Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-14
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II NJ FIRST WIFE
Continues from yesterday.)

ting his teeth and growing stern and
dooped now. I'D about lost nv head
That telegram was q regular crusher
But Pm coming rou1d now. and should
like TO see the man who'd step between
me and nv wife,"
.But she is not your wife, SIR" cried
Resfon. sternly.
And say she is, (" cried Audas, rising
with his fists clenched and fierce. menac
ing look in his eyes. Il say she is my
dear wife, and no law shall come between
us or separate Us. Oh, Frank, do lovt
her dearly, and never knew how mucf
till received this awful news"
"Humph p said Reston. dryly; ''somt
men don't find it out till their wives arr
dead. Here, let's see that message again
We must look at this matter in cool
business like way"
..Of course. You can. couldn't; I
nearly drove me mad"
"Um-um- um." buzzed the young bar
rister. reading the telegram. "Bigamy IL
an awkward offense against the law. UNI.
um-um. Let's see. you received this tele'
gram this morning?"
Yes, and packed up and came of q!
once. Lesby thinks it's important bust
ness regarding money affairs.
"Humph 2'' said Reston. holding the
telegram first on one side then on the
other, and then between himself and the
light, as if expecting to obtain brain IL
Illumination that way, while John Audas
watched his movements with speeches.
anxiety.
Look here. Jack" Reston said at last,
..it's one of the principles of law to believe
nothing until it can be proved"
yes, OF course" said Audas.
"WelI, look here. then, old fellow. how
do we known that this telegram is true?'
''Oh. it's genuine enough"
"How do you know?"
How do I-eh /? What! how do
know?"
Yes, will repeat my question dozen
times, if you like, my good SIR" said
Rrston. involuntarily dropping into the
cross examining style; chow do you
know that this telegram is trueP 1t may
be hoax"
"Whatp"
II say it may be a hoax"
John Audss got up. drew q long breath.
cenched his fist. and began walking up
and down the room.
Il say it might be trick" said Reston
again.
If it is, and ! get hold of him who did
it. III treat him like | would a nut. -
growled the great fellow.
"Humph! | wouldn't do that" said
Reston, quietly watching him. "Man-
slaughter 10 worse than bigamy."
"Here. l say, painted Audas. imploring-
ly, "don't say that last word again; l
cant bear it,"
Besides. it might have been done by a
jealous woman. It's rather feminine
looking trick"
Couldn't be, Frank. old fellow. for
horses and dogs I've neglected poor
Lesby for them"
"Hah ~ said Reston. "Well, you
want my advice, Ell Pr
"Yes, old fellow, if you will help me.
Look here, you 90 down to Folkestone
and see what You can do with her. Prom
ise anything. only tell her she can't have
me again. III blow my brains out 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 and touched the bell.
Here, 60 and get sixpenny Bradshaw, -
he said, 10 the man who appeared.
II know what time the trains are due, "
said John Audas, excitedly.
"You leave matters to me-" said the
brother-in-law, abruptly; and the country
squire sank back in his chair.
Thanks. that will do" said Reston,
taking the little fiat square book from tSe
clerk and turning over the pages. "Ah,
here it is-Ultramarine hotel. Folkestone
James Thompson. Now we'll see.''
He took telegraph form and wrote a
message: From F. Reston, Emperor
chambers. Temple, London, to J. Tnomp
son, Ultramarine hotel. Folkestone. Il
Mrs Grace Audas or Mrs. John Auda.
staying at your hotelP Answer paid
Wire."
"How long shall we be getting an an
swer ?" said Audas, gloomily.
depends on the amount of business
Perhaps in an hour, perhaps in three
There, take the paper, must 60 on will
my brief"
'That you shan't" cried his brother.in
law, snatching away the papers. "Yor
must talk to me. This is a consultation
IN pay"
Reston saw that it was no use to com
bat his brother-in-law, so to make III,
time pass more easily he lit g cigar, ant
sat and listened to the great earnest fel
lows long-winded details of how badly h,
had behaved to his little darling" as hi
called her. But she must never know
of this. Frank" he kept saving.
mot if we can keep it from her." sal,
the barrister quietly; and he sat back il
his easy chair, looking grimly amused
and thinking that, after ali, his siste1
might have done worse than marry tn,
big honest Englishman, whose good look
and manly ways had won her heart.
But 1t was tedious time. and it tool
all the young barrister's skill in tempting
his brother-in-law into fresh narratives. t.
keeping him from rushing back to til,
hotel. and taking flight to avoid the polio,
who would soon be on his track.
At last though. the telegram arrived
and there was a curiously puckered ap
pearance about Frank Reston's eyes a,
he opened it and held it. gazing at it fo
a few moments without speaking.
"Whv don't you put me out of m,
misery P" cried Audas at last, and, snatch
ing the telegram. he read the one wore
"No."
what. Why, what does this mean p
Il asked If Mrs. Audas was at the vi
tramarine hotel" said Reston. slowly
land the answer comes back. NO. My
dear boy. it's a hoax"