Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-01-28

IDENTIFY sought. Here at least he would
be safe. for nc one knew where ne was
stopping. AS long as he kept well hid
his privacy would not be invaded, I'M
less, indeed (perish the thoughti), his
wife sought in turn every hotel in
Hastings.
That evening Pelgrove made himself
fairly content with illustrated papers.
Next morning the sun rose in a cloud
less sky and everything pointed to a
day of perfect weather. He longed to
venture forth-but, no. If he stepped
outside malevolent chance would GER
tainly send him straight into the arms
of his wife. He could not even sit at
the window and be famed by the
breeze, lest she should pass below and
catch a glimpse of him. The scene be-
tween them must come, but better-far
better-that it should be reserved for
tomorrow evening, when their next
door \neighbors at Hornsey (the Pei
groves occupied a semi-detached resi-
dence) should alone be edited.
Towards nightfall Matthew became
exceedingly restless. AS an additional
cause of grievance not a speck of cloud
had showed itself in the sky, and
everybody abroad looked more than
usually happy. Over a whisky and
soda-the despairing effort of an alb
stemious man to revive his spirits
Matthew groaned. His impromptu
holiday was not doing him the least bit
Of good. Better pickering at Hornsey
than Imprisonment in Hastings, with
that dreadful shadow of the morrow
hanging over his head!
81 don't care; I'm going out" he said
to himself, when the sun had set and
chances of recognition were slighter.
Pulling his hat well over his head
and turning up his c~oat-collar, Matthew
ventured outside. But despite the Sc
renity of the night he did not enjoy
the walk. One thought intruded-
would he meet his wife? He peered
into the dark of shelters be-
fore he passed them; a dozen times
in the dim light other women's hats
assumed the appearance of hers.
When people streamed out of church
and the crowd on the esplanade grew
thicker Matthew decided to return to
the hotel. This weekend at the sea-
side was an entire fiasco.
AS he passed through the hall the
young woman in charge of the office
spoke to him.
Some people called for you when
you were out, SIR"
"Oh!" replied Matthew, with ill-as-
sumed unconcern. "Who were they?"
"A lady and gentleman. Said they
had seen your lame in the visitors
list. They left no cards."
Gould you-er-describe them?"
81 only spoke to the lady, sir. The
gentleman kept behind. He looked
rather seedy beside her."
you can't remember at all how she
was dressed?"
at was too dark to see much, and
we hadn't lit up. She had on a Won
derful hat, though" Pelgrove started.
81 couldn't help noticing that; it was
so startling. What my young man
would call a kind of conservatory with
the glass left out. I thought it would
hardly go through the door unless she
stepped back sideways, but some won
en- know how to carry that style of
thing" and the young lady shifted by
way of slight contempt, and returned
to her ledger.
Pelgrove had not moved. The blow
had fallen; his wife was hot on the
scent. But who could her companion
be? Seedily dressed, Ell? Probably
some private inquiry agent whose serv-
ices she had enlisted.
did they say-er-they would re-
turn tonight" Matthew stammered.
mo, sir. Said nothing about that.
Where shall l find you if they do?"
I'm going to bed. l have-er-a
Lad headache. Have my bill ready
early in the morning, please?"
Twenty minutes later Matthew was
snugly between the sheets. Yet, even
there, was a man safe from his wife?
He listened %nervously to every noise
on the stairs, fancying her step in the
tread of every chambermaid, and it
was fully a couple of hours before he
sank into Inconsistencies.
1t =
How Matthew Pelgrove transacted
his business next day he does not per-
fectly remember. Even in the days of
his apprenticeship he never glanced so
many times at the clock. But with
how different a motive! Then it was
with the longing that some invisible
agency would push on the slowIy-mov-
ing hands and bring release from the
irksome bondage of the ofice-stool;
now that time might stand still, and
that dreaded outbreak with his wife
fade into u~nreality. All his self-pos-
session fled as he thought of the even
ing hour.
If only he could frame some plausi-
Bile excuse for his appearance at
Hastings! Matthew, however, was not
an imaginative man, and, rub his wits
as he might, he could find no reason
calculated to bear the faintest inspec-
ton. 1t would be too transparency
thin to suggest that another man of the
name of Matthew Pelgrove had been
stopping at that hotel. Hastings was
not a business center, and it was quite
inconceivable that he should have ar
ranged to meet a client there. No;
the wisest plan seemed to be to brave it
cut. He must explain that, feeling a
bit run down, he had changed his mind
and, instead of going to Bradford, had
proceeded to the sea-which statement,
Of course, had the essence of truth.
A ittlo aftor tho Ilc,Ial timo Matthew