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

he look the nandS 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.. Bluebeard2 Ora
cious, how you scared me. | 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
shoppingy"
With sigh Of content and love and
relief he threw his arms round her
and drew her close to him for q mo-
ment. Then she seated herself oppo-
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 DorkingT
She opened wide her eyes and an
swered:
No, dear, why do you askT
Just curiosity" Then, after a
pause, he added: Did you ever know
a man named Tom SpencerT
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 boxY
At her irrevelant answer his doubts
rose again, and he rather sternly re-
peated his question, with a request for
a direct reply.
Tom Spencer - Tom Spencer
where have l seen or heard that
name?" she queried softly, as If to
herself. Il certainly don't know any
Tom SpencerS but 1 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
go 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
flaw in his wifes 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 blank. She was as ever
airily affectionate, daintily tyrannical,
fippant and serious In one breath,
with that Infinite variety" which was
her greatest charm. One night when
they had returned from a 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 a final effort he began, and
rapidly he told 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 a slow, amused smile
creeping over her face
Now l understand those questions
you asked me about Tom Spencer.
Yes, that was the name-and / know
why the name seemed familiar to
me-"
well, what Of Tom Spencer? Who
Is hep"
HE is a creature OF my own i'm
agination, and once having created
Thomas I straightway forgot him.
When you asked me that day won
dered where l had heard the name"
what do you meanr" he demand
ed.
"Only this, Bob-but first you must
promise not to laugh at me-" She
stopped, looking at him anxiously. He
nodded impatiently. and she went on.
"Some time ago l conceived the idea
OF being literary. thought out story
and decided that l would depart from
the usual routine and have 1t told In
series of letters. You got hold of the
beginning of the story. was called
away that day. and never thought
again Of my literary venture"