The Republican., 1900-11-15

call on the tailor ABOUT my new gown
and do a little shopping. l haven't
got an eyebrow pencil to my name"
Take care of yourself" said Dob
ley, "and in case of any accident tele-
graph me-care-"
NOW, don't spoil everything by
leaving an address," said Mrs. Dobley.
'If anything should happen-why, we
can come home!"
"Yes-" yawned Dobley, lone can
always do that; but it is so beastly
slow"
Mrs. Dobley wrinkled her brows
slightly. ut will certainly be a pleas
ant relief to get away" she asserted.
Il get so tired of people sometimes"
"They are so much alike" said Dob
ley; that's the trouble. l have
strange dislike for human companion
ship at times. Environment becomes
gilded cage; faces are like masks
without expression"
conversation is tiresome," inter
posed Mrs. Dobley; mot an original
expression, not a thought-why it is
positively unbearable:"
There was a perceptible GOODNESS in
the Dobleys' parting, and when they
met at dinner neither expressed any
surprise at seeing the other still at
home, and the subject of the forth
coming disappearance was not allud-
ed to. Mrs. Dobley endeavored to act
with complete unconcern in order to
throw Dobley off the scent. She had
ordered a closed cab to wait for her
round the corner at ten. She had
planned to slip out after dinner, put
ting a travelling cloak on over her
gown. She pictured Dobley's surprise
at finding that she had obtained the
start so cleverly.
! Fate seemed to prosper her plans.
Just after dinner Mr.. Freshington was
announced and was shown into the
library. Mrs. Dobley thought this
would be a capital time for her es-
cape. She waited until Mr.. Dobley
had gone to greet the visitor and stole
gently upstairs. She donned her trav-
cling coat and hat and veil and went
softly rast the library door, smiling
| to herself at the success of her ruse.
| She listened for a moment to hear
Dobleys voice, but there was abso-
lutte silence. She waited another mo-
ment breathless, but the stiffness was
uncanny. She peered through the
curtains and Mr.. Freshington sat
alone looking through magazine.
Mrs. Dobley rushed in.
'Where is Mr.. Dobley?" she de-
manded.
Freshington looked up in surprise
at this strange greeting.
81 don't know, I'm sure" he replied;
"I've been waiting for the last quar-
ter of IN hour to see him.
Mrs. Dobley gasped. Then he's
gone!" she said.
Gomez" queried Freshington.
"Yes-disappeared!" she exclaimed;
| Doesn't it seem horrid?'
Hes probably stepped over to the
club" said Freshington. "He didn't
understand that I was here"
But he did" declared Mrs. Dobley.
"He saw the card and said he was
coming up to see you. LIS just a
mean trick!"
Freshington had learned to conceal
any surprise he might feel at Dobleys
doings which were sometimes erratic.
"If l should see him" he began.
you WON'T" said Mrs. Dobley de-
cidedly. Hes taken the opportunity
to get away"
ITO get away?" said Freshington.
"Where?"
81 don't know" said Mrs. Dobley,
losing all enjoyment of the situation.
That's just it! He's mysteriously
disappeared. And think he's mean
old thing! 1 meant it just as joke!"
Mrs. Dobley dabbed her eyes and
shifted pathetically. Just think if
anything should happen, or if bur-
glars should get into the house. Oh,
l don't know what / shall do!"
Let me understand" said Fresh
ington. SIS this Dobleyan joke or
what 2"
Mrs. Dobley incoherently unfolded
the plot to Freshington's amazed ears.
"And it seemed such fun," she sobbed,
"for me to get off first and l knew
he'd follow the cab and that we'd
meet and he would think l really in
tended to go and would beg me to
remain or allow him to accompany
me. There would be the joke! You
see I didn't really intend to go. I am
afraid to travel alone. He knows per-
fectly well that am, ana now he's
just gone away perfectly uncon-
cerned."
He hasn't had time to go very far
said Freshington. Perhaps we can
head him off?"
"The very thing" said Mrs. Dobley.
"But then the trouble is we were to
leave no clews."
Il can try at the club" said Fresh
ington, somewhat dazed by the mys-
terry of the matter; "and I'll telephone
you
mo, shall go, too," said Mrs. Dob
ley. 81 could never stand the sus-
pense. The cab is waiting"
"The cab?" said Freshington.
"Why yes-don't you understand? ?
1 had the cab wait around the corner
and just as soon as he found 1 had
gone he would Immediately telephone
the stable, for he knows | ALWAYS 90