, 1884-01-26

"What did you say that forP'
mo, no, l did not say that. / said II my
Hrst wife had been alive we would have had
a better diner"
81 should hardly have believed it OF you,
John Audas."
mo, you would not, Frank; but I'm such
a fool ut times. You see I'm not like you, all
brains. I'd give anything to be as clever and
-and-n
"As uglyr'
mo, old fellow; I was going TO say wise as
you are. Ali Frank, that woman was nearly
80 when l married her, and she only had me
out of spite, l believe, 50 as to annoy some
one else. l never had a moments pence with
her. l was a bigger fool when I married her
than 1 am now. say, you won't think of
my being separated from LesbyT"
But your wifei She has the best right to
you-of course the right"
81 don't care, - said the big fellow. setting
his teeth and growing stern and dogged now.
cpd about lost my head. That telegram was
a regular crusher. But I'm coming round
now, and should like to SEQ the man who'd
step between me and my wife"
Butts she is not your wife, SIR" cried Res
ton sternaly.
And 1 say she is" cried Audas, rising
with his fist clinched and a fierce,
menancing look in his eyes al say she
Is my dear wife, and nc law shall
come between US or separate US. oh, Frank
l do love her dearly, and never knew how
much till l received this awful news
"Humphr' said Reston drily, some mon
don't fnd 1t out till their wives are dead.
Here, let's see that message again. We must
look at this mntter In q cool, business-Ike
way"
o course. You can, I couldn't; it nearly
drove Inc mad.n
"Um-um-um," buEzed the young harris
ter, reading the telegram "Bigamy Is an
awkwnrd offense against the law. nun
UNI. Let's see, you received this telegram
this morningg'
"Yes, and packed up and came of at once.
Lesby thinks it's important business regard
ing money affairs"
"Humphr' said Reston, holding the tele-
gram first on one side, then on the other, and
then between himself and the light, as II ex-
pecting to obtain brain illumination that
way, while John Audas watched his move
ments with specifies anxiety.
LOO here, Jack" Reston said at last, 'lt's
one OF the principles in the law to believe
nothing until 1t can be proved"
"Yes, of course u said Audaa
"Well, look here, then, old fellow, how do
we know that this telegram is nueF'
"Oh, its genuine enough"
"How do you known
| now 90 l-tui huaJl now 90 L KNOWN
"Yes. / will repeat mi question a dozen
times II you like, my good SIR said Reston,
in%yoluntarily dropping into the cross-examin-
ing style, show do you know that this tele-
gram Is truel 1t may be a hoaIr
"WhatF" roared Audas.
81 say it may be a hoax"
John Audas got up, drew q long breath,
clenched his fist, and began walking up and
down the room
II say 1t may be q trick" said Reston
again.
"If 1t is, and l get hold OF him who did It,
I'll troat him like l would a NUT growled
the great fellow. M
"Humph! I wouldn't do that, =" said Re.ton,
quietly watching him "~Manslaughter's
worse than ~bignmy."
Here, l say" painted Audas, imploringly,
don't say that word again; / can't bear it Z"
Besides, it might have been done by a
Jealous woman. Its rather a feminine-look-
ing trick"
Couldn't be, Frank, old fellow, for I never
take notice of women Pm all for horses
and dogs I've neglected poor Lesby for
them"
"HahI" said Reston. well, you want my
advice, ehr'
"Yes, old fellow, If you will help me.
Look here; go down to Folkestone and see
what you can do with her. Promise any
thing, only tell her she amt nave me again.
Iu blow out my brains irst-n
Don't DO a fool, Jack You'd lihe me to
sec her, then, chr
YES. yes, do, Frank, for Lesby's sake as
well as mine"
Frank Reston rose and touched the bell.
"Here, go and get a sixpenny Bradshaw be
said TO the man who appeared.
"Tknow what time the trains are,r said
John Audas, excitedly.
you leave matters to ms,n said the
rother-in-la abruptly; and the country
squire sank back in his chair.
Thanks, that will do" said Reston, tax
Ing the little fat squnre book from the clerk
and turning over the pages. "Ah, here 1t is
-Ultramarine Hotel, Folkestone, James
Thompson. Now Wen see"
he took a telegraph form and wrote a
message; From F. Reston, Emperoris Cham.
bers, Temple, London, 70 J. Thompson, VI
trnmarine Hotel. Folkestone. Is Mrs. Grace
Audas or Mrs John Audas staying at your
hoteli Answer paid Wire
Now we shall have taken our first STOP
said Reston, ringing. Send that telegram
directly"
How long shall we be getting an aaswerf'
said Audas gloomily.
Depends on the amount OF business Per
haps an hour, perhaps in three. There, take
tine paper. L must 70 On VIII my Drlel-"
THAT you shant,n cried his brother-in-law
snatching away the papers You must talk
to me. This is a consultation. I'll pay
Reston saw that IL was Of no use to combat
his brother-in-law, 50 TO make the time pass
more easily he lit a cigar, and sat and
listened to the great earnest fellows long
winded details Of how badly he had behaved
to bis "little darling, y as he called her. "But
she must never know OF this, Frank" he kept
saying.
mot II we can keep 1t from her." said the
barrister quietly; and be sat back in his easy
chair, looking grimly amused, and thinking
that, after all, his sister might nave done
worse than marry the big honest Englishman,
whose good looks and manly ways had won
her heart
But 1t was a tedious time, and it took all
the young barrister's skill In tempting hi
brother.in- law into fresh narratives, to keer
him from rushing lack to his hotel, and tax,
Ing flight TO avoid the police who would soor
be on bis track
AT last, though, the telegram arrived, and
there was a curiously puckered appearance
about Frank Reston's eyes as he opened II
without speaking.
"Why don't you put me out OF my miseryr
cried Audas at last, and snatchiug the tele
gram, he road the word NO.
what Why, what DOES this meanr'
~ asked II Mrs AudAs was at the Ultra
mrine hotel" said Reston, Lowly, 'and
the answer comes back, No Ny dear boy
It's a hoax"
"Hahp' calculated JOIN Audas, drawing IL
and expressing a long breath. and tbsr
striding toward the door.
"What are you going to dor
First find out who did IT"
-Noussnse, mani Some fool who though