The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-06-12

Ilifc," asseveratcd Mr.. Doublechin, put
ting on \ hid front and facing his
wlfe's scrntinising gaze.
1T II very singular, remarked Mrs.
Doublcchin, while her daughters OK.
changed chances. "Whnt sort Of per-
son Ii thls--thls creature, inspectorP"
son, / believe. ma'am; but ! haven't
sct eyes on hcr, myself" said tho In
spcctor, with sidclong glance At Mr..
Donbleohin.
"liow did shs get hold of your namc.
JosephP' demanded his wife.
.'Shc had got II pat enough, certain
ly,' intorposed the Inspector.
''lIow the deuce am to know" re-
turned MFR. pouhlschin, quite harccly.
"Ncll, SIR said tho inspector. taking
possession Of tho ring again and re.
placing Il In his pocket Il was bound
10 make inquiries, Of course. II wc
Ind believed the young womnn's story,
l should not have come down here. ]
shall have 10 nsk you 10 attend At tho
Mansion house tomorrow morning, NJ
IL o'clock"
"Why" asked Mr.. Doublcchin I'm.
easily: :sFi, vo,,,. ron,, vii, b, ,ron,,,
up for not bolng able to give n sa,istnc-
tory account Of the ring. II she in
sists on her story, your being there
may save ! rcmnnd,r explained the
Inspector "Wc may have 10 put you
In tho witncss.box, SIR"
every WE'LL" returned Mr.. Double.
chin, family, while beads Of pcrspira-
eion broke out upon his brow.
Tho inspector made another bow and
backed out Of tho room. Mrs. Double
chin sat with her Dyes fixed upon her
husbands face and never uttered word
until tho slamming Of tho hall door
rsvsrbcratod through the house. Upon
this Mr.. Doublechin Immediately jump
Cd out OF his chair. with tho evident
Intention of rushing aitcr tho inspoc-
tor.
''Stay here, Joseph" said his vito Ia
. very peremptory manner.
my dear. / wish to speak 10 tho In.
spsctor." no vcnturod to cay. mildly.
"You can have nothing moro 70 say
10 him. Iwant TO know tho meaning
Of this, Joseph" said his wifc. In an
awful voice.
Mr.. Doublechin was 20 cowcd and
terrified BY this aspect Of his hclpmato
that no pumped back Into his easy
chair, and faced her like stag As Oay.
For ten minutes BY tho clock hc was
subjected 10 ! vigorous and searching
cross. examination tho drift Of which
plainly showed that his wife was not
deceived BY his denial. But no WAS
fairly desperate, and his story was too
simple 10 ontrap him into mistakes.
hs stoutly Averred that no had sold tho
ring 70 tho jewellers, and had mover sct
eyes on Emily Stubbs. 10 this unve-
racious statement he pcrsistcntly chung,
and wisely did not attempt to otfer any
suggestion Of how his name came ~
DO mentioned. His wife was fain 10
drop tho subject for tho moment from
sheer hclplessncss. but the expression
on hcr face warned him that shu would
return TO tho charge.
Meanwhile. however. no WAS thank.
iul for the rcsp.lo, which he took al
vantage Of 10 cndeavor 10 collect his
ideas and 10 realize the situation. But
his reflections only served to turn his
uneasincss into another channel. From
what tho inspector had said, il was clear
that he hold poor Emily Stubs fate Ia
tho hollow Of his hand. II hc denied
giving her tho ring, she would prob.
ably 30 convicted Of having como by Il
dishonesty. Of course. this was on,
Of tho question. but, on the other hand.
II would never DO To run tho risk ot his
guilty secret reaching his wife's ears.
lie falt convinced that Il tho case came
into court she would he SURE To hear ol
Il, aud no shuddcrcd 10 think Of hcl
furious rage and Indignation when she
learned hc had deceived her. Il natur.
ally occurred 10 him that II he had seen
the inspector IN private all thie un.
plcasantness might have been avcr,cl.
and then Il struck him that Il Nigh,
not ee too late To remedy tho evil.
Glancing At his watch he perceived that
tho inspector must bc still waiting AT
tho station for the London train. and
he might easily have talk with hin,
aud set matters straight before any
harm had hcea danr.
MIR, Daahleehin ,eek hear, at this
idea. hu, perceived tia, he must hc
cautious. for. Il his vito suspected his
errand, she would be- Pretty sure 10 put
difficulties In his way. lie therefore
did his best 10 look chccrfully in,liifrr-
en-. and presently said, in u casual
way.
My DEAR |, Is warm indoors to.
night"
'.Reallys" circulated his wife. in \
,ono which would have chilled rcfriy-
crater.
"irS IL think l will 20 and smoke
cigar outside tor ten minutes" said
Mr. Deuelcchin, iaun,ils.
"Nanscnse, Joseph. You don't stir
outside this house tonight. You were
complaining III \ cold nj dinncr~tiMo;
II would be suicidal to expose yourself
10 tho air."
His wifc's answer was reasonable
enonghs but II WAS her tone rather than
her words which convinced Mr.. Double
chin that he must abandon his design.
For tho remainder II the evening he
sat In his armchair in y state of mental
perturbation which dctics description.
shrinking guiltily Whenever no on
coun,crcd his wifc's gaze. and feeling
more and moro unequal 10 the situa-
ton.
Under these circumstances il may
easily he imagined that poor Mr..
Doablechin passed sleepscss night.
Ills wife, TO be sure, affected 10 believe
that he WAS utterly incapable of the
mcSnness aud wickedness Of giving
prcscnts--s especially that particular
rinG--to \ Young woman. But the vc-
hcmcnce Of his Ssscverations plainly
showed that they were not based upon
conviction. and MIR. Doublechin groan-
oil when he thought Of the life that was
In store for him II the truth should
come out. Scarcely less appalling was
the prospect Of being forced. in self
defense. 10 give false evidence against
an innocent person, which involved .
charge Of perjury should his pcriidy be
discovered. The only way out Of the
difficulty which he could devise was to