Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-10-25

Tating," she said, ito be suspected"
I'D wear a thick veil if I were
you," suggested Dobley; and powder
your hair so hat it will seem gray.
Then you might stoop when you
walk, limp a little and carry an old
fashioned travelling bag. This viii in
sure your perfect safety from unp2ecs-
ant attentions"
"Huh!" said Mrs. Dobley, 81 don't
intend to disappear looking like a
fright! I want to find out how it
seems to be alone in the world with
no one to lean on. I shall wear no
wedding ring and shall darken my
eyebrows"
We'll, don't you get into any
scrapes,' said Dobley, for if this
thing gets out people won't under
stand, and they viii talk"
"Oh, I'll be all right" said Mrs Dob
ley. xviii you be home 10 dinner to-
night?'
q refuse 10 answer said Dobley,
firmly. II have some important at
fairs TO arrange before L disappear"
And l.. said Mrs. Dobley, must
call on the tailor aoout my new gown
and DO Z little shopping. 1 haven't
got an eyebrow pencil TO my name
Take care of yourself" said Dob
ley, land in ease Of any accident tele-
graph niP-care-'
Now. don't spoil everything by
leaving al address, said Mrs. Dooley.
IF anything shoUId happen-why, We
can come home:"
yes" yavned Dobley, one a
always do that; but it is so beastly
slow"
Mrs. Doblev wrinkled her brows
slightly. 1T Will certainly be a pleas
ant relief to get away" she asserted.
81 get 50 tired OF people sometimes
They are so much alike" said Dob
ley; that's the trouble l have a
strange dislike fer human companion
ship at times. Environment becomes
a gilded cage: faces are like masks
without expression"
"Conversation is tiresome," inter
posed Mrs. Dobley; mot an original
expression, n 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 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
rOr-r Che rio4,roI nohlarsc ST1rnriSo
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 thefvisitor and stole
gently upstairs. She donned her trav-
cling coat and a hat and veil and went
softly rast the library door, smiling
to herself at the success of her use
She listened for a moment to hear
Dobley's 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 a magazine.
Mrs. Dobley rushed in
where is Mr.. D~obley?" she de-
manded.
Freshington looked up in surprise
at this strange greeting.
81 don't know, I'm sure" he replied;
1--WE 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 Dobley's
doings which were sometimes cratic.
"If I should see him" he began.
"You won't!" said Mrs. Dobley de
cidedly. He's taken the opportunity
to get away"
10 get away SAA0 CEcSAAhSdoA
"Where?"
Il don't know" said Mrs. Dobley,
losing all enjoyment of the situation.
that's just it! He's my%steriously
disappeared. And 1 think he's a mean
old thing! 1 meant it just as a 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,
1 don't know what 1 shall do"
"Let me understand" said Fresh
ington. as this a Dobleyan joke or
what?"
Mrs. Dobley incoherently unfolded
the plot to F~reshington's amazed ears.
And it seemed such fun" she sobbed,
for me to get off first and I knew
he'd follow the cab and that we'd
meet and he would think / really in
tended TO go and would beg me to
remain or allow him to accompany
me. There would be the jokei You
see I didn't really intend to go. I am
afraid to travel alone. He knows per-
fectly well that 1 am, anu 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 hen the trouble is we were to
leave no clews."
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