The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-24

man, IL serves you rlSnC. why must you
go out to play cards and leave your wife
ut home in loneliness?"
In spite Of the repeated rotations he
still felt chilly. "There is no help for
it but q good run" he said to himself,
starting ON a lively trot through the
city, first down one street, then up an
other, through the suburbs, until he
reached the open country and back again
without stop or rest for fear Of catching
cold.
The town clock struck the hour of 4.
cit is still too early to get into the
house." he said. 1.-THE front door is
never unlocked before O'Clock. Will
they be able to unlock the door anyway?
A piece of my key sSicks i'll tho lock.
The women are imprisoned and cannot
get out. But now I can stand this no
longer. l must have something hottie
drink and sit down somewhere. There
is train at o'clock - And forthwith
he once moro wendell his way to tho
railroad depot
A snug corner and q cup of hot coffee
somewhat restored him. But he was
very tired, and pretty soon he was MS
sound asleep in his corner as his wife
had been the night before on her lounge.
And how did his vito fare? She
awoke in tho middle of the night with
q start, almost frightened out of her
wits by horrid dream, in which her
husband had appeared before her,
wounded, bleeding and torn by hugo
bloodhounds. Pretty soon, however, she
comprehemled the situation Her face
bathed i'll tears, she paced restlessly uD
and down tho room, wringing her hands
'Oh, tho wretch! TO stay out all night!
Just to think of it'll Such q man has tho
effrontery to talk to me of love. Not
content to act like villain, he even
had to make fun of me last night by
pretending he would henceforth be home
ut II O'Clock. Who would ever have
thought him SO base? They close the
becrhouse after midnight; hence he
cannot pretend to be playing cards there
all night. Heaven only knows where he
is spending the night, in whose COM
pany he is enjoying himself, while l.
But he'll find that 1 am not his dupe.
shall leave him ut once. There is train
at z O'Clock III tho morning which am
going to take and go home to my par
ents.
AT o'clock sho called the serving
maid, whom she sent to the garnet for
valise and commenced to pack The
maid said nothing, and she was surpris-
ed that her master had not risen and
did not help his wife However, she
made the coffee and went after cab.
The front door was wide open and
locksmith busy with the big lock when
Annie appeared in the hall. Tho land
lady ran to meet her, exclaiming in a
hurry of excitement: "Did you hear
about it, madam? A thief was here last
night and made an attempt to enter tho
house. Some ono must have frightened
him off. He left q broken key stuck fast
III the lock, and was unable to unlock
the door. 1 had to call from the window
until aroused neighbor, who ran for
locksmith. Now am going to have
patent lock put Oh and spoil their little
game. But you look very pale. my dear
madam. am sorry to have frightened
you with my burglar story. Are you GO
ing to take a ride SO carly this morn.
ing?"
Annie nodded ard passed on. She was
glad that the woman had not seen her
valise, which her maid had already put
into the cab
What narrow escape I had last
night How near came being robbed
perhaps worse" She was now thor
oughly angry. So much more reason for
leaving the fellow, no matter what tho
consequences "For tho present shall
remain with my parents Thus mus
ing, she arrived at the depot.
Before purchasing her ticket she in
tended to leave her valise in the wait
ing room. Annie entered and made for
al empty table, when suddenly she drop
ped tho valise and almost screamed
aloud. Wasn't that her husband, "her''
Gus, sitting there in Il corner and snor-
ing loud enough to make everybody III
the room smile at his nasal powers? He
looked tired and WORN, and his garments
appeared damp. How did he get here
and why was he i'll such dilapidatcd
condition? She stood for moment IN
decided and unable to take her eyes off
his drawn, wornout features.
Suddenly tho sleeper opened his eyes.
Whatever the outcome, she must avoid
scene i'll a public room. Anything but
that. The walters had more than once
looked wonderingly at the man who had
drunk three cups of coffee and then fall
en- asleep hours ago. Annie tried to ap-
pear quite unconcerned and took seat
beside her husband. Somehow her anger
had suddenly vanished.
"Oh, darling, what brought mel
mean rather what brought you-herc?"
he asked, astonished at the unexpected
appearance of his wife dressed for Il
journey.
Never mind. dear. Don't bother
about that NOW >, She 1yhiSnnrod