Dodge City times., 1888-04-12

had appointed to have their second meeting
he found himself constantly regarding that
future date with the mixed feelings which
have been described above.
The appointed day and hour found Colonel
Punter seated in his room trying to read the
paper, but in reality waiting q little nerv-
ously for Mrs. Werner. She did not keep
him long. On entering the room she looked
keenly at the Colonel aud, advancing quick
ly, said in rapid, anxious accents:
20, Colonel Punter, don't keep me in sus-
pense; is it truel" Then seeing his blank
look, she cried out: 1T is, and he is dis
honored." Then she sank into a chair and
burst into tears. This the Colonel had pre-
pared himself for; 50 in his most winning
accents he implored her to compose herself.
This in few minutes she partially sue
ceeded in doing, and Immediately proceeded
to cross-examine him as to what he had
found out and done at Aldershot; how there
was no doubt in the regiment as to young
Verner's being the son of rich people at
Singapore; how the Colonel himself had
told him so, and how he Colonel Punter)
had in fit of indignation spoken to the
young man himself. For this she mildly
upbraided him, reminding him OF her re-
quest, and the Colonel deprecated her wrath
and pleaded sudden impulse. When the
story was finished she rose, and, smiling
sadly through her tears, said:
II don't know how can sufficiently thank
you for your kindness to me, Colonel Punter.
You have indeed been a true friend, and
should like above all things, if you will
allow me, to ask your advice as to what
had better do in this sad matter; but, indeed,
feel quite incapable of doing so on this
occasion. Hearing that these terrible re-
ports are true has, as you have seen, upset
me very much, and think had better go
home now; but if you will allow me to fix q
future interview by note, when feel less
unequal to the effort. you will add one more
to your many kindnesses."
The Colonel very readily consented, and
in another moment she was gone, and with
her. so it seemed to our gallant friend, all
light and beauty departed from the room.
From that moment, too, though he would
hardly have confessed it to himself, he be-
gan looking forward to the day whom he
should see that note upon his table.
A fortnight had elapsed since the inter
view above detailed, but Colonel Punter
had not yet received the expected note. lie
had not given up hope, but still he was un-
doubtedly depressed, and, whether 1t was an
effort to throw off this detection which had
induced him to accompany is friend Cap
tain Jones to the Variety Theater, OF
whether impelled by fate, or for whatever
reason, we will not stop to inquire, but at
any rate in that theater, and comfortably
enscOnced in two stalls, sat Colonel Punte1
and Captain Jones on this evening, some OF
the events of which are about to be related
The curtain had just fallen on the first act
and the house, till at that moment wrapped
in gloom, sprang suddenly into light. Then,
as If by common consent, every man, WON
an and child in that great audience, with Z
want of manners that would be permissible
nowhere else, but which is quite conventions
between the acts Of play, commenced, with
or without opera glasses, to scrutinize his
or her neighbor. For few seconds the
Colonel had discussion with his friend as
to whether there was time for cigarette
between the acts. This was promptly de.
cided in the negative, and both officers
grasping their glasses, proceeded to join IN
the general inspection"
With a calmness born Of long habit,
Colonel Punter was sweeping the house, wheI
suddenly his arm dropped and his gaze be
came intently fixed on the occupants OF {
box on the right of the sta se; these consisted
of two gentlemen and ! lady, and the lady
was Mrs. Werner. On this point he had NJ
doubt whatever, tho Ugh he looked at he
with ever-increasing surprise, for she wa
in very full evening dress, and was exten
sively bejeweled. She was, moreover, q
this moment talking and laughing loudly
not to say boisterousiy, with her compan
ions, both of whom the Colonel mentally AM
unhesitatingly pronounced to be cads. A
this juncture Mrs Werner. turning her hea'
suddenly, caught sight Of Colonel Punte
staring at her from the stalls; the momen
their ewes met he bowed, and she also bowe'
slightly and smiled; then, turning to he
companions, she seemed, from their uproa,
ious laughter, to be telling them more tha
usually good story. Captain Jones had oh
served the mutual recognition pass betweel
his friend and the lady in the box, and wa
greatly astOnished.
"Why. Colonel he said, ''do you know
hers You don't mean to say that you hav
had to 60 to the Hebrews like younge
menr
Eyes know her. But what on earth d
YOU mean by asking whether I've been goin
to the Hebrews!'
"Weu, I think it was a very natural ques
ton, under the circumstances"
II don't know what you are talking about
Who do you think that lady is, thenP
81 don't think at all, Colonel. know tha
she's Mrs. Hart Moss, the female represents
tive Of one of the biggest money-lendin
firms in town; and they tell me she's yer
good hand at the business"
Colonel Punter made no reply, but becam
plunged in deep and apparently distressln
reyerie, for he clenched his fist and almos
ground his teeth, until he attracted tn
attention of Captain Jones, who had, in tn
meantime, been nOdding recognltlons
some people of his acquaintance.
.'Why, Colonel said he, whats th
matterl The sight of that Mrs. Moss seen
to have disagreed with you awfully. Whol
did you mistake her for"
s.It has disagreed with me-" said tt
! Colonel, grimly, ''but see it all now. Wh'
/ you say, Jones, is quite true; she Is q ve1
/ good hand at her business" Then SUI
/ denly his countenance frightened SOM
! what, and he added:
sCome and have something at the clu
after the play, and, if you will swea
secrecy, will tell you the whole story"
And he did tell Captain Jones -ry d
tail, finishing the narrative with the'
words: $50 you see she made regul'
catspaw Of me, in order to find out ii Vern'
was worth powder and shot. l suppose,
his people live abroad, she found difficulti'
in the ordinary methods Of procedure"
"Iexpect that you're about right, Colont
| By Jove! she's clever wOman!'
II wonder she had the audacity, though
said our gallant friend, his anger boiling
again for a moment. Way, l might ma
the whole matter public
..She knew you wouldn't, though"
s!And she's quite right" said the Colon
ssfor Iwon't.-CornhiH -nagazi,s.
Farming as a Business.