Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-09-06

she repeated. in a dazed tone.
''Yes; it was like this. You rcmem-
Der the Thurstons? Well. Thurston
and l invested largely in Fourcross
mine shares last year. It's a long
story. and l know you don't like bust
ness details, SO I'll cut it as short as
can. The Fourcross mine is in South
America. and Thurston went over a
couple of months ago to see shether
the thing was bona fde or not
whether the shares were worth stick.
ing to, or only good for speculation.
You know the sort of woman Mrs.
ThurstOn is?'
80 yes; : dreadful dowdy. and wears
spectacles," interpolated Julia, con.
temptuously.
"A shrewd woman of business though
-Thurston's right hand. 1t was ar
ranged that Mrs. Thurston should COM
municate to me the result of her hus-
bands Investigations, which he sent to
her by cable in cipher. l dare say you
can guess why did not wish him to
communicate with me direct; it was i'm.
perative that my connection with him
should be kept secret. Unluckily. q
few weeks ago scarlet fever broke out
among the Thurston children, and !
would not 60 to the house for fear OF
bringing the infection here; therefore,
Mrs. Thurston agreed to write to me in
a cipher of a very simple kind. but
which would not be ineligible to every
one in case any of the letters were tara.
pered With
20 Dolph. will you ever forgive me?'
burst out Mrs. Ronayne suddenly,
throwing herself on her husband e
breast. 1T was I who stole the letter
it is who have ruined your
Your cried Mr.. Ronayne, incredu.
lousy.
Julia drew back with a pale, fright
ened face; she dared not meet her hus-
bands eyes. Then she rose mechani.
Gully, unlocked her escritoire, and took
from it the letter, which she tremb-
lingly put into his hand.
There it is, Dolph," she said, in a
low voice.
He took the letter, opened and read
it in silence.
"How did you get it?" he said at last,
fixing his eyes sternly on his wife
tear-stained face. Julia, can scarce
ly believe that even you could be such
fool as to have intercepted this letter. "
II did. But, o Dolph! it was in a
woman's handwriting-and l thought
Il thought"
Its that idiotic jealousy of yours.
l suppose" he interrupted. Look
here! Will this convince you that
Mrs. Thurston hasn't written me a
love-letter?" he added with grim irony.
Then he held the letter towards her,
and with a shaking forefinger, indi.
Gated first the numerals and then the
corresponding words of the cryptic
gram. 1T is a very simple cipher.
Realize shares FOurcross Nine. Fall
impending If 1 had received this
letter week ago, should have sold
the shares at high figure and real
lied fortune. As it is they are little
better than waste paper; if you look
at this mornings money market you
will see why. The Thurstons are all
right; forI happened to hear to-day
| that Mrs. Thurstcn-acting on the
private information she had received
instructed her broker to sell week
agO-at the time when she wrote me
this letter. But for your folly-or my
anxiety about the children, if you like
to put it that way-I should have been
! able to retire from business altogcth.
er. As it is, we must let this house
for few years, and live in lodgings
as cheaply as we can. 1t will be hard
trial for you. my poor girl; but hope
it will have cured you once and fol-
always of your foolish and groundless
jealousy. And" he added with q
smile, perhaps in future you won'1
think it necessary to tamper with my
| letters. Chambers Journal
SAVED BY a CAT.