The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-12-23
Part 1. (Continued.)

down In q dead faint.
When the landlady and Tom between
them had brought her round and Rose
was calmer, Tom told his story.
He had been dining with some friends
on the previous evening at a little town
some thirty miles from London, and
after dinner they had made up a party
to go to the local theater.
. The piece was not up to much and
the company was only a small travelling
one, but the voice of the man who
played n of the parts instantly ar
rested Toms attention. He listened
and listened, and the more he listened
the more the idea haunted him that he
was listening to Jack Smedley.
He borrowed a pair of opera glasses
and scrutinized the actor carefully, but
the make up effectually concealed the
mans real features. And yet there
was a look about the eyes and upper
part Of the face that confirmed Toms
impression that he was in the presence
of his long lost friend.
The actors name was given in the
programme as mfr. j. Wilson," AS
soon as the performance was " Tom
made an excuse to his friends and went
round to the stage door. He saw the
stage doorkeeper and asked If he could
speak to Mr.. Wilson.
I'll see, sir. What name?"
"Say Mr. Marlborough"
The man took the message, and
promptly returned to say that mi.
Wilson was engaged with the manager,
and could not see anybody then" Tom
was not to be put off so easily as that,
Ga IN cos1 ha 1u,o,,l1 xxyo{f o,,fci1o
As he was turning from the door a
young lady came up from the stage,
dressed for the street.
keeper, there Is the gentleman as
wants to see your husband"
Tom turned and looked at the young
lady. She was very pretty and about
four-and-twenty.
Il beg your pardon" said Tom, hest
tating and wondering how he should
making a mess Of it. Il only wanted
to ask Mr.. Wilson n question"
perhaps I a answer it," replied the
searching glance.
,"I-er-Tm afraid not. I'd sooner
wait for him. / shan't detain him a
minute"
IN go and see if he can leave the
for a moment said the
young lady, and she went down the
stairs to the stage again.
Tom waited and waited. The actors
and actresses passed out, and presently
the fireman came up stairs.
Seen Mr.. Wilson, said the stage
doorkeeper. This gentleman's waiting
for him."
"Everybody's gone," replied the fire.
man. There amt anybody In the
house now"
"How long has Mr.. Wilson been gone
then?'
II don't know the company by name,
but there amt nobody left in the house,
l can tell you that, "awas the reply.
"Ah," said the stage doorkeeper,
"then it's no use you waiting. Mr.. Will
son and his wife must have gone
through the front"
Then Tom at once jumped to the con
clusion that the young lady had told
Wilson that he (T0m) was still waiting,
and they had both slipped out the front
way to avoid meeting him. And this
convinced him that his surmise was
correct, and that the actor with Jack
Sn edley's voice was Jack Smedley
himself!
Tom Marlborough blurted out his
story, for he was full of it. It was not
Until he saw the effect OF his narrative
upon poor Rose that 1t occurred to him
that he had done an unwise thing.
Il don't believe it, Mr. Marlborough"
she exclaimed, her eyes filling with
tears. 'I won't believe it. My hus-
band was cruel to leave me as he did.
\ He has been cruel to leave me in doubt
and suspense all these years, but sure
ly he would not venture back again and
run the risk Of Observation-Disclosures
She could not bring herself to say
what was in her mind, which was that
wicked as Jack Smedley had been to
her, he would not be SO wicked as to
| come back to England calling another
woman his wife. 4
But her curiosity was excited. The
Idea that her husband was alive and
near London revived all the old feelings
| of doubt and anxiety which she had
| after. a lapse of years conquered.
..Tom," she said presently,>"I must
| zee this matter out. T shall 90 down to
this place, will you come with meY'
Certainly said Tom, feeling that he
was 'sin for it," .'but-er-hadnt / bet
ter 70 first and make lure. You zee, ]
NAV have been mistaken after all.
mo, I'll 60 myself. ! cant rest now
till I know the truth"
Mrs. Moncrief started for the conti-
nent alone. Rose explained that I'm
! portant business OF q private nature
I would detain her in town for 9 Few
days.
The next evening. accompanied by
Tom Marlborough, Mrs. Smedley went
to the theater. 1t was q different play
the bill had been changed, and there
was no Mr.. Wilson lii the cast.
Tom went round to the stage door
and interviewed the stage doOrkeeper
again. Did he know if Mr.. Wilson was
IN the town still, and could he give him
his address. Tom was referred To- the
acting manager, who said that Wilson
had not been to- rehearsal that morning.
and on sending to his lodgings 1t was
found that he and his wife had taken
their luggage and left the town. y
was q very extraordinary thing 70 d0,
as "a weeks salary WAS due TO them,
and the manager couldn't understand
Iit. !,
Tom Marlborough understood II and
Rose understood it.Jack Smedley had
yentnred back again, believing that Dis
crime was forgotten and that ia tn
gtroIling actor no 0ne would recognise
| him. Directly he had been told t1lat
4 III. Marlborough wished TO see MIN
I Dc knew that 10 was discovered md