Talbot's Angles

ws?" Miss Ri asked the boy, wh

so I'm keeping the lid on the best I know how. I don't see any papers marked

rd and necktie back, Mr. Jeffreys? Thank you, Billy, for letting us come

to her conjectures. "Of course, Mr. Jeffrey

s which I chanced to have with me, and he has stuffed it into his valise along with other thin

the c

ie like that. No, Miss Hill; I can't say I

first the trunk with the same initials, next the cravat, then the card. One doesn't expect to meet three such coincidences and gain no result, does one? Eliminate two,

. If this is really my trunk, it may be superfluous to make the trip, but it w

Ri. "You know the date, I suppose,

ly knew the number, which they must ha

out where the judge is going; it may be his family can tel

bethought themselves of getting Berkley on the telephone, but this, too, failed. He had been to the hotel,

f to be doing something, when one must wait. You'd get there quicker by taking the train, but the boat is cheaper, and I don't know that you would gain anythi

rel

they all had known as a neighbor? It might possibly be Talbot's Angles. No, that couldn't be, thought Miss Ri, for everyone knows it belonged to Jim Talbot and his father before him. Well, it is all very puzzling, and Linda may yet have her chance. Grace is just the si

he back way to

subjects I would rather not discuss with her, to say nothing of the plague o

comfort to you that you are t

Lie down there on the sofa till dinner is r

unt of the pursuit of clues, ending up

is really Mr. Jeffreys'. Aunt Ri, do you suppose Berk could have found that out? I don't see why he shouldn't hav

of Berk. He is too honest and straightforw

w could he help seeing whose they were? They mus

eve he notice

you have

otices details more quickly than a

I can't help

t settled. I don't know when anything so exciting has occurred in this town, and to think it concerns you, too. W

the next day, unfortunately making his call at Miss Ri's when neither she nor Linda was at home. Mrs. Becky Hill had come to town and had carried off Miss Ri, willy-nilly, to look at a horse which Mrs. Bec

this afternoon and nothing would do but I must be dragged off to Hillside to see about a horse she has an idea of buyin

sant drive? It is a lov

Matthews. Here's a note from him saying he was sorry not to find us at home

es he say anythin

a syl

he will

Here read f

en in the rather cramped, lawyer-like handwr

ting. I will bring a brace to you and we'll eat

ha

er

was

seem possible that he could be keeping away on purpose.

en go duck-shooting this time of year; it's about all the amusement

even ducks to be killed. Howev

t, I like to see the lads go off in their shooting clothes, with their dogs and th

f course, they are intended for food, but I can't bear to think of

linda, for a girl who has been br

omething of what it means to the poor ducks. Have you s

rthy and find out if he has returned. If

want to

y n

nt to the 'phone. Mr. Jeffreys himself answer

the question:

uld maybe deliver a trunk to the wrong place; that had sometimes happened. And if the trunk were not marked, or if the tag were torn, there would be little chance of its reaching the proper owne

suppose you know Berk is off duck-shoot

probably is; and Billy would think me a most suspicious character, if I asked for a second view of the valise. I am beginning

wife, as well; so I am sure I can manage. I'll make an effort this very afternoon. Berk won't mind when I tell him and he learns it was in a good cause. I will bring away a pile of stockings to men

miracle of ingenuity.

lieve I will go now. No time like the present. You can

iringly. "She is so direct, and so initiative. A woman like that is a friend

Jeffreys' affairs. She felt sorry for the young man who, like herself, was lonely and bereft. She was too tender-hearted not to show sympathy for anyone so unfortunate, and she was ver

a bit of paper which she laid triumphantly on the table. It was getting dark, and she called for lights, as she threw aside her

e window and was examining it by the waning light. He came back to take the matches from

get a light,

ning showed but four letters, though they were enough. "You see here," said Mr. Jeffreys, "on this first line was W. B. Jeffreys. The W. B., in my handwriting, remai

no doubt you have the trunk key

managed, Aunt R

to the trunk. There it sat with its J. S. D. as plain as day. It was locked and, of course, I couldn't get at the inside; but on one of the handles I saw this piece of tag hanging, so I took it off and brought it away. Of course,

too," added Linda,

roffered hand rather than Linda's, and then turning so

hen she started forth to school; he was at the corner to join her when she came home. Supper was scarcely over before his step was heard upon the por

ou," averred Miss Ri bluntly, when he left t

a relative, and naturally he turns to me for sympathy and advice

r fellow' sounds very dangerous

e her mirror, thoughtfully gazing at the reflection she saw there, and after she had turned out her light, she went to the window which opened upon the back garden, looking across to where a twin

u are an idiot. It is just like you to be carried away by some new excitement, never looking far enough ahead to d