Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-05
Copyrighted 1889 by S. s. Mcclure.
A WILD THEORY .


ure tripping lightly along, which he
recognized at once as belonging to the
charming Mary Carne. lie FASTENED his
pace Immediately in order 10 catch her
uD, for ne was determined to speak to
her, although ne was not unnatuTally
doubtful as to the nature Of the reception
which his advances would meet with.
He had by no means forgotten the looks
of indignation that had famed at him
from those sparkling eyes, when his
identity and occupation had stood plainly
revealed at the adjourned inquest. There
was no doubt in his mind that Mary
CaTne was seriously angry with him for
the part he had played and for what she
could not but consider the underhand
way in which he had entTapped her into
admissions which might have proved,
nay, which still might prove so damag
ing TO her beloved young mistress.
Mr.. PadEer, however, was not easily
daunted, and a little opposition seemed
to excite and nfame his determination,
rather than to quench his ardor.
''GOOd afternoon, Miss CaTne, - he
said, politely raising his hat when he had
OyeTtaken her.
''Don It speak to me if you please,
M. -
''Padger. - interposed that unbashed
individual cheerfuIv.
g Padger, - she repeated in a tone of
ineffable contempt, fingmg at him at
the same time a glance of indignant
scOrn. ''Padger, on Badger, or Brander,
or-or fifty other names ! dare say.
ono, - he replied coolly to this eX-
pected outburst. 'Padger, only Padger.
affacfinrofa1y- ~ lny-pTnHly-
Joshua Padger.
''Oh, that 1 daresay.
"Now, Mary nay dear" began the
undaunted PadgeT.
''Don I Mary me, sir, if you please, -
burst out the euTaged beauty.
but that Is just what 1 intend to do,
my dear. - said Mr.. Padger, punnng
atrociously.
''Ob, indeed! Not without my consent
] should hope, - answered the maiden,
somewhat Modified by his unfaiIing good
humOT.
''WeI, not if [ can get 1t.
''And that you never viii, never. -
''Never's a long time, - remarked
Mr.. Padger sententiously.
81 wonder you aTen t ashamed of
yourself, - said Mary. after they had
walked Tor some time in silence side by
side.
But I am, - replied Mr. Padger,
hUmbly, though his secret soul was filled
with eNultatiOn. She was leading the
conversation I'D the very direction which
IL desired II to take. IL he could only
once get her to argue the question Of MS
original subterfuge he felt assured of
overcoming her wrath.
Coming spying around on the sly
like that 1 don I see how you could. -
81 "a do It again tomorrow if I was
sure OF meeting you, said Mr.. Padger
CALAMITY
''Taking the words of a poor girl IS
lips, too -
Wei ,you know II was your fault that
I didn take anything else. >
''Get along with you, said Mary OBJ
viously not displeased.
"Au right, said Mr.. Padger prompt
". al m off -
"Stop!'' exclaimed Mary ,as he moved
away, you needn t be in such hur-
~,
"Hurry, - cried Mr.. PadgeT, who had
no intention Of parting just then, Lord
bless you. ! would stay with you all day
long if you would let me.
"Teu me, now. You don t believe
that Miss Gertrude did it.
Believe if? of course not, - said MI.
uiEIl5 " lll All dSSI fllbil VI Gel ltllliN
on the subject which ne neither felt, nor
was warranted in feeling.
because she didn t. -
''Of course she didn I. -
''But you did believe it, persisted
Mary, who had completely forgotten Mr..
Padger' disgTaceful behavior
" Well, you must own, Mary, my |
dear, - said Mr.. Padger, without seeking |
any further remonstTance from that !
Young lady, "'that things did look rather |
fishy. That little bit of obstinacy about |
her proceedings between half past twelve |
ana a quarter to two had an ugly look, |
you must allow.
81 don I know where she was, - ex- |
claimed Mary hotly. ''And what is |
more ] don t care. l know she was after |
no harm. -
ono, my dear, no, of course not - |
said Mr.. Padger soothingIy. " But you |
can t expect other people to look at It in !
the same Eight.
''Why you don't mean to say they |
suspect cried Mary, and stopped !
aghast.
Mr.. Padger nodded assent, with a
shrug, and a rueful screw of his mouth. !
''It's disgTaceful. -
$50 it is, my dear, so it is, but there !
Is only one way TO stop il. -
''What : that?'
''FiuG out suggested Mr.. Padger
insiduously-'' where5ghe was that day
between the time sh&s left the bathing |
machine and the time she returned |
home. Where she was, and what she
was doing. -
surely, Mr.. Padssr-'' she said
with returning ndig4ation-'' you don I
expect me to 20 Shaking and spying
about - s.
g. No my dear girl, &ertainly not, 1"
replied Mr.. Padger, who had at length !
arrived at the opening he wished for.
only don 4 be so hard on me if I-dRk.''
We'll, - she said forgivingly, n
suppose il 5 your business : y /
"And q Jolly good oQgetOo, can tell
You, - said Mr.. FREDERICKSBURG eatiaIly.
. What are you going q do'Bow?'
- 4 am going to 1ind 80 sgZAo commit
ted that murder. !
And clear Miss Gertrude?'' cried
Mary, joyIully clasping her hands.
land clear Miss Gertrude" re-
echoed Mr.. Padger, not without hesita-
ton.
con if you do, I'l-I'l''
''What?' said Mr:-Padger.
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