The Washington times., 1901-12-08
L A BOOM" TOWN TRAGEDY
BY ANTHONY LELAND.

with these tickets. meet Mrs. Higgin
there, and check her trunks for her.
can't get away for half an hour yet, an
she will be worried If some one ism
there to take care OF her
Yes. sir" Dodge started to leave tn
room, but paused with his hand upon th,
door "A woman has been waiting SOM
time TO see you" he said. "She won
tell me what she wants-says she mus
see you"
The devil l haven't any time fo
anyone now. Some book agent or beggar
! Make her tell you what she wants.
Il don't think she is either OF those
/ sir. She looks like respectable sort o
! a persona widow, / imagine. She says
she won't detain you but a moment"
"Oh Well. show her in. l can listen
to her gabble while run over these pa
pers''
She was a gaunt. little woman. thin
and worn, with the lines Of hard, un-
happy life about her drawn mouth and
duh eyes. She was dressed in, rusty
black, her hands, encased in cotton
gloves. were tightly clasped as she stood
just within the door looking sharply at
Higgins back as he stopped over his
desk, rapidly scanning the file of letters
in front Of him.
Well" he said abruptly. not looking
up from his desk. what can / do for
you? I'm very busy, and haven't any
time TO waste"
She made no reply, but stood calmly
with folded hands.
What is it?" he cried, looking up i'm
patiently, annoyed by her silence.
Their eyes met. The woman caught her
breath sharply. sudden look of fear
crept over the mans face. The woman
smiled grimly rs she advanced toward
him.
You amt quite sure whether it's me
or somebody else. are you. Jim?"
My God, Mary"
He started from his chair, but fell back
quickly, with great beads of sweat on his
brow
Yes. it's me-fesh and blood. You
don't appear 10 be glad to see me, but
I'm most surprised you know me at all
after all these years. Lord knows I'd
ought to be changed after all I've went
through" " She sat down beside his desk.
smiling yiciously and scanning his face
closely You amt changed SO awful
much. she continued in her whining
only you're better fed look
ing than you used to be. You amt
changed half as much as your name has.
Jim walton!"
The man was covering in his chair.
breathing heavily At her last words he
sat suddenly upright.
Shut up" he said hoarsely. Don't !
7ou dare to use that name again"
"Poh' you can't frighten me. It's
yours, amt it,"
Higgins glanced uneasily toward the
window and door. The shade was drawn,
md they were free from prying eyes from
he street The door was closed. and
Dodge alone was in the outer Office. quite
Il the FAR end OF it. probably; a any rate. /
lot within range Of their voices.
No" he replied. doggedly; lit isn't I
lclther you nor anybody else can prove I
hat it ever was" His usual dictatorial ,
aanner began 10 assert itself once more.
My good woman he continued, fixing /
is little eyes squarely upon her you |
re trying to run blum game. It won't
;ork! l hold all the cards. and you can't
i'm"
The woman eyed him calmly Unloosed-
1g her shawl. she settled herself in
hair. The mans eyes shifted a little
nder her insolent gaze. He waited anx-
,dsly for her to speak If she would hut
i've him an inkling OF what she proposed
Ding, he could meet her attack. He
igeted in his chair. At last his impa-
ence led him to make false move.
q" What do yol mean TO do?" heasked
'Oh, you amt quite SO sure l can't do
nything. are you? haven't come all the
ay from Ellensvilie just to be scared on
. the end. You're rich and powerful. I'm
poor woman. and nobody knows me
ere. But pointing a blunt finger az
im-"folks viii know before give up. In
oite Of your riches and your power can
AXE this town too hot to hold you. If
lere's any decent men or women in it,
NHA Z fAVhF ebAA AAdAlAI , " dllbls i
IN prove II was once, and, what's more,
guess your riches and big name nor
othing viii help you much when folks !
Rows you're bigamist," Her voice ,
'ew shrill. The mans air of bravado
rsook him as he listened. you didn't
link knew so much. did you she ask
!, with a hard little laugh.
ITS a lie," he muttered.
oh. no. It amt. Amt ! your wife. and I
MT you got another woman who thinks .
lie is. too? read all about that other
oman in the book"
In what book?'
THE book this town sent out. telling all
,out its big men, with the story of their I
tes. II all the rest of EN- was as big a q
-ck OF lies as yours was they must be '
ly lot knew your picture the minute h
laid eyes on 1t. I showed it to brother y
ash, and he knew II, too. an he set me
to coming here TO get mf rlghts-give =
e the money an all. l don't know as h
come though, II it hadn't been that q
e book said you'd married a high-to y
RI. and 1t gave lot OF fol-de-roi about n
r. Lies like the stun about you. | sup /
sc. That made me mad, Lord knows
didn't want you. and | could get along y
thout your money, but when / read Y
u WAS married to another woman. an
e trailin' round In silks and satins. 81
lille me. your lawful wife. was diggin' d
d deIvin' like I've done ever since you \
ipped out and left me. then got mad, h
| says to Wash, IN go, and II it's g
n walton sure enough. III have my X
,hts'-an here ] am. and you are Jim d
alton. an I'm going to stay till / get h