Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-02-22
AN HRRHNT COWARD.


young lawyer Of Columbus. Ohio, but
as that city was already oyerstocked
Win bright lawyers, old and young,
his advancement was too slow for his
ambition.
lie decided to go West aud hunt for
thriving little town, where the pros.
poets We're far more inviting than In
The city where he had lived from boy
hood
After brief examination of the in
hucenlents OF live or six progressive
towns he settled In Bannoek City.
Mont, threw his shingle 10 the breeze,
ahd Ia less than two years had estab-
ilshed paying practice and was con
sidered promising man OF the place,
20 whom political honors would very
likely be soon awarded.
lie had kept MP a regular CORE
spondence with his old sweetheart in
Columbus, and Amy Davenport was OF
course reJoiced at his success. In May
little more than two years gom the
time when he left his Eastern home,
he returned 10 Columbus, made Amy
his bride, and. after brief matrimo-
Nal tour, the happy couple were esiab-
llshed IN an attractive little home Ia
Hammock City.
Mrs. Dexter MAS n very attractive
parsonage. physically and inteilecin-
ally. aR the few acquaintance she
made Ia BaDnock speedily discovered.
The society 0f the place Was not that
20 which she had been accustomed IN
her old home. aud she was therefore
somewhat reserved aud exclusive Ia
her intercourse with her nelghbors.
As time passt~l the home Of tile Dex.
teri became a gathering place for sew
eFal men. but very few women. Dex-
ssr himself did not seem 10 notice the
distinction. All he noticed WAS fiat
his wife kept np her spirits well after
the first inevitable Inconsistencies. aud
that sh. never complained Of feeling
lonely, lie WAS not very obseryani
man
One Of the male acquaintance soon
came IL lle q very welcome visitor and
10 absorb very much OF the time aud
attention ~ the fair hostess III Mrs
Dexter had been wise she would have
taken care TO divide her atientions
There Is safety in numbers, and she
really meant no harm. but she WAS
young and inexperienced aud Harold
Danny MSS neither This happened
about six months after ihe arrival Of
shr little woman. aud nj a time when
IN iuek would have il, Dexter was
more than usually busy.
DANNY had c0niFivcd 10 clear the
field ~ rivals VI. was not a partiru-
larry nice man. though hc was on such
good terms with Mrs. Dexter As re.
CARDS reputation, be was ONE ~ the
hest hated men In the Viciniiy-by
husbands Aud the strange thing WIS
that be- was not good looking man.
nn the contrary. hc was rather ugly.
Perhaps II was his swagger and self
assertion ibai proved irresistible.
Il tlcran- n matter ~ courS. for him
Ia H. IN constant attendance on Mrs.
Dexter Frequently they were out 10
snihcr. walking. riding or driving. The
t.,.nli- III The rcighborhood looked on
with inisncst. They expected repe.
iiiian ~ the old story, And In the ma
tnre 81 things II happened that the
husband was the only person ignorant
81 the threatening tragedy.
tine day. however. Dexter WAS sud
denly brought to his senses by
elaner gvmark II was not intended
for Ills ears. hut he heard IL. and II
went home. he followed Ifs example.
and. having arrived III his own house,
sat on the ycrnnda and considered the
situation for an hour aud a half, Al
the end % that time he Inquired for
hls wife. She was out. as usual. with
Harold Dandy: and the servant who
answered his question seemed 10 treat
the event rs la ihe usual order ot
things.
Dexter did not Try 20 obtain any
more Information lie simply went TO
hls room and changed his clothes. rum
aging about as II In sear.h Of somc.
thing. Then he came out. looking
unite cheerful lighted cigar, and
asked which way Mrs, Dexter had
gone, Having learned this he walked
i,tlskty In the direction indicated.
liz the meantime Mrs. Dexter and
the mau were sitting together ~
favoriie dell. about half mile away.
She was rapidly approaching The stage
where folly ends aud guilt begins.
Whether she would ever actually have
,nlnSgrcsscd Is delicate point, She
had resisted thc voice OF tue tti"titci
successfully 80 far. greatly TO the
charrin.
They had, IN fact. reached positive
difficulty. lie WAS getting rather angry
aud she was not exactly happy. so
that II was something Of relief to
both Of them 10 hear some one ap.
Neither Of them expected
dexter. He was supposed to he some
twenty miles away. on visit to y
client.
rut unfortunately. their calculations
were wrong. for II happened TO be
Dexter who disturbed their solitude
He knew his way well. and came
straight into the opening to find them
sitting side by side ON fallen tree;
and when he saw them he stopped Tor
4 moment and looked al thein' u grim
smile on his face. =,
They both saw him nj the same M
slant. Dandy jumped up hastily. AZ
FOR Mrs. Dexter, she uttered slight
scream. The husband was the coolest
81 the three. ,..
lie walked III TO them slowly. Win
,hn .,niip gradually effHcing itself, Ine |