Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1904-01-16

She was a travelling mans wife and
she had heard many stories about
the "doings'' of travelling men on the
road. Her husband always seemed a
model, but-why did he always leave
his grip at the Office when he re-
turned from trip? She had not seen
that grip more than once in two
years. The other day, when the drum
mer was on a trip up Buffalo way, his
suspicious little wife visited the Of
fee. Approaching the porter, she
said:
John, you like to make a dollar
honestly when you can, don't your"
"Oh, yes'm-''
You know where my husband
keeps his grip, don't your"
"Yes'm; he throws it down in a cor
ner an leaves it there.
well, look here, John; he wlIl be in
on the Central tomorrow morning,
and if you slip his grip out and bring
it up to me I'll give you dollar. You
can bring it back again in half an
hour
The porter consented, and two days
later presented himself at the drum
mer's residence with the grip in his
hand. Leaving him in the parlor, the
little woman carried the prize to her
bedroom, and with teeth set and pale
face opened it.
The first thing she encountered was
a pocket Bible, we'll thumbed and
showing the marks of much handling.
Then she dug out a soiled shirt, some
unchaste socks. comb, nairbrush and
then letter. This she opened eager
ly. 1t read:
''Binghamton, Nov. 16, 1908.
'Mr. William Hustler:
Dear Sir-Your monthly assess
ment of fifty cents for the support of
the Young Mems Christian AssociA-
ton (Bible fund.- is now due and the
earnest interest you have always TAX
en- in the work assures me you will
promptly remit the amount. You will
be pleased to learn that the good
cause progresses rapidly, as you pre-
dicted it would in your address de-
livered here few weeks since. Yours,
"A. w. EDWARDS, Secretary"
This drove much of the hard, strong
look from her face, but she continued
her search. She f1shed out three or
four tracts, bottle of pop, temper
ance badge, a bottle of DR.. Surecure's
corn destroyer, and beneath it all, in
the bottom of the grip, letter, sealed,
stamped and ready for the mail, ad-
dressed to Miss George Gray, Bath,
N. Y" The superscription was in her
husbands well-known handwriting,
and again the stony look came into
her eyes.
'3The wretch" she muttered. my
suspicious are too well founded.
George Gray! Oh, this is too much,
too much!" And she gave way to a
flood of tears. When she had Gained
herself she tore the letter open and
read:
Bath, N. Y, Nov FL
miss Gray-Your note aking me to
meet you in the park Saturday even
ing was handed me by a district mes
senger boy this morning. In reply
permit me to say that you have mis-
taken the man. You may not be aware
that / am a married man and am
blessed with the love and confidence
of the best little wife in America.
Rather than betray that confidence or
destroy that love I would suffer death.
In my eyes there is but one woman in
the world, and she it is who greets
me with a pleasant smile and a wifely
kiss every time come from trip.
civilian HUSTLER"
She sat down on the bed and sObbed
for while, then closed the grip, took
it to the porter and asked him to re-
turn it to the store and say nothing
OF what had occurred.
AS he entered the store the drum
mer looked up and asked:
did she go through it, John?"
Guess SO. She took it into another
room, an was gone half an hour be-
fore she brought it back
How did she act?"
well, she was smilin', but looked
kind of teary, too. She gimme an
other dollar an said this would be a
happy world if all men were like her
husband
"Ah, that's business, John! Here's
your five. Clean out the grip and put
my own buds back. I'm going across
the street to get bracer."-New York
Press.
WEAKNESS.