Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-12-19

v 8VOQ n6tufeQ race, rather Inclined to
ruddiness. He was man who seemed
to enjoy every hour of his life, and
don't believe Lever saw him when his
blue eyes had not a merry twinkle in
them. Therefore the serious look with
which he now greeted me was Just a
little disconcerting. My mothers trou-
0led face also added q chilliness to the
reception.
Well. Davle, lad, said he, ..what is
III this that has been troubling your
: mcther7
told him all knew, repeating word
for word that which had passed be-
tween me and the stranger.
Il have heard rs much" said he.
when l had finished, land upon my
word can't see any cause for this un-
easiness Your mother has got fright,
my boy. and nothing can say will con-
vince her Of her folly
You may call 1t folly If you Ike"
she replied, land wish l could think
%. but I feel sure my husband would
not have written In this strain without
good cause"
Jim shook his head. Out of respect
TO her feelings he did not say what
was on the tip Of his tongue. He had
not his sisters admiration for my ia
ther.
"a man who can leave his wife and
child for seven years is capable Of
writing anything" he growled.
"Ah. but you don't understand" she
replied. You don't know the dangers
and vicissitudes Of a seafaring life. If
be has not come. you may be sure 1t
WAS for very good reasons"
sHumphg' grunted Jim, but perhaps
even he loved her all the better for her
loyalty. No doubt 1t was foolish, but
\ Il - that foolishness which endears
3 women to us. thought she looked
her best and her prettiest just then,
and Il Jim hadn't been there to poke
fun ct me would have given her a
oood kiss.
Aetill," said he as he slowly began to
al his pipe, II consider vague, terribly
ing scrawls no excuse for such an alb
sence. and II l were you should try
! % think that they were written after
mean under-much mental depres.
sion. the result Of systematic sQuar-
ing Of the elbow"
She shook her head.
II believe 1t to be nothing Of the
kind. Do You imagine that the coming
Of this stranger right on the top Of
Bob's letter was all a matter of chance?
No; he knew my husband was leaving
Australia, and he meant to see him.
For what reason? All, let me know.
that and shall know everything. But,
tell me, does 1t not strike you as being
very curious that should receive.
Bobs letter on the very day that the
stranger arrives herer
Well, no. The man could easily
have come In the same ship as the let
ter. Probably he was to meet Bob in
london and, disappointed in not find
Ing him there, came on here"
~But don't you see If Bob came In
the ship with that letter he would not
be here yet unless he came overland
nom BrindisD for another eight or nine
days. l do not hesitate to say that
the last thing he would think of would
DO to come overland, but those who do
not know him SO well might reasonably
suspect otherwise"
'WellT' said Jim, his blue eyes look
ing more puzzled than ever.
"Well," said my mother slowly and
very tmpressively, thought, "whas /
mako out Of 1t is this: That man did
not come by the ship which brought
the letter from Australia; otherwise
he would have known that Bob was
not here. But he believed him to be
on the ship and, specializing on the
chances of his coming overland, gave
him time to get home"
'sBut why should he believe that
Bob was on the ship and Of what i'm
.portance was 1t whether he was or
not2'
''Now you get beyond me-" she said,
but believe, why cannot tell you,
that that man knew my husband was
coming by certain ship. that my hus-
band knew OF this and for some req
son Of his own changed his mind"
.Dear child" said my uncle, 'you
weave quite pretty romance. That
little head of yours is full Of surprises.
I know a mystery is dear to woman,
almost as dear as bit Of scandal, but
don't build too much on 1t or you will
be. disappointed. The man had proba.
bly, done his business with Captain
Bob out In Australia. 1t might have
been serious mining speculation
Ballarat, you know, is a great mining
: center. II such is the case, what more
natural than that the man, hearing
Bob was coming by certain ship
should be anxious to see him?"
''Why did he refuse to leave his
name?"
'.As he said, 1t was probably imma
terial. I've often enough said the SAINT
thing. Trust me, your husband will
soon turn up with aglowing prospec
tus In his pocket describing marvel
GUS property which is within easy
reach Of Ballarat l know those pros
pectuses. I've drawn up few of then
myself, in which have described viii
wonderful fidelity reef or a region
have never seen. Believe me, you
husband will presently blossom into di
rector, possibly the chairman-if the,
can't buy lord of the Great Ballnra
Gold Mining company, Of which you
mysterious foreign gentleman with tn
strange eyes will most likely be tn
vender."
My mother Immediately recognized
that It was no use arguing with hin
when he affected that mood, and, dea
fellow as he was. she always ayoide'
the city In talking to him, for once Sc
going on that topic he was a Difficult
man to stop. So she went out to Sc
about some tea, and while she wa
away he informed me that there was
local Christy minstrel show in Maiden
head that night, for which he had tw
tickets, and that he had driven roun
4 to see II would care to go. OF cours
It meant staying the night at his house
but he would drive me over afte
breakfast the next morning. Boy lk,
E x1nnnn1 n N slcsN thnanl 7 49,
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