The Washington critic., 1888-02-25
OFFICE---941 ID ST., POST BUILDING.

"For instance, the other night, az
ter dinner, she went out, ostensibly to
reception at Mrs. Huntley Murray's.
Her cousins, the Leseurs, were to
bring her home Aftershe was gone,
took it into my head to drop into
the Comique. 1t isn't the sort of
place I'd care to take" my wife to.
But as / was coming out with the
audience, / saw her in the crowd
ahead, leaning on the arm of man
who was stranger TO me, and who
looked like gambler. / tried to get
up to them, but they were out first,
and got into hack and drove off. /
went home and waited. At o'clock
Mrs. Balderston came in. / asked her
how she enjoyed the reception. She
described it to me, and the people she
met She maintained the deception
perfectly. / concluded to say moth
ing until / had something unanswer-
able to go upon"
The detectiyestroked his moustache
and mused for while.
"You say you were behind her
coming out. Then she must have had
her back TO you. How can you be
certain it was she?'
"Oh, / recognized her by her
shawl. 1t was a valuable lace shawl
that / had bought for her the week
before. There's not another like it
in town. Besides, should know her
anywhere by her shoulders and car
riage. And that isn't the only time.
] have been told by friends Of mine
that they, had seen her at places
where knew she was not to have
been. could wish, at least, she
would be more CAREFUL
"You and she live alone; no one
else in the. house ?"
"Only the servants and her maid,
who is as much companion as a
servant"
"Ah! Have you ever thought of
sounding the maid-buying her upr'
Balderston shook his head.
"There's nothing to be got there.
| The girl is very innocent and knows
nothing. Mrs. Balderston never takes
her out with her. That would be no
use."
Now, we.may as we'll speak plain.
What do you want? A divorce2" /"
The broker WINGED. "Not if / can
avoid it. ! care for my wife. don't
believe she's bad. L hope not She
would not be so recklessly imprudent
| If she were. If l can bring her up
sharp, make her realize what she is
about, appeal to her strongly, i think
] can win her back. I'd make the at
tempt, anyhow But this must be
stopped.p
"And you want me to watch her,
| take her in compromising situation,
and bring her to you? That is the
| commission, as / understand it?
Very we'll. Then the sooner we begin
| the better. What are her ostensible
plans for to-day?"
"She was going out to make calls at
half-past 3. Ats o'clock she is to be
at Mrs. Murray's at afternoon tea.
| She dimes en- famille with her cousin
at half-past @, and they were TO at
tend the performance at the Star
later"
The detective took out his watch.
"Three o'clock now. If you wish,
| we'll start at once. / must see Mrs.
Balderston, to begin with. Then I'll
do what l can"
"We shall hardly get home before
she leaves, replied the broker, but
| we'll take the chance. Come along p
The Balderstons lived in a south
west corner house on Madison avenue.
AS the broker and the detective came
up the block, the door of the house
opened, and Q lady came out. She
had parasol in her hand, which she
held in their directiona She ran
lightly down the step hrned the
corner OF the street a and was
out OF sight, ~
That is my wife. q m aldorston.
| "Qoodi" exclaig detective.