The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-03
Curious Husband
Story of a Wichitan and
His Life:s Mystery.


that there may be a Wichita environment
20 contributed stories, wish TO relate
This. Some, I know, viii recognize it.
MY wife and I were married on October
- 1899. I bought a cottage on South
Topeka avenue in what was once Ormes
d Phillips addition, which we were to oc-
cupy when we returned from the
Worlds Fair at Chicago And returning
We had occupied it for three days when
This circumstance occurred. Late in No
Nember our house was robbed. A dia-
mond brooch, ruby finger ring and a
necklace Of pearls, all wedding gifts, were
taken from a small jewel box on the
dresser. Three diamond rings were left.
1 notified the police, who at once had
O clew, which, by the way, never panned
out The next night my wife was natur-
ally FESTIVE, and in the morning hours
she nudged me awake and whispered
that somebody was in the room. To re-
assure her. and knowing that her imagin-
alton was playing its usual sorry game,
l jumped from the bed and walked hur-
riedly about the room saying that it
was nothing. Something fell in the room
in the front. I rushed forward and saw
a form in the front door. dashed into
it wildly and bore the intruder to the
floor All I distinctly remember is two
women screaming wildly, my wife and
another, whom I realized vaguely was
holding 10 the floor I cried to my wife
10 quit screaming and light lamp. which
she managed to do, while I dragged my
burglar TO the room. When she saw the
burglar my wife at once recovered, and
] released my captive. She stood in the
center of the room, her face buried IN her
hands, her bosom shaking convulsively
with sobs. Ny wife was first to notice
a wound on her temple. from which the
blood was flowing freely. She dipped a
cloth in the water and approaching the
woman timidly began to battle the SPOT.
The woman must have known woman's
touch; she took her hands from her face.
and without regarding me, said to my
wife. "Wm you let me go?"
saw the burglar was remarkably pref
ty young, with tragic dark eyes and
raven hair.
] was about to put in, when my wife,
TO my great surprise, said:
Yes we viii let you 60"
She said this with a sympathy that
was beautiful TO hear.
The jewels" said the woman, "are
there. ! think I found the right place"
We both turned to the little casket, my
wife with an exclamation of surprise
The jewels were there, the jewels stolen
the night before. I picked them up and
turned to the burglar who had returned
them. She was gone.
We didn't sleep that night. spent the
,I.as~
science; how the government received
vast sums from men who had formerly
stolen it, and so forth and so forth.
But 1 didn't explain to her satisfaction
or my own why a woman of such super
iority in mind. as her composure evil
1cnced when she addressed my wife, and
IN beauty, should turn TO burglary.
Three weeks passed. One night my wife
and myself were driving home in heavy
snowstorm. On Gilbert street we saw a
woman in the road ahead of us stumble
and fall. I jumped out and rushed to
Tor. a barEe+ IF potatoes had scattered
we. the SLOW and a bottle of whisky.
1 left the potatoes go ard put the
whisky in my pocket. The woman was
I picked her up, lifted her
nto the buggy and led the horse TO my
louse. ] got the still unconscious woman /
nto the house and placed her on a !
OUNCE before the fire. Both my wife and 1
recognized our burglar. When she came /
o she smiled swetley and went TO sleep
gain. 1 thought of the whisky. but said !
othing The woman looked worn and /
issipated. Presently she arose and said:
I thank you for your kindness. but I
must go"
1T is very cold I said.
where" she asked, did fall?"
II didn't get the potatoes" said. but
saved the flask"
She flushed holly. My wife looked hor-
or-stricken.
1 felt Just a little dramatic.
Madam, I said, solemnly, You will
ardon us for a little natural curiosity
me night you took our jewels; the next
light returned them. Now by chance we
lex you up in the snow and bring you
ere"
Somehow I wasn't making a very good
peech Of it, and 1 hlurted out: I'VE
rant TO know who you are"
NV wife. bless her and her sympathetic
cart. had disappeared. She came back
18th tray of little slices of ham. some
empting bread and butter. and said she
-ould brew tea quickly. She told the wO-
ian 20 eat.
With hesitation the woman began to
ibble at the food. An expression of sat
faction IN her eyes which I caught told
,e. with all the womans leisurely air,
hat my wife had OWNED immediately
ne woman had been starving.
she did not answer nay question, but
te on in silence. I went out for a moment
nd when I returned my wife said: Give
ar the flask" She had asked my wife
request 1t. handed it over rather
The woman said: Il must so now. 1
rank yeu again. Perhaps God viii re- {
sy"
size made a wonderful picture then {
IN. dark like a shadow tragedy, !
}ectre. Z
Ny wife ran to her and grasped her 7
lnds and cried: Let Us help YOU j
] looked az the blue eyes under the l
,lden hair looking appealingly into the I
lrk eyes under the dark hair.
] pulled out cigar and lit it. AS a {
1ung husband I felt I ought 10 demon I
rate to my wife that no riddle was be S
md me and 1 was not doing my part. 2
seemd TO be zero in the affair. 6
Madam" I said solemniy, tell us. =
e frank. II you are to be protected we I
in protect you We may help" ?
The woman studied the heor long. Then I
e said: "Come-both Of you. Let him
H. /
caught the infinite tenderness in her v
aection of the word kim Some e
unken husband. I conjectured. burg c
r Nho had stolen our jewels and whose q
wife had returned them. Y
W. ,,-sll 81 said z