The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-31

| RON W C64x mex nCx IA CoAoC HACu
he pleased.
TIE night en- which / followed her
was as beautiful as night could be. The
air was warm and full of the breath of
flowers. My wife wore white dress
and pretty hat with daisies around
| the brim. She had told me deliberate
falsehood, asking me to stay at home
to receive a friend who might call
while she went to the dressm aker's
house.
A wild hope that she had only been
to this dressmaker before. and that the
jewels were sold to pay some extrava-
CANT bill. filled my heart, but it van
| ished as I followed her, and saw her
leave the road after going few PAGES,
and take by-path which ran back
| into our own orchard. 1t was small
place full of old apple trees. The moon
| light failed to fill it, but / saw amidst
the shadows of the foliage the darker
shadow of a mans figure.
we've kept me waiting" he whis-
pered.
II could not help it," my wife re-
piled.
! The man gave low growL
"Ye've got the money!" he said.
''For your OWE intherest you've got
| the money, the FIVE hundred dollars"
| Where had / heard that voice before?
''No,' my wife faltered, mot SO much;
the jeweler would only give me three
hundred, but have that"
"Ye must raise the other two,"
growled the man. ''Oh, you'll do it. it
won't be great dale to pay to save
them we know of from twenty years in
Jail Produce it and tell me whin, or,
afther all, I'll tell the truth; it's my
duty anyway"
"Oh, good Heaven I've given you all
have" cried my poor wife. Il can get
no more"
She seemed almost to faint. What
ever this mystery might be, it was my
duty to defend her.
strobe out of the shadow, and, with
out warning, stood before them.
"Fleda,'' l cried, what does this
mean? Whom are you talking to?
must know! l will know! Do you fancy
have been blind to your meetings with
this scoundrel?''
"Oh. don't speak so, dearestr' she
cried. Don't anger him. Go away.
You don't know your danger
'Danger! l cried, clutching the
collar of the man, who strove to rush
past me. Come; let me see whom I
have here
l dragged him into the light, and
saw our porter. Honest Jim, and no
other.
Jim, by all that is comical!' said.
"And what is he to you, wife?"
'Oh, don't! Don't!' cried Fleda. "He
knows all! He knows all.''
''Fleda," said 1, whatever he may
know about you, have no fear. You
are nay wife. love you. Nothing can
alter that
''Oh, it isn't I, Henry! 1t is you. He
knows all about Razzle Dazzle, and
what you did to get the money to bet on
him. 1t was such temptation, know,
my poor husband! And he swore he
would not betray you if gave him five
hundred dollars. But have not been
able to raise it. l will, though. Spare
my husband, and l will Yes. On, /
will earn it, somehow cried Fleda,
wildly.
What confounded plackmailinr trick
Is this?" said /, shaking Honest Jim
furiously.
PHASE. let me go!" groaned Jim.
''Iou put it into my head with your
talk of your missus fearing you'd go
wrong. l was up before you the night
of the storrum, and she met me, an d
wus aisy tuck in. An tried it ag'in.
You an the divil put it into my head
Here's the money back. Don't choke
me. Here is the money back"
What did he tell you, you silly
child?" / asked Fleda.
That you had robbed your employ
ers to get money to stake on Razzle
Dazzle" said she. MY only thought
has been how to save YOU"
''Go!' l said to Honest Jim. "Show
your face in the Office again if you
darep'
| dismissed him with kick and took
Fleda in my arms.
80 you'd be true to me if were both
fool and rascal?" said l. Poor little
goosy.'
And you'd love me if I had some
dreadful story in my life?' said Fleda.
And we were very happy as we
walked home together, arm in arm. my
wife and IN. Cady. in y. Y. Ledger.