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

But even now there was no proof
| that these surmises were correct, and
Rose couldn't leave the matter where
it was.
mi. Marlborough" she said, Il am
determined that l will find this actor
who calls himself Wilson, and see for
myself If he is my husband. l can't
rest now until I know the truth, how
ever terrible that truth may be-"
Tom Marlborough went back to Lon
don; he had his business to attend to,
but Rose went to the hotel and stayed
in the little town. She determined to
find out from the company and from
the landlady Of Mr.. Wilson's lodgings
what kind of man this MIR. Wilson
was.
She went next day to the lodgings.
The landlady could tell her very lit
tie. Might she see the rooms? Ger
tainly.
They were poorly furnished, dull, I'M
comfOrtable-lOOking rOomS-small par
lors divided by a folding door.
They were what is known in the pro-
fession as theatrical diggings," and
they changed their occupants almost
week by week. Some Of the tenants
were careful, but SC me were not, and
Inv 6CASAoA appearance VI Al NHNAA
ments bespoke rough usage aud neg
lect.
Rose looked about the rooms in vain
for any sign or token by which she
might know that the last occupant
had been her husband. She didn't
know what she had expected to find,
but she had q vague idea that she
might light upon a clue in some shape
or form.
Finding nothing, Rose Smedley be-
gsn to ask questions of the landlady.
What sort of 4 looking man was Mr..
Wilson? How old did he appear to be,
ETC., etc. The land;ady couldn't say
much about her last ledger. She had
SO many coming and going that they
were pretty near all alike to her, and
she saw very little Of them. But she
did notice Mrs. Wilson; she was Il
very pretty, rather delicate-looking
lady; she noticed her particularly be-
aus when she came to pay the bill,
and to say they were going away, she
seemed nervous and frightened, and her
manner attracted her attention.
Rose felt a SHARP pnng Of jealousy
as she listened to the landlady's de-
scriptiOn Of the young woman's personal
attractions. For the first time it oc-
Cured to her that even II she traced
her husband he was utterly lost to her.
The girl, who called herself his wife,
had usurped her place, and all that was
left to her now was to prove the fact
Of her husbands treachery, sue for a
divorce and be a free woman again.
Gradually she began to See that was
what ought to be done. Why should
she spend the rest Of her life bearing
the name Of a man who had treated
her so UNANIMOUSLY; who had committed
u criminal act, and left her without a
word, only to come back again after
many years with another woman as
his companion!
Yes, she had another motive in find
ing John Wilson, the actor, now. Love
was dead, and revenge had taken its
place.
But how was she to find the man?
She had no clue, not a single thread
to guide her. The man had left no ad-
dress at the lodgings; NO one there had
the slightest idea as to where he was
going when he left.
Rose went back to the theater and
saw the manager. She explained that
the Mr.. Wilson who had 80 mysteriously
disappeared was, she believed, a friend
Of her family's and she was very anx-
ious to discover his whereabouts. The
manager was polite, but he knew moth
ing Of Wilson; he had engaged him for
the tour, which commenced about a
month previously. Wilson had IN
swered an advertisement, and had ap-
piled for himself and wife.
Have you the letter." said Rose.
She thought to herself that she would
recognize the handwriting, and that
would set her doubts at rest.
The manager couldn't say; probably it
was destroyed, but he would look
among his papers and see. He was alb
sent for about ten minutes, and then ne
returned.
IT can't find the letter." he said;
"but I've found a photograph he sent
with it."
'His photograph cried Rose. Let
me see it, I shall know it at once"
mo, not his photograph-the photo
graph of his wife"
He placed in Roses hands the pho
tograph Of a young woman, and Rose
looked at it with mingled feelings OF
curiosity and repugnance.
The landlady was right. The girl was
delicacy and refinement in her features,
and the eyes were very large and beau
tiful,
May I-may I keep this?' gasped
Rose, as with q deep sigh she lifted her
eyes from her rivals face.
Certainly, II you wish it. And now
I must ask you to excuse me, We are
playing a new piece tonight, and I'm
wanted on the stage
Rose thanked the manager, and left
the theater with the photograph of Mrs.
Wilson In her pocket. She had made up
her mind what to do. II shall know
this woman again." she said to her
self, wherever I see her, and when I
do see her I shall not be long before
I find out where this man is who passes
as her husband"
Five minutes after Mrs. Smedley had
left the theater, a gentleman arrived
and sent In his card. There were two
words in the corner which procured
him instant admission. Those two
words were Scotland Yard.
The gentleman explained his business
In a few words, He wanted some in-
formation about q Mr., Wilson, an actor
In the company.
ssWhy, there's just been q lady here
on the same errand," said the aston
ished manager. whats Wilson been
Ia ladyw exclaimed the Scotland Yard
gentleman. what vas abe likess
The manager told him.
80, 1, thought the detective, Mfrs.
Smedley's heard Of II, too. We'll, be-
tween Us / fancy we shall find him;
but ahe mustn't know I'm going to
help her, or 1t might upset b apple
cart. y
Tom Marlborough had done 4 very
foolish thing. He had gone back 70
the city and mentioned that he be
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