Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-10-28
CIRCUMSTANTIAL 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 had undergone, and
said
rs that all, Mr.. Bluebeard? Gra-
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 bodyT And
instead, after that soul-searching gaze,
you ask the commonplace question in
commonplace tones, Have you been
shoppingF"
With a 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 a low chair, where the
freight fell on her face, bringing out
all it's charm.
In the magnetism Of her presence
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, after
pause, he added: did you ever know
a man named Tom SpencerW
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.
TON Spencer - Tom Spencer -
where have l seen or heard that
nameY she queried softly, as If to
herself. II certainly don't know any
Tom Spencer, but believe l have
| u6dTu Tue udluc SOuucW hclC'
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 wifes devotion to justify
him in the doubt which would creep in
: whenever he thought of that letter
But it was in vain that he sought an
, explanation in her manner. There
1 was nothing about her to suggest tina,
: wealth had palled upon her, or thai
, without poverty and Tom Spencer hel
. life was a blank. She was as evel
r airily affectionate, daintily tyrannical
/, flippant and serious in one breath
, with that Infinite variety" which wa,
t her greatest charm. One night wher
0 they had returned from dance he de
l cided to make full confession to hel
r and to ask her for an explanation
She had thrown herself into an easy
l chair and looked even fairer than usu
k al.
e Making final effort he began, an(
It rapidly he told her all-all about tn,
t letter, his doubts and despair and tn,
u unhappiness he felt whenever h
e thought of the matter. While he wa
It talking she was looking down ant
j. twisting the rings on her slender fin
d gers. When he finished she looked VI
II at him with slow, amused smil
d creeping over her face.
,t Now l understand those question
i, you asked me about Tom Spencer
d Yes, that was the name-and 1 knoy
III why the name seemed familiar t
T. me-"
Is "Well, what Of Tom Spencer? VIII
is he?"
'He is a creature Of my own in
n, agination, and once having create
st Thomas l straightway forgot hin
IL When you asked me that day l VOL
lie dered where l had heard the name"
er What do you mean" he demand
1t, ed.
SIX "Only this, Bob-but first you mul
as promise not to laugh at me-" St
in stopped, looking at him anxiously. q
nodded impatiently, and she went o.
or "Some time ago l conceived the ide
e. of being literary. thought out a stol
nd and decided that would depart fro
DIS the usual routine and have 1t told In
a series Of letters. You got hold of Il
beginning of the. story. I was callt
away that day, and never thoug
nd again Of my literary venture"