Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-29

one side of small square, and hast,
| glance showed him that the only way on
was through street similarly situated a
the opposite side.
The stranger turned TO the left; Mr.
| Padger turned to the right, and as sooI
as he was concealed from the other !
| observation by the trees and shrubs il
the garden in the middle he started of
| on run
eff 1t isn't a plant, which I don y
think it is, and if he doesn It hang ou
here, I've got him, - said Mr.. Padger
as he skinned as lightly as possible over
| the ground.
He stopped short before ne got to the
other end, and pulling himself together
and overcoming to the best of his ability
| all traces of his recent exeTtions, he
| strolled at a leIsurely pace round the
| corner of the enclosure. At the same IN
slant the quarry be had been pursuing
turned the other, and before he could
recover from his establishment he found
himself face to face with Mr.. Ennis.
Mr.. Padger, 1 believe, - said he
cheerily. land how are you, Mr.
Padger?''
Every well, thank you, Mr.. Ennis, -
he replied. 81 hope you are quite
well?''
Pretty well, thank you, pretty
we'll -
And Miss Ennis-she is well also 1
hope?"
ooh yes, thank you. Quite well.
Very well, very well indeed. -
While this elaborate exchange of civ
ilities was going on Mr.. Padger was
watching his man closely, but he failed
to detect any symptoms of surprise or
embarrassment in his manner.
''You have not earned that E100 yet, -
remarked Mr.. Ennis.
emo, p" replied Mr.. Padger, fairly
taken aback at this blunt introduction of
the subject that he was aiming at.
"No, Mr.. Ennis, he repeated, eye
ing him firmly, 81 haven 't-yet, but I
mean to before we done.
''That's right, that's right, SAID
Mr.. Ennis, with laugh that seemed to
MIR. Padger rather forced. 81 like to
see young men persevering. -
81 hope you enjoyed your swim - said
Mr.. Padger, rather affronted at this
patronizing treatment of himself.
Mr.. Ennis stopped short in his walk,
and stared with open eyes.
ell beg your pardon - he STAN
mered at length.
81 said I hoped you enjoyed your
swim, said Mr.. Padger indifferentIv
'fMy swim, - echoed Mr.. Ennis.
FWhat do you mean?''
81 beg your pardon, - said Mr.. Pad
ger hastily, wondering whether this dis
play of establishment was genuine or
affected. 81 thought l saw you come
out of the Westbourne park swimming
batQ just now.
81? Oh no, no. You must have been
mistaken. I'm too old for that sort of
thing. 1 wonder what my doctor would
say, with my govt. No, no. l leave
that sort of thing to you younger folks. -
Mr.. Padger was fairly puzzled He
could not for the life of him determine
whether ne was hearing the truth. or an
admirably acted lie Mr.. Ennis man
ner, as far as he could Judge, was per-
feotly easy, natural and unaffected, but
he had by this time ample leisure TO arm
himself at all points against awkward
questions.
'Mr. Ennis, " said he at last, deter
mined to risk great deal in order to set
tie this doubtful point "Wiu youan-
swer me one question:" Il
Gwen, Mr.. Padger, - he replied,
cautiously. "That may have to depend
to certain extent what the question
may be. If you like to ask it. viii tell
you whether / will answer it or nOt?''
f'Why-' said Mr.. Padger slowly and
solemnly, "why did you say you were
going to London on the day of the muir
der when you meant to 1emaln in West
cliffe all the while?''
If he expected 10 penetrate the armor |
Of Mr.. Ennis reserve he was not disap-
pointed. He turned towards him quick |
z fins cd ori,1o
roots of his hair.
''Oh, you found that out, dId you?'' |
he said after a pause, with a laugh which !
in spite of himself sounded uncomfort-
able.
''Of course did,, - said Mr.. Padger
with some asperity. ''Wnl you tell me |
why you said it?
Mr.. Ennis hesit ted awkwardly. Was |
he doubling the ACCESSIBILITY of speaking
the truth, or was he struggling to invent !
q plausible lie?
"Well Mr.. Padger,' he SAID at
length. 81 will tell you the truth 8"
90 Much better, - interposed that indi-
Tidual laconically.
Il heard rumors-in fact had receiv-
9d-an anonymous letter More idle
'candal-to which-no doubt should
never have paid any ttention-about-
about-in fact visitor--to my wife -
''Oh, you had heard of it, . said
Mr.. Padger recalling the awkwardsrsan-s
ler'of the spiteful house maid. EFT
thought so. -
"what, you knew that too?'' 4eried
Mr. Ennis.
81 find out most things in time, IRE
marked Mr.. Padger confidently.
indeed, - said Mr.. Ennis, turning
7ery pale. 'WeH, Lin fact L made
Up my mind to watch her that day-pre-
end to go to town-and-and short
lot to go. When I heard OF that poor }
woman g awful fate-I-was ashamed j
o confess what l had intended to do-I'
lid not dare to own it, SO 1 kept it to
myself -
who was this visitor?'' asked Mr..
9adger, as if perfectly satisfied with this
81 have no idea who he was, - said
ir. Ennis.
You meyer saw him then, by any
hance2''
Never, that know of. -
Well, said Mr.. Padger suddenly,
this is my way. Goodbye -
He held out his hand as he spoke. Mr..
ennis seemed slightly surprised, and
omewhat disinellned to encourage this