Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-05-24
A PARDONABLE RUSE
ny Mns. VI. i. RAYsE.

point where forbearance ceases to be vir-
tue, and my own self-respect demands
4'There you 60, reeling off yards Of talk,
talk, talk, in order that you may nave the
last word. You are 70 quarrelsome that"
II quarrelsomel When you know per-
fectly well l never have an opinion Of my
swn And al to the last word"
The clerk il waiting for us to register
If you will stop seoIding long enough / VIII
order our room"
Room, Mr. Wilson, room? You mean
rooms. We are not reduee3 to'the necessity
OF dispensing with a parlor to wnich We can
invite our friends, are WEI"
"Just as you please, madame; i IS like
your extravaganza to engage a suite. Fourth
floor, then, and a suite"
Fourth floor, Mr.. Wilson, then you oe-
cupy it alone You know we are always TAX
ing the second floor, for fear OF fire But
/ presume you would be delighted If | was
burned to a cinder. Wfetcnl In all the
years we've been married never knew you
to oblige me by granting any request"
Never mind about that, Mrs. Wilson.
It's fourth floor or nothing. You know me
well enough by this time to understand that
| am not to be dictated to IL any woman
''Oh, no, Mr.. Wilson; certainly not, par
ticulary when that woman is your wife.
suppose by this time / ought TO be glad
have a roof to cover me. Heartless man
il the world knew how you treated me-"
Please register" said the clerk, who was
tired of the determinations Of the pair, and
willing to help them adjust matters.
They had been engaged in this disagree
able quarrel since stepping from carriage
at the door, and there was a suggestion Of
one Of those terrible hotel tragedies which
occur so often in their expressions OF rage
and defiance, and the hatred which flashed
from their angry eyes as they glared at each
other.
Clarence Wilson and wife, st. Paul.
MINI" was the inscription recorded on the
hotel register, and several guests who had
been interested in the quarreling couple
sauntered up and glanced at the bold accus-
toned writing and specialized ovef the new
arrivals.
'That isn't the handwriting OF a tough"
commented the clerk
Must have money by the way they are
logged out"
1t will be either murder or divorce"
They're too young to have good sense"
''Oh, they've been married some years.
heard her twitting him with it. They are
h.
The pair entered the hotel dining-room in
a pacific silence, and but for the traces of
their previous i'll humor would have made a
very good impression. However they went
at it again hammer and tongs before they
had finished their first course.
did you secure good tickets for the the
alter OF did you get any old thing as usual 2"
There you go, jumping at conclusions!
"a % ret hal
descend to approve them. Best in the
house"
six rows from the stage and not end
seats. Suppose the theater should be on fire
how would we get>outy"
Il could skip over the backs of the seats"
Eyes, and leave me to perish. Oh, this is
too much Yet, years ago when We We're
first married, Mr.. Wilson, and you were not
the cruel wretch you now are, you said"
'Oh, never mind what / said Eat your
hsh and give me chance to finish my din
ner in peace. | little thought in those days
that | had married termagantH
WHO made me oney You--nobody but
you My-my mother"
Never mind dragging her in. Ii her
daughter were half a. aIniable as she is /
wouldn't be leading such dog life
Mr.. Wilson seemed To have had the last
word, and although the pair spoke once or
twice in an undertone, the attentive waiter
had no further parley to report to the head
clerk
But the quarrel was resumed at the ele-
vator, where they snapped and snarled in
such vicious fashion that the boy related it
at the desk, where ne was told to look out
for concealed weapons and to report any
loud talking he might hear in the apart
ments of the new guests.
I'VE don't want any coroner's inquest
here" said the clerk. "Just keep tab on
them, and if you see anything suspicious let
me know
Nothing was reported, however, until late
in the evening after the return of the couple
from the theater. They had been talking
loudly and disagreeably when they went
out, but had returned in more peaeeable
mood, although looking daggers at each
other as they went up in the elevator, A
call for ice water was responded to by bell
boy, VINO came down from their room with
eyes popping from his head.
'9There'll be another murder done in this
house sure" he exclaimed. Them two have
got ii in for one notner, for she called him
a ruffyan an he said take that back or yer
life will pay tn forfeit. An they jist
glared at themselves like catamounts"
'The clerk sent for the landlord 81
think we should look into this" he said.
"The couple in parlor 20 have been fighting
ever since they came into the house. We
don't want another tragedy"
"Who are they" asked the landlord
q Nice looking peopie--young, too-but en-
gagged in the worst row you ever heard.
Married."
"Oh, yes, they're man and wife all right
looking for a divorce, | should say Int
thereu be mischief done if you don't in
terlere and settle their quarrel for them or
find out what it's about"
"Ill 90 up and see them, said the land
lord, @and you might as well come along as
a witness, and bring the boy-he may have
to tell what he heard. Come on"
Arrived opposite parlor 70, the landlord
and his suite, REINFORCED by several curious
guests and a few ehambermaids, stopped to
reconnoiter. All was silent, and the party
looked at each other With gloomy forebod-
T. 4 L., Al