Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-08-12


road spent hours with his ear glued
to this party wall. and many little
domestic breeze had been waited 70
those large thick ears of his. But ne
could only hear now what he conSid
cred mere whlsperinsS. They might
mean anything or nothing; and it was
tantalizing that he could not catch
any of the words. Who could be
next door? He could swear there was
a mans voice, He had not seen any
one enter the house, except the char
woman during the day; but then he
had taken out his wife for stroll in
the evening, and no doubt it was
while he was out of doors the man
had arrived,
Tell YOU what Marian, said he TO
Mrs. Baldock, | think Ill step across
the road and ask the party at No.
u if he has seen any one going in
next door this evening, En-
Don't make a bigger fool Of your
self than you are William said Mrs.
Baldock, looking up from a copy of
novelette, she was deVourins,
Mr. Baldock seldom answered his
wife back. He had caught a Tartar
in her and he knew it. So with a
sigh of despair he proceeded to the
sideboard and mixed himself stiff
tumbler of grog, He made no further
remarks to his wife about the people
next door until he found himself in
! I, ',1l httt Ia
a fairly constant watch on No. 81
through the Venetian blinds of the
front window. However. he saw no
one go in or out of the house. The
only visitor was the postman, who
raped loudly at $50. "A letter, no
doubt, from the man she is deceiving, "
reflected Mr.. Badock, with shake of
the head.
| Mr.. Baldock spent a very restless
night He thought he heard a dog
bark next door more than once, and
he knew Hankinson didn't keep a
dog, No doubt it was the visitors
! dog.
At O'Clock Mr.. Baldock arose from
bed, and, stepping across to the win
! dow of his bedroom, he turned back
the laths of the Venetian blind in
order to have q look at the sky. "A
dirty raw morning" said he. And
then his heart gave a throb. He heard
the hall door of No. II closing, and a
moment afterward a young man Went
down the small forecourt and passed
out through the small iron gate.
Mr. Baldock almost shouted for JOY
and excitement At any rate, he
awoke his wife. He told her of his
great discovery and then proceeded to
dress himself
1T might be a lodger or the doctor"
Doctor be blowed!" said Mr.. Bal
dock. "There amt no one i'll next
door. | saw Mr.. II. and the child this
morning in the back garden, Beside.
the only doctor in Brickwell is old
Nettlethrope, and that wasn't the old
bloke. I'll take my davy." exclaimed
Mr.. Baldock. gleefully. Landlord al
lows no dodgers in this road as YOU
ought to know" he added haughtily
Tha occupier of No. Is saw no sign
of the lady next door during the day
/ Nlt at 3 O'Clock he strolled down the
Tregorn road and stood at the end
of the road in order to waylay Han
kinson's charwoman. He stopped
that eminently reputable and elderly
female. and inquired after the Hankin-
sons. Yes. the missus was quite we'll
Child seemed all right. too. And the
master was expected back the follow
ing evening. mo dodgers in the
house, oh, dear no, sir! The masters
return was quite unexpected"
! Mr.. Baldock rubbed his hands as he
babe the charwoman good afternoon
"A regular miXed-up job altogether"
he cried, half aloud, as he proceeded
homeward. I'm spoil his appetite for
his supper tomorrow evening, for it
won't do to have the character of the
respectable neighborhood taken away
by people of that sort.
A fever Of unrest possessed the re
tired butler for twenty-four hours and
he felt a sense Of tremendous relief -
he gazed at the cab which was deposit
lIS MT. I1dnklDSOH ana HIS IupSuGC 4
No. II the following afternoon. Should
he call at No. II, or should he send
on word to the outraged husband that
he wished to see him at No H. 1t
was full. an hour before he made up
\ his mind to call. BY calling he could
kill two birds with one stone he
could see what sort of furniture the
, Hanknsons had and in what manner
/ they lived, and at the same time put
/ the awful intelligence before the ip
jured husband.
The praying butler full of virtuous
/ indignation, was soon knocking at the
! door Of No. II. He was rather taken
aback at finding the door opened by
the surly Hankinson. He expected to
! have been admitted by the guilty
! woman
Il want a word in private with you. :"
said William Baldock in a somewhat
agitated voice He did not feel quite
as self-possessed as usual
Mr. Hankinson brought his visitor
into little parlor which corresponded