Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-01-02
CHAPTER XII,

When Hackett entered the cool and
shaded hotel he saw sight which sur
prised him more than a little. The sober
and respectable Ned Blame was there
alone, at that hour Of the morning; and
what was more. he had n glass Of spirits
- yater before him. -.
fillo, Ned!' said the newcomer, II
didn't know you did that sort Of thing
90 early"
Blame gave him no answer, and walk
Ing into the stone-paved hall, stood there
with his back turned to his successful
rival. Hackett shrugged his shoulders.
smiled meaningly Mt the landlady. and
nodded his head In Blane's direction.
"Changing his ways n little. isn't hep
1T isn't my plnce to talk. MIR. Hack
ett," said the elderly landlady. but I'm
sorry to see II, and I'd n deal rather
not have his custom than have II. l like
tho young gentleman too well to want to
zee him comm here too often. I'D say
the same to you II thought there was
any use In IT,"
"Don't cry bad fish. Mrs. Warden"
cried Will. with that captivating laugh Of
his. Aud taking up a besmeared and
tattered copy OF last weeks journal,
fcigned to glance over Its contents.
In due time Abram arrived with the
baggage. received his pay and fingered
at tho portal to watch the arrival OF the
omnibus. which was naturally an event
Of unemployed people.
Blnne stood stolidly In the vestibule rs
II lie awaited Hackett's departure, and
the latter lifted his eyes from the dog
cared journal q score Of times to look
at him through the window.
Now Mrs. Hackctt's walk had lasted
for perhaps an hour, and when she re-
entered the house, full Of grave and ten
der thoughts. the maid handed note to
her, and she. without SO much rs look
Ing at II. carried II absently upstairs In.
70 her bedroom. The aspect Of the place
recalled her from her reverie at once.
Two or three disordered drawers were
stacked one upon the other on the floor,
and a hundred articles were lying loosely
scattered on the bed. She stood for a
moment In wonder, and then. her eyes
falling upon the note. she saw that its
superscription was In her husbands
handwriting. She tore the letter open
and made herself mistress Of It's contents
at a glance.
Whit did this clandestine departure
mean? Was Will deserving her? Had
he cajoled her from the house In order
10 get away In secret? She shrank from
the fancy, and pushed 1t away from her
with all her force. She would not give
houseroom to 80 terrible an Imagination
for a second. But the door was barred
too late. The thought had found an en-.
trance and insisted on remaining, let her
blind her eyes to II az she might. She
ran hurriedly downstairs and questioned
the maid.
Her suspicious were confirmed by
what the servant told her. The maid
left her, and she stood for a little while
quite still. looking straight before her
with the letter In hand; and then. sud.
denly rOusing herself, she left the house
and walked ut brisk pace towards the
town.
She would understand this strange
procedure-and ut once. 1t was her
right to understand II. Will had EVIL
IDENTIFY known before he advised her to
leave the house, with all those false ca
resses and all that pretended gentle
brightness, that he was going to leave
her. She drew her figure unconsciously
upright, and trod the pavement like an
indignant queen.
But while she was yet at considera.
bic distance from the main road she
heard the sound Of the bus wheels. She
was wont to he conservative Of her dig.
nifty. and at ordinary times would have
thought II quite q disgraccfully hoyden'
ish thing to run In the streets; but this
was . moment to Danish small scruples
and she ran her hardest.
Hackett was swaggering on the steps
Of the hotel, delaying to mount tho bus
until the last moment. and Ned Blame
was watching him with eyes Of hatred
and contempt. Will. who was smiling
along the street. turned pale suddenly
and made an active dash for the bus
Blame strolled down the vestibule, and
looked out sardonically for the emissary
OF law.
The whip cracked. the bus went OF In
cloud Of dust; and Mrs. Hackett came
70 standstill In the middle OF the stree,
and, turning, retracsd her steps. Blan,
burst into q great laugh. which SOUNDED
% oddly that the littis crowd Of idlsrl
stared at him. His merrimsnt endured
for q space remarkable for it, brevity
and he looked back surlily aud almos,
Aerceiy at the people who looked at him
and went back into the hotel.
CHAPTER XIII.