Secret Service.
As soon as it is accepted I plan to open an office in Chicago, to do
private investigative work. There is an immense opportunity for this
among the thousands of great business houses here. Then I am going
to have a home--and," he added, leaning toward her and gazing
straight into her eyes, "I want you to help me start that home."

Jane flushed. "What do you mean?" she murmured.

"That I love you," replied Marsh, as he took her small, soft hand in
his.

"But you have known me such a short time," protested Jane.

"Jane," he said, "I have watched over you for nearly two years. When
you walked along St. Louis streets and entered shops; when you
passed back and forth to your music school in Chicago; I was many
times close at hand."

She gazed at him in startled surprise. "I don't understand," she
said.

"My work took me to St. Louis," Marsh explained. "There I saw you
and fell in love. The same work brought me to Chicago, soon after
you arrived here, and though you did not know me--probably not even
by sight--I was there, watching over you, and worshipping day by
day. Perhaps a week is too short a time for you to begin to care,
but I had hoped that you would."

"I do care," she half whispered, "but I did not know that you
thought so much of me. I have often longed for a real home myself.
You know, my own home was never really a happy one. For years my
mother was sickly and nervous, and it was I who incurred all the
household responsibilities. It has been years since I had the care
and companionship that most girls receive from a mother. My father
always provided liberally for us, but, he was seldom at home."

"Then we will start a real home together?" he pleaded.

"Yes," she whispered.

The sun sank out of sight and the twilight folded them in friendly
seclusion as Marsh took her in his arms.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sheridan Road Mystery, by
Paul Thorne and Mabel Thorne

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SHERIDAN ROAD MYSTERY ***

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