Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-10-14
C|RCUMSTANT|AL EVIDENCE.

| he took the hands down and kissed
them. Finally, as If satisfied with
what he saw, he asked:
Have you been shopping?"
She seemed surprised at the trivial
question following so closely upon
the scrutiny she mad undergone, and
said
rs that all, Mr.. Bluebeard? Ora
cious, how you scared me. l expected
to hear you say in sepulchral tones,
Woman, there is guilt on your face
where have you hidden the body?' And
instead, after that soul-searching gaze,
you ask the commonplace question in
commonplace tones, Have you been
shoppingT"
With sigh of content and love and
relief he threw his arms round her
and drew her close to him for mo-
ment. Then she seated herself oppo-
site him in Il low chair, where the
freight fell on her face, bringing out
all its charm.
In the magnetism of her presence
her husband became almost happy
once more-until the memory of that
letter came back to sting him.
Suddenly he asked her:
adele, were you ever in Dorking"
She opened wide her eyes and an
swered:
mo, dear, why do you ask?"
Just curiosity" Then, aftef a
pause, he added: Did you ever know
man named Tom Spencer"
She laughed softly and. folding her
dainty hands. replied:
Now am indeed on the rack. Why
torture my innocent soul with the Gu
riosity to know the reason for placing
me in the witness box?'
At her irrevelant answer his doubts
rose again, and he rather sternly re-
peated his question, with request for
direct reply.
Tom Spencer - Tom Spencer -
where have l seen or heard that
name?" she queried softly, as II to
herself. II certainly don't know any
Tom Spencer, but l believe l have
heard the name somewhere"
And now, you dear cross ogre, are
there any more conundrums for me?
Because, If you have finished, l will
90 and dress for dinner"
He laughed and watched her disap-
pear through the door.
A month passed, and during this
time Robert Malcolm tried to detect a
flaw In his wife's devotion to justify
him In the doubt which would creep in
whenever he thought of that letter.
But 1t was In vain that he sought an
explanation in her manner. There
was nothing about her to suggest that
wealth had palled upon her, or that
without poverty and Tom Spencer her
life was a blank. She was as ever
airily affectlonate. daintily tyrannical,
filppant and serious in one breath,
with that Infinite variety" which was
her greatest charm. One night when
they had returned from dance he de-
cided to make full confession to her
and to ask her for an explanation.
She had thrown herself into an easy
chair and looked even fairer than usu-
al.
Making final effort he began, and
rapidly he teld her all-all about the
letter, his doubts and despair and the
unhappiness he felt whenever he
thought of the matter, While he was
talking she was looking down and
twisting the rings on her slender fin
gers. When he finished she looked up
at him with slow. amused smile
creeping over her face.
"Now understand those questions
you asked me about Tom Spencer.
Yes, that was the name-and l know
why the name seemed familiar to
me-"
We'll, what of Tom Spencer? Who
is hei"
"He is n creature of my own i'm
agination, and once having created
Thomas l straightway forgot him.
When you asked me that day | won
dered where | had heard the name"
what do you mean?" he demand
ed.
"Only this, Bob--but first you must
| promise not to laugh Mt me- She
stopped, looking at him anxiously. He
nodded lmpatiently, and she went on
Some time ago | conceived the idea
of being literary. | thought out story
and decided that l would depart from
the usual routine and have it told In Q
series of.letters. You got hold OF the
beginning of the story. l was called
away that day, and never though
again Of my literary venture"