Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-12-30
CHAPTER vI.-tconfinued.o


regular customer. tell lis where we
would be likely TO see her again
"She is not a regular customer, mad
am. in fact, | never saw hci before to.
day. and did not. OF course. Know she
was Mrs. Fletcher's sister until | heard
them address each other. though,
strangely enough, | had noticed the
likeness"
They are very much alike, are they
notg' Judith said, pleasantly. 10 draw
him out. But they had not seen each
other for n very long while"
80 / gathered, madam, from the
way they rushed at each other the
manager said, smiling. II left them to-
getlicr for a little while when | saw
how affected they We're"
''That was very thoughtful Of you.
1t was very strange that they should
have met here, for Mrs. Fletclierfs call
ing was quite an accident, rs, | believe,
was her SISTERS
Eyes, madam. The lady simply came
In. as she was passing, to have her hair
shampooed on her return from the sea-
side. / thought at first she had come
to sell ii. for, when / made q remark
about the unusual length and thickness
of 1t. she asked how much | would be
antit8tu W pay lUI IL. nut L SpOI
found that she was testing"
Having thanked the manager and his
assistant. Judith left. Walking slowly
back, she came to the conclusion that
Claude ought To know that his wife
was alive and well, so she went into a
telegraph Office and sent off four mes
~sages-one to the Clearinghouse Hotel.
one TO the Priory, one TO Galley Park
and one to his club.
"Come 10 see me at ~Fletcher's as
soon as you get this.-Judith."
'He is sure TO get one she told her
self. But day followed day, and there
was no sign of him.
MeGawhile Judith kept q watch on
Grace's movements; but nothing came
of ii. for Grace never went anywhere
without her or received visits from any
mysterious parsonage; she might have
had letters: but whatever information
she had she kept to herself. not wen
taking her husband into her confidence,
for he was too frank and careless to
keep any secret well.
Judith, you are lazy, Are you not
coming mp TO dress? If you hurry to
put yourself into a tulle gown, the
chances are that you will badly ear
it,
"All right. Oracle, / am coming."-
and Judith put down her book and rose
TO follow her sister.
Zone moment, Miss Hatfield" Per-
cy detained her in his teasing way TO
say II think ] had "a bet with got
about the result of to-~day-kindly
hand over the cash"
"A bet with me: | Inn sure you ney-
er had"
what? Didn't lay you ten to one
that you would want TO be off with
your bargain before to-day arrived
Grace asked you twice at least to 90
and dress before you moved. Hand
over the money"
"But ! did not take you on-I believe
that is the jargon."
Good heavens-how awful" he G.
claimed, pretending to be shocked.
@"That won't do, Judy, you know; |
shall have to cut your acquaintance
with Herbert short. if hat is what he
has been teaching you in your tete-a-
tes of an evening
Judith swept him n curtsey.
81 am old enough to take care OF
myself, thank YOU" she said laughing
~, and went up stairs.
When she came down again. looking
very attractive indeed as Might" In her
tulle dress with the silver stars. Percy
said, banteringly to his wife, who was
looking very beautiful and stately as
the unfortunate young queen she had
chosen TO represent:
"Gracic, you must keep your eye on
Captain Herbert and Judith. | did not
anticipate n Irritation when l brought
him home to dinner on Friday; but he
has been here three times since. Just
keep them apart tonight. will your
.'Dh, yes" replied Grace, carelessly,
@'IJl look after them, How does my
train set. Judy? Perfectly? That's a
comfort. You look very nice. judy
doesn't she. Percyg'
Very he agreed. Its the first
time I've seen her in evening dress.
and think that If / were she / would
wear it oftener. Herbert admires you
awfully. Grace. Judy IS blushing-
that il a bad sign"
Rubbish erlaimed Judith. laugh
ing. Its enough to make me blush TO
be leased about that effeminate young
fellow"
II beg your ~pardon-he is two
months older than you: he told me sc
yesterday"
When MT. ana Mrs. Fletcher were
by themselves, the latter asked, anx-
iously:
Percy, does Captain Herbert really
admire JUDITH,
"He does; he says she Is sensible.
free from affectation, plain-spoken, and
does not look at a man as il she ex-
pected him TO pay her any attention.
He even went SO far as TO ask If 1
knew whether she was engaged. 1
pretended not to know. for. il he Is
really smitten, 1t would do him good
to keep him OH tenterhooks."
GOOD ~gracious-and only a little
while ago he was almost at Elsie's
feet! He must be a detestable fiirt!''
Probably, or he may be of opinion
that, as his efforts to marry for money
have, up to the present. proved abort
I've, he may as well marry a m
who will not squaIider his limited In
come. Thanks-that's a very nice kiss,
and your cheeks smell deliciously OF
yloiet-powder. Ta-ta. Hope you'll
enjoy yourselves"
When Mrs. Fletcher went out into
hall to don her wraps, she looked
-dith refectively.
FA~ M n N - ~-~.-I