Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-03-21
BRIEF y nDAOCK.


glancing over the Ryan register one aft
ernoon / saw the name Mrs. George Ire
hume. II was written in the long, angu.
lar scrawl affected So extensively by
women of the dramatic profession. and
although | had never before hear of
Mrs. Trehune her signature attracted
my attention. There is more of instinct
than any other sense in selecting from a
long list of signatures those of people
worth interviewing. Mrs. Trehune's
slapdash characters set me wondering
what sort of woman she was, and moth
ing was easier than To find ont. so l
handed my card to the clerk pointed To
the room. No. EOS. and awaited the re-
turn of the bellboy.
In FIVE minutes, or thereabouts. he in
formed me that was TO "go right mp. !"
and up went.
Come in" called VOICE in answer
to my tap on the door. entered. Near
the open fire in an armchair sat young
woman. She wore white gown of that
soft caressing woof that so invariable sets
off well the wearer's charms. Rising as
| | entered she advanced toward me. and
her manner betrayed at once the well
bred woman. took mental photo
graph of the face and figure before me-
| The former was oval. well featured, set
with pair Of lustrous dark eyes and
| framed in curls of an indefiuable color
half golden. half brown. The latter was
tall and shapely.
Pray be seated" she said rs | began
to explain why had asked for an inter
view. "Oh. yes" she went on. IL know
why you came. have several friends
in the profession, and in fact have the
greatest regard for daily newspaper writ
ers. They are equal to almost anything"
"You fatter the craft" answered
Some Of us are very retiring. am
Il hope you are not, sir?' said my
| charming vis-a-vis, leaning impulsively
| forward as she spoke. Her elbow found
| support on the arin Of the chair. her chin
rested on her shapely white hand. and
| her large dark eyes looked straight into
| mine 1t was an embarrassing situation.
and confess ] hardly knew what TO
make of il With an effort I met the
| gaze Of this strange young woman and
said inquiringly "You dislike nervous
| peopleY'
Il should hate myself if that were the
case" replied Mrs. Trehune, for | am
all nerves. Oh, dear dear. if | only
dared TO do it.
With sudden whisk she was out of
! the chair and pacing back and forth on
the carpet like "A Gagged lioness There
was very evidently something wrong
with Mrs Trehune. Why, good heav
| ems, she was sobbing!
My dear madam" exclaimed. ''if
can be of any possible service
''Oh, | dare not ask it of stranger
she protested. throwing up both hands
dramatically. And t." she added.
none but a stranger would do"
The sight Of the tears had scattered
my self possession to the winds. was
ready now to fight duel or two if neces-
sary in defense of this mysterious young
person.
ASK anything you like" | said des-
| perately. "I'll do it,"
will your" whispered Mrs. Trehune,
coming hurriedly toward me. "lf you
will do what ask, can never do enough
| for you in return. Mine is case that
requires immediate and skillful action.
You will have to use all your finesse, for
have not time To explain matters fully.
| You must be patient, then indignant and
| finally exasperated. DOyou understandT'
Certainly" ! answered promptly.
Crazy as March hare was my inward
| reflection.
And you will do this for "A stranger
inquired Mrs. Trehune.
| Command me-" replied.
Then listen" she said. drawing her
chair near mine with an apprehensive
| glance at the door. Il am not Mrs. Ire
| hume. | shall be this afternoon if all
goes well. but at present ann Clara Tai
bot. have run away from my home IN
| Chicago to marry Mr. Trehune. He il
of Kansas City and was to have met me
here. | have received telegram fron
| him to say that his train is several hour
late. Never mind why it was necessary
| for me to run away. 1t is family mat.
ter. My people have never seen Mr.. Ire
hume. Imet him at the house of friend
| in Europe last year They wam,cd me
to marry another man. fed We tcr,ay
after telling George to meet me here
| My father has followed me. He Is in The
hotel now; another glance at the door,
his card preceded yours. SEM word
that | was dressing, and he is waitinp
| down stairs When | read the name on
your card-a newspaper mani con
ceived this plan: VIII you bc my hus
band for half an houry
started up like scared jack rabbit
Good gracious madam" exclaimed.
II don't know enough about you to dc
the thing successfully"
"Oh, try" pleaded the brown eyed
fugitive. please try"
"I'll do it," ! said desperately, and the
next instant there was crash The
door flew back, and in burst an old gen.
| tleman with very red face. from which
couple of small eyes snapped ancrily
az re dashed his hat and cane down on
the co, ,ter table Using the latter as
sort of rostrum. he glared straight at tn
girl and began to rave, ignoring me en-
tirely. 1
"Well. madame" in tone of concen-
trated fury. ''what the devil doyou mean
by this disgraceful escarade|
Ny temporary wife glanced hopefully
toward where ! sat. within easy reach OF
the old gentleman's cane. Snfnmonins
all my fortitude arose and looked the
irate parent straight in the eye.