Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-12-05

What is it," in drawing wonder at
the lawyers solemnity.
1T is-er-something regarding your
private life. know it isn't any business
a deprecatory wave of his hand. ''or
wouldn't be had l not known you so
long. But as personal friend"
Personal fiddlesticks,' exclaimed
Sm0llett, GROSSLY. What are you get
ting att"
Why, this trouble with your wife, >
said Charlie, with the air of a funeral
mute. ''Abram, l never thought it of
you. | never would have suspected that
you. Abram Smollett. were q gay de-
celyer; that you were living a double
life
), Double" Wei, a word not exact
~ permissible in good society. What
do you mean?" yelled Smollett, his ugly
face turning deep brick red
Hush, Abram.' said the lawyer. sol
EMMY. There is no use in your grow
ing excited about it. Did you suppose
that YOU could continue in such a course
Of inidelity without being found out
some time?"
See here" Smollet arose in his might.
seized Paget by the shoulders with no
gentle force and seated him in a chair
This has gone far enough he said, in Il
passion. Explain your words. What
has my wife been to see you about?"
SpDulCuIdl
voice.
SmOilett simply wilted into his chair.
Charlie leaned forward and tapped him
Smartly on the knee.
That's it, Abram The poor child has
put her case in my hands, but | begged
her to let me see you before we began
drastic measures-'
Smolett's face was pitiable. ''How-
what"
How did she discover your infamy? %
demanded Charlie without compassion.
She saw that lock Of the other wom-
ans hair in your watch
The other woman gasped Smollett.
What other Woman?''
In your watch"
"A woman in my watch?"
No, no. The lock Of hair"
Smollett drew out his timepiece He
gradually grew calm. He opened the
back case and the yellow lock fell into
his hand. He looked from it to Paget.
rs that ito"
That, [ presume, is the fatal evidence
But Smollet w!thered him. ''Do Won
mean to say my wife has been to see
you?"
Yes
where is she now?''
Il prevailed upon her to go home and
wait till [ had seen YOU" said the law
yer, chuckling wickedly.
Smollett put on his hat and did not APP
pear IN the Office again that day, much
to the disturbance OF certain stocks in
which he was known to deal heavily.
But in the afternoon he was seen driv-
ing with his wife in the park and later
they occupied a box at the theater.
Paget dropped in on him a day or twa
later.
Has the divorce been settled out of
court?'' he asked.
Now, [ suppose you think you re
smart, don't yOu?' returned Smollett.
We'll I'm always glad when l can
bring families together instead of sepa-
rating them, if there isn't any money in
it for me-" said Charlie, SIMULTANEOUSLY.
HUH grunted Smollett.
And in this case the evidence was
so dead against you. Any woman could
have made a perfectly clear brief out Of
''Oh. [ don't suppose you will be sat
listed till you know it ALL growled Smol-
lett. That lock of hair was
Yes" said Charlie, with interest.
WAS Lydia's. Her hair has grown a
good bit darker than it was when she
was a child of 6. Her father gave me
that lock and I've carried it-well. a
good many years Now are you salts
fied?"
Yes said the lawyer, slowly. but
was Lydia?'
And then he barely escaped with his
life to tell the rest of us of Smollett's
detection in the character of "a gay