Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-06-13

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should hardly have believed it of
You, John Audas."
No, you would not, Frank; but I'm
such fool at times. You see I'm not
like you, all brains. I'd give anything
to be as clever and-and-"
"As ugly ?"
"No, old fellow; I was going to say
wise as you are. Ali Frank, that
woman was nearly 80 when I married
her, and she only had me out of spite, I
believe, so as to annoy some one else. I
never had a moments peace with her. I
was a bigger fool when. I married her
than am now. I say, you won't think
of my being separ tied from Lesby p
"But your wife? She has the best
right to you-of course the right
II don't care" said the big fellow,
setting his teeth and growing stern and
logged now. I'D about lose my head.
That telegram was a regular crusher.
But I'm coming round now, and I should
like to see the man who'd step between
me and my wife,"
"But she is not your wife, sir" cried
Restop, ste1nly.
"And say she IT," cried Audas, ris::
ing, with bis fists clencbed and fierce.
menacing look in his eyes. 81 say she
ID my dear wife, and no law shall come
between us or separate us. Oh, Frank,
{ do love her dearly, and I never knew
how much till I received this awful
news"
"Humphl' said Reston, dryly;
"some men don't find it out till their
wives are dead. Here, let's see that
message again. We must look at this
matter in cool, business-like way"
GOT course. You can. I couldn't;
it nearly drove me mad"
"Um-um.um,' y buzzed the young bar
rister, reading the telegram. "Bigamy
is an awkward ofense against the law.
Um-um-um. Let's see, you received
this telegram this morning?
eyes, and packed UP and came off at
once. Lesby thinks it's important bust
ness regarding money affairs.
"Humph! said Reston, holding the
telegram first on one eide, then on the
other, and then between himself and the
light, as if expecting to obtain brain il.
Elimination that way, while John Audas
watched his movements with speechless
anxiety.
"Look here, jack" Reston said at
last, "it's one of the priI ciples in law
to believe nothing until it can be
proved"
eyes, of course" said Audas. -
"Well, look here, then, old fellow,
how do we know that this telegram is
true?"
"Oh, it's genuine enough"
SHOW do you know?" 81
How do I-eh? What! how do l
know?' .,..y; y. :. ! 80, ~. g. 81
eyes; I Will: repeat my question .
dozen times If you like, my good sir, !"
said Reston, Involuntary dropping into
the cross-examining style, "how do you
know that this teiegramis true? Itmay
be hoax"
"What ?" roared Audas.
II say it may be hoax" is
John Audas got up, drew a long
breath, clenched his fist and began
walking up and down the room.
81 say it may be trick" said Res
ton again.
elf it is. and get hold of him who
did it, Iii treat him like would nut, :"
growled the great fellow.
NOu1oA y w tubUs cu1N
Reston, quietly watching him. "Man-
slaughter's worse than bigamy."
"Here, I say" painted Audas, implo.
ring]y,: "don't say that last word again;
l can't bear it. ~
"Besides, it might have been done
by Jealous woman. Its rather fem
inine-looking TICK"
"Couldn't lie, Frank, old fellow; for /
never take notice OF women. I'm all for
horses and dogs. I've neglected poor
Lesby for them"
"Hahr' said Restoo. "WeN, you
want my advice, eh?'
"Yes, old fellow, if you will help me.
Look here; go down to FoIkestone end
see what you can do with her. Promise
anything, Only tell her she can't have
mo agalu. I'll blow out my brains
first"
"Don't be fool, Jack. You'd like
me to see her, then, eh?"
"Yes, yes; do, Frank, for Lesby's
sake as we'll as mine." .
Frank Reston rose aud touched the
bell "Here, go and get q sixpenny
Bradshaw" he said to the man who up
peared.
II know what time the trains are"
said ! ohm Audas, eycitedly.
"You leave matters to me-" said the
brother-in-] Jaw abruptly; and the country
squire sank back in his chair. 5.
&c Thanks, that will do" said RestoD,
taking the little fat, square book from
the clerk ana t"::rniug over the pages.
cab, here it is-Ultramarjue Hotel,
No01-oc{@n1
we'll eee." 80. -
he took a telegraph 10 IN and wrote
q message: From F. Reston, Empe-
rors Chambers, Temple, London, to j.
Thompson, Ultramarine Hotel, Folke.
stone. Is Mrs. Grace Audas or Mrs.
John Audas staying at your hotel? An
swer paid. Wire" -*..'
"Now we shall have taken our first
step" said Reston, ringing. "send
elbow long shall We be getting an an
swer?" said Audas gloomily. 49,. -
'tDepends on the amount of business.
Perhaps in on boar, perhaps in three.
There, take the paper, I must 90 on
with my brief" '...'<.
/ !" That you shan't, !" cried his brother
Au.A""s .oAuGOAAu6 oWuy A6 VNpclDs
" You must talk to me. This IL a;.con-
suttation. I'll pay <; =; ; " = .
Reston saw that it was of no use to
combat his brother-in-law, so to make
the time pass more easily he lit cigar.
and sat and listened to the great earnest
fellows long winded details Of how bad
~ he had behaved to his little dar.
ling" as be called her. But she must
never know Of this, Frank" he kept
saying. .,.. ..5.-"
Mot if we can keepit from her. !" said
the barrister quietly; and he sat back ii
his easy chair, looking grimly amused.
and thinking that, after all, his sister
might have done worse than marry the
big honest Englishman whose goodloo
and manly ways had won her heart.
But it was tedious time and il took
all the young barrister's skill in temnt-
ing his brother in-law into fresh narra.
tives, to keep him from rushing back Is
his hotel, and taking flight to avoid the
police who would soon be on his track
At last, though, the telegram arrived
and there yr0a a nnyin,,clv l,,nnl..., 70