The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-05
By EMMA M. WISE.

| end Of the opera Martha watched him
| as one In n dream.
| During the next half-hour there was
mighty crush ia the aisles and foyer
| of the great theater aud 1t was fully
| twenty-five minutes after the operate
| stars were given their last ovation be-
| fore we found ourselves on the pave
| ment ready for our carriage. Martha
| had made IN her mind to try to keep
I close to the Jack of Spades on our way
| out, hut even before reaching the foyer
people had crowded in between us and
| after that II was useless to try to find
| HIM. The mist Of the early evening
had changed into "A steady downfall of
mingled rain. sleet and snow, but even
| after reaching the slippery street
Martha heSitated about going home.
"lt is sheer nonsense to stay here
longer. Martha" | demonstrated, as |
drew behind granite column for shell
| ter. I'VE might as well hunt for the
proverbial needle as to look for him
now"
Every Well" she returned. dsconso-
| lately. have the carriage called. I'm
| ready"
gave our carriage number to the
manager of the livery.
NO. 53," he called out, loudly. "Ah,
| right here. madam he added in the
same breath. "One of your party has
! already entered the carriage. | believe"
One of our party?" | said in SUR
| prise. THAT cannot be. There are
only two of us--nyself and she" and
| | indicated Martha, who was standing
| close beside me.
NO gentleman" he asked. doubt
| fully.
mo. My husband could not accom-
pany us. We came alone. Pray let us
! go at once. ! am chilled to the bone"
Let me see your check again." he
| said addressing the driver.
our own coachman had been i'll for
a few days. and as he had been unable
to get out my husband had, at the last
moment. secured the services of driver
employed at a livery in our neighbor-
! hood. I had given the man but a cas-
ual glance as we got in and out of the
carriage, but little as l had seen Of him
and muffled up as he was in rain-coat
and hood. | recognized him at once as
the man who had driven us to the
opera. He produced his check again
! Ii was No. 53
That's all right" said the manager,
but there is something wrong here.
! The gentleman who is now in the car
riage gave me this" and he held out a
check which had been given him before
we came un. "and it is also No So.
Now, If you three people didn't come
| together how are you going to explain
| it?"
BY that time Martha and I had
/ ~
and we were about to step into the
carriage in spite of the arguments Of
the manager. when suddenly a man
thrust his head out Of the window and
exclaimed, testify:
| What's the matter out there? Are
YOU going to stand there pareying all
| night? | want to get home some time
| between now and morning"
Martha clutched my arm and gave
utterance to a little cry of dismay. The
electric lights at the entrance of the
theater had been burning low for sew
eral minutes, but at that instant they
| flashed up brightly and could distin-
! guish the features of the man who had
taken possession of our carriage. It
| was the Jack Of Spades.
The matter is" said !. not waiting
have made a mistake and have got into
our carriage. You will greatly oblige
us by getting out at once"
Martha gave my hand an admonitory
little squeeze at that, but ! was cross
and was not to be diverted from my
purpose.
! I'VE, like yourself, are very anxious
to get home" / added, sharply.
40 l. II
in voice from which all trace of anger
had disappeared and whose depth and
music would have thrilled even me had
| not been in such a CONCEALED state as
to require something more substantial
than melody to thaw me out. pray
allow me to suggest that / think it is
you who have made the mistake. NY
carriage is No. 53,"
80 is mine." l cried. excitedly.
Then" said he the only way TO
prove who is entitled to ride home in
lilis vehicle Is to put the case in tho
hands of the driver Let him say which
of us he brought to the opera tonight -
lie hastily alighted and stood beside
us.
"James-ah-is that your name.
James,"
Yes. sir"
james, did YOU bring me to this
theater about 10 o'clock this evening ?"
Yes, sir"
| started forward with an exclama
tion of disgust and Martha looked as
If she were about to swoon.
And you were given a check whose
number was 81, were you not?"
| Yes sir"
| win
| ness"
"James!"I fairly screamed, didn't
you bring us-me and my sister i'm law
to the opera house tonight"
The man slowly looked us over from
head to foot, then said, thoughtfully:
Il don't remember anything about II.
ma'am, and 1t seems as If Ia have
some recollection of it If brought YOU.
The imperturbabe coolness of the
! rascal fanrly took my breath away.
Very WELL" said !, with fine sar-
| casm, after moments consideration.
thank heaven Martha we are in q
large city, where cabs and carria ges
are plentiful We are not dependent
| upon No. 53 even though it Is our own
and Is decorated with my husbands s
! monogram, and If we can't find a con-
veyance anywhere We have always the
street cars to fan back on. And even
II they have stopped running on the
north side we can walk. We live only
eight miles out and there is nothing
that lasts while walking I'm a heavy
storm like thin slippers. Come on, my
! dear"
That villainous Jack OF Spades bit
his under lip as II trying to repress
a smile of ridicrle which our helpless