Talbot's Angles

yet, for her "old horse" proved to be a box of books. "Not bad ones, either," she declared, "and those I have

are they?" L

on, Linda: Berk Matthews went with me. He is the greatest one to tease. I met him on the street and couldn't get rid of him. I didn't want him to go to the sale, but the more I tri

tru

hen he goes off with Judge Baker. It has the letters J. S. D. on it, which Berk declares

s in th

ay over till Sunday. That is a good son, Verlinda. I wish you could see the beautiful little desk he bought for his mother's birthday. I went with him to pick it out. It

cting a little too

r of his, and when Margaret was married, well, no girl in town could have

Christmas gift," said Linda smili

be becoming to hi

h beauty

maybe, but Berk loo

unless you measure his shoulder

must admit he has a

ie, Miss Part

. I'll venture to say you think M

ay-no, I'll not tell you

my curiosit

for here comes the

d came around to the front door, Miss Ri watching him the while. "Berk would have bolted in through the kitchen," she commented. "I don't suppose anything would

ope you will pardon my taking the short cut, Miss Hill; but I promised Miss Turn

d taken the long way around," replied Miss Ri. "Come in,

rlinda, you entertain Mr. Jeffreys while I answer this note," said Miss Ri. "It's about a church meeting, and

t the window. "I hope you slept w

ent on with her task, nipping off a dead leaf here, straightening a bent twig there. "They don't l

people,"

. "Yes, but just as surely they w

Mr. Jeffreys, for I want to send Parthy a lemon pie that Phebe has just baked, and I'

" asked Linda, when the doo

pend. I won't forc

out her trip to town; s

bout your trip to town," began M

hat do you mean, Verlinda Talbot, by

r. Jeffreys will te

ke a compact. Can you kee

ept my ow

is quite a di

ours, if you w

collect in the course of some months. If persons refuse to pay expressage, if the address is wrong, if it has been torn off, you see how it wou

this

n't be so ready to tell, if Berk Matthews hadn't been along; but I'm quite sure he will think it too good a

stray trunks. If mine had been sent

s yours

claim check, but that was in the pocket-book of which I was robbed-so you see-There was a tag on the trunk, but that might h

m the wagon, or have fallen off. However, that is an old subject, isn't it? Mr. Matthews' is a neat little steamer trunk

er's; but, being small and in good condition, I used it for myself, old as

rd and asked earnest

Somers Darby was

J. S. D.? My dear man, those are t

e began. "Miss Hill, could it be possible that it is my trunk? Will you tell me all the

s not yet

had forgo

Ri, "if it will do any good," and she proceeded to d

"I don't suppose there is any chance of my ca

boat up to-ni

not remember that

have left by the time you could reach the city. Better possess

t for some time," h

eem impossible. It certainly is a curious coincidence, though doub

could have found its way to the e

t the how, if you discover th

hen Linda said: "You haven't told

chair. "Cousin! What are you t

Mr. Jeffreys. "It doesn't give a very near relationship,

. Your great-grandfather on the Talbot side, is it, Verl

Wyatt Jeffreys, after whom I am name

. "I am sure I have heard my grandmother speak of him, for you see, Lo

nnsylvania. I believe his house was burned during that war, and he, l

member," cried Linda, turning to Miss Ri, "though I do

to which he emigrated was supposed to be all that came to Lovina, but the old papers show, we believe, that he still had a claim to estates here in Maryland. Lovina went to England after her marriage, and the papers were left with some of the neighbors, though she seems to have had possession of them afterward, for there was a memorandum giving the name and address of the persons in whose care it was eventually left. This memorandum my father found after her death, and when he came to this country later on, he hunted up the box and t

deeply. Linda, no less preoccupied, sat with eyes fixed upon the plants in the window. It was she who

game will not be worth the candle. However, we shall see. If Berk takes up your case, you m

n the arrival of the morning boat. Mr. Matthews was not there. Had he arrived? Oh, yes; he came in on the train the night before, but went off again with

irectly to Miss Ri, who observed him walking so dejectedly up

ked myself quite into the belief that it must

erred," was the reply. "Mr. Matthews came last night

owever, we must make the best of it

ok a t

? We might make a tour of investigation. Just wait till I lo

rs tipped back, were smoking sociably. In the lobby were gathered others who, less inclined for outdoor air, were taking a morning cigar there. Miss Ri interviewed the clerk, porter, and chambermaid to gather the i

tel. "I am wondering what he did with the papers. There is probab

ush to gather up what he should need for the trip. "He was here last night, too, Miss Ri," said the lad, a fresh

papers from his trunk to lea

upstairs. I can see. Were there some papers of yours, Miss Ri

g to a particular case which I w

she asked, "Could we go

he told her. "It's where Mr.

ion of things: saddles and bridles, a shooting outfit, two or three old hats hung on the wall, one or two boxes of books and pamphlets were shoved under some rough shelves. The boy dragged

y valise, shaking it from side to side. From the bulging crevice fell a card upon which was printed, "Wyatt B. Jeffreys,