The National tribune., 1901-04-11

ashore somehow and took to the railroad
ties for here. Here you are; No. 1Z3.
Best room in the house. Gentleman took
it for month"; The clerk pointed TO an
entry in the big folio he had opened be,
fore the lawyer. wv. Gilbert Sears and
wife, Summerdale. Mass" As if it were
an afterthought, there was added on the
line below in the same hand: "(Nrs. Mar
garet Keep Sears)." Those the people
you are looking for, sir:"
Il suppose they must be-, responded
Mr.. Bettson. twirling his eyeglasses on
his finger after examining the signatures
Il did not know he was-married."
Don't seem to be much doubt about it
In his mind, sir. Tells it twice as if he
was mighty proud of it. And so he is, if
I'm any judge. The first thing he said
last night was This is my wife, he says;
We've been cast away and want room
until morning or longer Then he writes
his name and says, Now, my dear, you
had better deposit that wallet with the
clerk. It's altogether too valuable to be
lost through noncompliance with the law.
So she handed me big leather pocket
book, which l sealed up, marked, Proper
ty of Mrs. w. G.. Sears, No. 123,' put it
in the safe and gave her a receipt"
Exactly" said Mr.. BettsOn. Would
you send that up to Mr.: SearsF handing
the clerk his card. Il have to return to
Chautauqua at once and would like to
see him if possible"
No use. Mr.. Sears isn't here
"Isn't here?'
"Just so. You see, they were SO chilled
they were both as wet as a rat-that
/ asked them if they wouldn't have some
coffee. | usually make some for myself
about one o'clock to help keep me awake,
and it was just about ready. | poured
them each a cup ana gave them some
crackers. Mr.. Sears hands trembled so
he could scarcely hold his saucer, and his
nj moi n acfa mo
so l asked him if he wouldn't have some
whisky, but he said he guessed he
wouldn't
Yes" murmured Mr.. Bettson. 1T
cost me about $4,000 TO learn that he
was strictly temperate, as they say"
Guess this is your man, them said
the clerk with a guffaw.- well, when
they had finished their coffee, he said,
Now, Margaret, you go to bed. must
be in pittsburg by morning, whatever
happens. hope to be back in n week or
two, but If am not, you will find al the
clerk has for you. | think you had better
stay here until / come back, unless your
mother insists on you going over to
Chautauqua. But you'll know what's
best. I'll direct all letters and kilograms
here"
'.He spoke low, but it was awful still.
and heard every word. Then he kissed
her and watched her kind o wistful while
i showed her up stairs. They are
thorough-breds, ] can tell you. No fuss
and feathers, nothing TO conceal and moth
10 apologize for. A hotel clerk gets to be
pretty good judge Of people and things,
sir. Well, when i came down, Mr.. Sears
asked me il ! had any sort OF head-gear
/ could loan him, for he had lost his hat.
/ hunted up an old baseball cap. 1t was
the only thing ! had, and he wanted to
pay for it, but / wouldn't let him. Then
he inquired how he could get over TO May
vile to catch the 4.20 =. IN. train.
directed him TO the livery back of the
hotel, where j thought he'd find a man
who would take him over for about 50.
1t began TO rain n soaker soon after that,
and l guess Jesse Brooks earned his
money"
"And Mr.. Sears didn't-come back g
asked the other, as if unable to believe
what he had heard.
'NO, he didn't" exclaimed the clerk
with some asperity. Didn't tell you he
said he'd got to be in Pittsburg today:
Oh, yes, l forgot; just before he went out
he told me to see that his wife had every
thing she wanted, and paid $50, weeks
board. that is, in advance"
Mr.. BettsOn was silent moment. "EI
can / send up a note to the ladyI'
Mrs. Sears? Certainly" The clerk laid
pen, ink and stationery before him and be
gan TO busy himself with the calls
which were commencing TO come from th'
crowded rooms. and broke the morning
stiffness with their clangOr.
The storm of the night before, severn
as it was, was not Ia be compared in v'O
lence with the conflict that ragci in ih
second story of the Aldine when Me-. Ep:t
son told Mrs. Keep that her daughter wa
registered at The Grand as Margare
Keep Sears.
Il don't believe they're married" sh
cried furiously. They can't be! It's jus
conspiracy, plot! He's an adventure
"a teggar-a''-
"a pretty lucky beggar," supplied Nj
Rettson.
Il don't care! I've sworn thesa mau.
years that no one with drop of Grrrn
Ice blood in their veins shoull ever prof
from anything or any action of mine. I'm