun sent 'em!" The suit-case lay on the seat opposite, the reflection of her face in the window-glass, as she gazed into the inky darkness outside, was crowned by the hat h

lf doubtfully, feeling that she was alm

them over in a business-like way, trying to see how she could make use of them. Removing her hat, she covered it with the silk muffler, to protect it from dust. Then she took off her dress and wrapped herself in the soft bath-robe, wondering as she did so at

in the little apartment, and lay down in the darkness to