Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-01-12
CHAPTER XII


shaded hotel he saw a 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 q glass of spirits
and water before him.
"Hillo, Nedr' said the newcomer, 81
didn't know you did that sort of thing
SO 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 at the landlady, and
nodded his head in Blane's direction.
Changing his ways a little, isn't he?"
ut isn't my place TO talk, Mr.. Hack
EFT" said the elderly landlady, but I'm
sorry 70 see ii, and I'd a deal rather
not have his custom than have it. l like
the young gentleman too well TO want TO
see him comm here too often. I'd say
the same to you if | thought there was
any use in it.''
Don't cry bad fish, Mrs. Warden"
cried VIII, with that captivating laugh of
his. And taking up a besmeared and
tatteTed copy OF last weeks journal,
fcienet' to glance over its contents.
In due time Abram arrived with the
baggage, received his pay and fingered
at the portal to watch the arrival of the
omnibus, which was naturally an event
of unemployed people.
Blame stood stolidly in the yestibule as
If he awaited Hackett's departure, and
the latter lifted his eyes from the dog
cared Journal score of times to look
at him through the window
Vow Mrs. Hackett'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 a note to
her, and she. without so much as look
ing at it, carried it absently upstairs in
to 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 hundred articles were lying loosely
scattered on the bed. She stood for
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 its contents
at a glance.
What did this clandestine departure
mean! Was VIII deserving her? Had
he caJoled her from the house in order
TO get away in secret? She shrank from
the fancy, and pushed it away from her
with all her force She would not give
houseroom TO so 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 it as 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 at a brisk pace towards the
town.
She would understand this strange
procedure-and at once 1t was. her
right TO understand II. VIII 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 be conservative of her dig
nifty, and at ordinary times would have
thought it quite a disgracefully hoyden-
ish thing to run in the streets; but this
was a moment to Danish small scruples,
and she ran her hardest.
Hackett was staggering on the steps
of the hotel, delaying to mount the bus
until the last moment. and Ned Blame
was watching him with eyes of hatred
and contempt. viii, 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 off in
a cloud of dust; and Mrs. Hackett came
TO standstill in the middle of the street
and. turning, retraced her steps. Blame
burst into a great laugh, which sounded
so oddly that the little crowd of idlers
stared at him. His merriment endured
for space remarkable for it's brevity
and he looked back surlily and almost
fiercely AZ tie people who looked at him.
and went back into the hotel.