Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-10-15
CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
10

ne loOh Tue MINUS uoAu ahu hi~~f.A
them. Finally. as II satisfied with
what he saw. he asked
Have you been shopping"
She seemed surprised at the trivial
question following 50 closely upon
the scrutiny she mad undergone. and
said:
lis that all, MIR Bluebeard1 era
cious, how you scared the. expected
To hear you say In sepulchral tones.
Woman, there is guilt on your face
where have you hidden the bodyT And
instead. after that soul searching gaze.
you ask the commonplace question In
commonplace tones. Have you been
shoppingT"
With "A sigh Of content and love and
relief he threw his arms round her
and drew her close 10 him for a mo
ment. Then she seated herself Oppo-
site him in a low chair. where the
flrelight 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 DorkingT"
She opened wide her eyes and an.
swered
NO, dear why do you askT'
Just curiosity" Then. after
pause he added. Did you ever know
man named Tom Spencer
She laughed softly and. folding heI
dainty hands, replied:
Now am | indeed on the rack Why
torture my innocent soul with the IA
riosity to know the reason for placing
me in the witness box"
! At her irreyciant answer his doubt
rose again. and ne rather sternly u
peated his question. with a request f.
u direct reply.
Tom Spencer - Tom Spencer -
where have l seen or heard tLt
name?" she queried softly. as II >
herself Il certainly don't know au
Tom Spencer. but believe / hsvs
heard the name someW here"
And now. you dear cross ogre. sts
there any more conundrums Tor ma Z
Because. II you have finished, ! "a
go and dress for dinner"
He laughed and watched her disaI
pear through the door.
month passed. and during IN 8
time Robert Malcolm tried to detect
flaw in his wife's devotion 10 justif
him In the doubt which would creep 4
whenever he thought OF that letro
But II was in vain that he sought e
explanation in her manner The =
was nothing about her 10 suggest IN {
wealth had palled upon her. or m {
without poverty and Tom Spencer b q
life was a blank. She was as eyH
airily sffectionate. daintily tyrannici /.
hippant and serious in enc breaia.
with that Infinite variety" which " s
her greatest charm. One night wb q
they had returned from a dance he q.
cided TO make a full confession 10 1 e.
| and to ask her for an explanatisa
She had thrown herself into an 81 3
chair and looked even fslrer than u -.
al
Making a final effort he began. -
rapidly he told her all-aIl about 1T
letter. his doubts and despair and ~
unhappiness be felt whenever re
thought OF the matter While he "A
talking she was looking down Ds.i
twisting the rings on her slender -
gers. When he finished she looked a.
at him with a slow. amused al u
creeping over her face
Now / understand those quest rs
you asked me about Tom spen, ..
Yes. that was the name-and I kn nv
why the name seemed familiar 10
me-"
well. what OF Tom Spencer yho
is heY"
"He is a creature 81 ny own n
aginatiOn, and once having crea I'd
Thomas | straightway forgot la.
When you asked me that dag sst-
dered where had heard the naE.s
what do you meang' he dems, nj
| ed.
only this. Bob-but first you ast
promise not 10 laugh az me" ae
stopped. looking at him an1iously tie
nodded impatiently. and she went IN.
Some time ago | conceived the lea
OF being literary. thought out . s-yry
| and decided that I would depart I'm
the usual routine and have II told a
series OF letters. You got bold OF The
beginning OF the story. ! was G. ed
away that day. and never thu. at
again OF my literary venture"