The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-11-07

AOicA Win TIE merry Oh HIS
wife ringing in his ears.
II.
A month or more had passed, and so
far the fears of Phineas had proved to
be groundless. Herr Schmidt's mon
strosities" had been kept we'll within
bounds, and as yet Nh. Peel had not
seen SO much as a strange caterpillar
in his garden, which never looked bet
ter.
However, he was not happy. He had
taken an aversion to the new tenant
from the first, and would never be sat
isfied until he had got rid of him.
"Confound the fellow" muttered
Phineas one evening, as he sat on an
upturned bucket behind the peasticks,
hes prowling about on the other side
of the hedge again. Hope he won't catch
sight of me, for I'm about tired of his
oily tongue and eternal smile. Hullo!
what the deuce is the meaning of this?'
Down the garden path tripped Mrs.
Peel. The naturalist was evidently eX-
pecting her, and greeted her with a
smile that almost brought tears into
the eyes of the furious Phineas.
"Goot. efening," he said. You vos
joost a lcetle late!"
1t was evident that this was not tho
first that INDUCED in over the boundary
hedge. Though Phineas strained his
ears, he could not catch the drift of the
conversation. Like a flash he emem-
bered that Mary had often of late taken
a stroll in the garden at dusk. Was
this the explanation?
PhiEeas had been glaring at the
couple from behind the peasticks for
ten minutes or so, when he saw his wife
take a rosebud from his favorite tree
and hand it ever the hedge with a
charming smile to the delighted Herr
Schmidt. Then, with a pleasant Good
night" Mrs. Peel tripped lightly into
the house.
You villain" Kissed Phineas. saw
agely. jumping from his seat and shak-
ing his fist after the retreating figure
in the next garden, iii pay you out
for this"
The rage OF Mr.. Peel was something
to be remembered. Nothing but blood,
he vowed, would obliterate his wrongs.
But he would be cautious. He would
smile and smile and murder while he
smiled. Selling n peastick he tragic
ally buried it in the heart of an unOf-
Tending cabbage, and played havoc
with a stately row of sunfiowers.
Half an hour later Mary saw him
take down a huge old-fashioned duck
gun from the hook in the hall.
There's a German vulturc in the
neighborhood." he volunteered, i'm
pressivcly, and I'm going to bag him
at the first opportunity.
However. as nothing short of IN
earthquake would have induced the old
guR TO go off in any circumstances
and Phineas had made assurances
sure by dropping in the shot
first and powder afterward-the "vul-
ture" in question was not likely to be
seriously damaged, and Mary contcnted
husband would not hurt himself.
On the following evening Phineas
took up his old position in the garden,
with murder in his heart. Herr
Schmidt, however. did not put in an APP
pearnce. After waiting some time,
Phineas reentered the house and reared
his duck gun up in the hall in Il con-
.spicuous position.
He bad almost decided to run up to
town and consult his brother John,
the detective. with a view to having
the movements of Herr Schmidt
watched. when he vas startled by the
click of the letter box.
\ scrap Of paper lay on the mat
Picking it up. Phineas glanced at It,
deadly pale, then hurried into
the garden. Scrubbed in lead pencil Oh
lirty paper was the following:
"Peel has discovered everything. We
not a moment to lose and must
lear out tonight. The front door is
VIII meet you at the back
1890 sharp"
There was no signature.
Good gracious" CALCULATED Phineas,
'fter reading the note for a third time.
I'd no idea matters had gone so far.
Oh. yes. Mr.. Schmidt" he added grimly
I'll meet you at 1890 sharp"
III.
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