Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-08-03

1
will you kindly tell me where you got
that capeY
"She spoke In whisper, but my wife
| d heard, and the woman'B compatl.
ion-that man out there on the plat
form-also heard. The poor fellow
looked as If he would literally shriyel
up with modification. Caroline he
admonished, for heavens sake, keep
your temper. Don't make scene
"I'm not making scene retorted
the woman; TIM simply asking this
E1ady where she got her wrap. Surely
she has no objection to answering q
| harmless question Like that
I "My wife's face was very white,
which with her Is a sign Of anger, but
she answered coolly: Certainly not.
don't think 1t any Of your business;
but, II you must know, T bought it, OF,
rather, my husband bought It at Sell
erS. He paid she added proudly,
$500 for It. -.
~The httl0 man sank back with a
sigh Of relief, but the woman dashed
on another coat Of war paint. 4 don't
wish to appear rude she said but /
feel compelled to tell ,yon that that cape
was never bought in that store. It is
mine. It was stolen from my house..
my wife flashed me frightened,
questioning glance. Donald she gasp
| ed. ~
Never said fervently.
More than year ago. proceeded
| the woman. =.
!" Oh calculated my wife, that's
drferentl i've had the garment only
two months. You can't blame u.s.
"Now that I had been exonerated Of
the theft l. felt bold enough to put in
On oar Of my own Madam said /,
Since you seem SO positive that this
cape once belonged to you, perhaps you
won't mind explaining your means Of
Identification
81 can Identify It, she said, by the
handkerchief pocket. Do you see these
tiny buttons stitched around the top?
Well, they are arranged in the form of
the letters &c. D." Those are my ini-
tails. They stand for Caroline Drake.
That is my name. Now are youusat-
isfed? I'll warrant you wouldn't find
another pocket iN town trimmed like
that. It was my own idea and strictly
original 49,.
''My wife looked at the buttons in
differently. I see nothing convincing
about that she said. Wen all go
down to Sellers tomorrow and settle
the matter there
again my heart palpitated. knew
Sellers. and was also well aware that
that cape would never bear investiga-
ton at their hands. In order to pre-
vent still more painful complications
did what I should have done in the
first place. I told how came by the
cape. AS finished my tale of trans
gress1on and late repentance ! looked
across the table appealingIy, but my
wife turned her back squarely upon
me and addressed her remarks to the
woman, ~. ssrS ~.
=! - MADAM she said, take. your old
cape. Pray, take It ct once. / wouldn't
wear It again il it1were the last wrap
on earth. I'd 30 home ia my bare
shoulders first. To think that my hus-
band, who has always pretended to be
SO fond Of me and for whom have"
borne SO much, should insult me by
giving me q cape that be had picked
up in pawnshop cuts me to the heart.
I am grieved beyond expression. His
conduct is really incredible, and Fd0n't
think shall eyer get over It.
10 n,9n n1AfIv1 Ga
a shameful way to treat ycu,' she said.
Pm very sorry, but men are all alike /
""'Quite true assented my wife ami
ably, and now, since my husband. had
the nerve to buy this caperin q pawn
shop, shouldn't be at all surprised to
learn that your husband sold It there
II looked around at Drake, who \
seemed for a moment on the point OF
vanishing under the table. He braced
ND. however, and spoke cut with q
bravery second to none but my own. !
I did, he said firmly. Now that we
are all in for It may as well own up. 4
It was the time had to pay that bill
OF Hammond's. CaIlte, don't you re-
member? thought { could redeem
the GA4uR III a AtS4S WILLIE 6HO SOu
would never know It had been taken
out OF the house, but o cold snap came ),
along ahead OF time, and You discover
ed your loss. didn't dare confess
then. talked you into thinking bur-
glars had swiped it,
You thought you had talked me
into that belief retoTted Mrs. Drake.
4 never really thought SO. thought
all the time your mother had stolen It.
That's the reason never made any ct.
fort to find 1t. Ifelt sure the detectives
would trace it to her If pushed the
matter, and out Of consideration for
your feelings let the thing drop. And
this is the reward / get for my SELF
sacrifice a.
''It was my wife's turn to offer con-
ISOLATION. Men are an alike, she.said.
81 looked at Drake, and Drake looked
at me. "They are we said in unison.
s:'Mrs. Drake took the fur cape home
with her and I had to 60 up to our
house and bring down my wife's old
Jacket before she would bulge ont OF