The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-05

short? That yarns stale" snapped smo,-
lett.
NO. sir. Something more serious than
that"
what is it?" in dawning wonder at the
lawyers solemnity.
TT is-er-something regarding your
private life l know II isn't any business
Of mine" Charlie FASTENED to say. with
a depreciatory wave of his hand "or
wouldn't be had I not known you so long.
But as a personal friend"
Personal dddlesticksr' exclaimed smoI-
lett Grossly. What are you getting at?"
why, the trouble with your wife" said
Charlie, with the air of a funeral mute.
"Abram, I never thought il of YOU
never would have suspected that Won
Abram Smollett, were a gay deceiver;
that you were living a double life --''
Double" vel. a word not exactly
permissible in good society. What do
you mean?" yelled smo.lett, his ugly face
turning a deep brick red.
Hush Abram," said the lawyer, solemn
". There is no use in your growing ex
cited about it. Did You suppose that you
could continue in such course of infdel-
ity without being found out some timer"
what do you mean?"
BE calm, Abram," said his aggravatins
visitor "Your wife-poor unfortunate wo-
man-has just been to my office to see me.
I know ALI" He said it as tragically az
though he had spent years in melodrama
''See herer Smollett arose in his might
seized Paget by the shoulder with no gen
lie force and seated him in chair. This
has gone far enough" he said in a passion
Explain your words. What has my wife
been 10 see you about?"
"Divorcer' said Charlie, in sepulchral
voice
srnollett simply wilted into his chair.
Charlie leaned forward and tapped him
smertly 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
neasures-"
smolIett's face was pitiable. How
what"
How did she discover your infamy?"
demanded Charlie. without compassion.
''She saw that lock of the other woTnans
hair in your watch"
The other woman!" gasped smonett.
what other woman?"
I'm your watch"
"a woman in my watch?"
mo no. The lock of hair"
Smollett drew his timepiece He
gradually grew calm. He orened the back
case and the yellow lock fell into his
hard. He looked from it to Paget.
us this it?'
THAT, I presume, is the fatal evidence
-"
mean to say my wife has been to see
your"
yes"
"Where is she now?"
IT prevailed upon her to go home and
wait till I had seen you" said the law
yer, chuck ng wickedly.
Smonett 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 ne was seen driving with
his wife in the park and later they occu-
pied box at the theater.
Paget dropped in on him day or two
later.
'Has the divorce been settled out Of
court?" he asked.
Now, I supp Sc you think you're smart,
don't you?" re urned Smolett.
"Wen I'm always glad when I can
bring families together instead of separat-
ing Them If there isn't any money in it
for me-" said Charlie, SIMULTANEOUSLY.
"Huh!' grunted Smolle,t.
'fAnd in this case the evidence was so
dead against you. Any woman could have
made a perfectly clear brief out of it"
ooh, I don't suppose you VIII be salts
fed 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 child of six. Her father gave me
that lock and I've carried it-well a good
many yea S. Now are you satisfied?"
'Ye-es." said the lawyer, slowly. But
was Lyd.a?"
And then he barely escaped with his life
to tell the rest Of us of Smollett's detection
in the character of "a gay Lothario."