The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-01-06
A LOCK OF HAIR.


wants were greatly in evidence, to gain
audience with his wife: but she would
not open her door and he spent the
night on the couch in the library and
went down town the next morning in a
most bewlldered state of mind and an
empty state of stomach.
Lyd1a's actions so worried him that
he could not keep his mind on his bust
ness. He was irritable and generally
fractions. and the red-headed young
man suffered accordingly. About noon
Charlie Paget, an old friend and good
lawyer, came In. Charles eyes
twinkled, but his manner was solemn
"See here, Abram," he said, whats
this hear about you?'
What is it? That I've sold c., r. &
Q. short? That yarns stale" snapped
Smollett.
mo, sir. Something more serious than
that"
What is it?" In dawning wonder at
the lawyers solemnity.
1T is-er-something regarding your
private life. l know 1t isn't any bust
ness Of mine" Charlie FASTENED to say,
with deprecatory wave of his hand
''or would not be had not known you
so long. But as a personal friend
Personal fiddlestlcksr' exclaimed
Smollett. Grossly. What are you get
ting at?''
why, this trouble with your wife,"
said Charlie, with the air OF funeral
mute. "Abram, l never thought II of
you. I never would have suspected that
ceiver; that you were living double
life"
Double" well, word not exactly
permissible in good society. What do
you meanY yelled Smollett, his ugly
face turning a deep brick red. %.
Hush. Abramr' said the lawyer, SOL
emily. There is no use In your grow
that you could continue in such course
of infdelity without being found out
some timer
''See herer' Smollett arose in his
might, seized Paget by the shoulders
with no gentle force and seated him in
chair. This has gone for enough"
he said, In passion. Explain your
you aboutY
"Divorcew said Charlie, in a sepul-
chral voice.
Smollett simply wilted into his chair.
Charlie leaned forward and tapped him
smartly on the knee.
tt'rhatfo hro W, r,bo ~o~- oNr.1
has put her case in my hands; but |
begged her to let me see you before we
began drastic measures--"
Smollett'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 womanr' gasped Smollett.
What other womanT'
I'm your watch" a.a
"A woman In my watch?' vs.
mo. 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.
us this It'll"
THAT, | presume, is the fatal evil
denee---"
But Smollett withered him. do You
mean to say my wife has been to see
youT
YES"
where is she now?"
II prevailed upon her 10 go home and
wait till had seen you" said the law
yer, chuckling wickedly.
Smollett put on his hat and did not
appear 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 driving with his wife in the park
and later they occupied a box at the
theater.
Paget dropped in on him a day or two
later
Has the divorce been settled out of
courty' he asked.
Now l suppose you think you're
smart, don't your" returned Smollett.
We'll, Pm always glad when 1 can
bring families together instead of sep
arating them, IL there isn't any money
in 1t for me-" said Charlie, sanctimo-
niously.
"Huhr' grunted Smollett.
And in this case the evidence was
so dead against you. Any woman could
have made perfectly clear brief out of
it"
"Oh, don't suppose you win be salts
fed till you know 1t ALL" growled Smol-
lett ssrhat lock of hair wes-o