Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-10-14
The Doctors wife
Nv MISS N. e. BRADDoN
CHAPTER fTr.-tContinued.
~ MSS N. e. BRA

CHAPTER 1fI.-tContinued.)
"Give me the light. girl, and don't
bother" Mr.. Sleaford said. "I've been
worried this day until my heads all of
q middle. Don't stand staring ut me,
child! Tell your mother I've got some
work to do and mayn't 60 to bed all
night"
"You've been worried. par
Eyes, and I don't want to be both.
cred by stupid questions. now I've got
home"
Isabel came in. looking very grave,
and sat down. George saw that all
pleasure was over that night.
If Mr.. Sleaford had business which
required to be done. he seemed In no
great hurry to begin his work, for the
heavy footsteps trampled up and down.
UP and down the floor overhead.
1t seemed to George Gilbert as If Mr..
Sleaford walked up and down his room
all night, and long after the early day
light shone through his dingy window
curtains. George was not surprised.
therefore. when he was told at break
fast next morning that his host had not
yet risen. and was not likely to appear
for some hours. Isabel had to 60 on
some mysterious mission, and George
overheard fragments of whispered con-
versation between the young lady and
her mother In the passage outside the
parlor door In which the words sum
monses" and "silver spoons and "inter-
est" figured several times.
Mrs. Sleaford was busy about the
house and the boys were scattered, SO
George and Sigismund took their break
fast comfortably together. Sigismund
made plan for the day. He would take
q holiday for once In way. he said. and
would escort his friend to divers picture
galleries, and would crown the days
enjoyment by a dinner.
The two young men left the house at
II o'clock. They had seen nothing OF
Isabel that morning. nor Of the master
Of the house. All that George Gilbert
knew OF that gentleman was the fact
that Mr.. Sleaford had q heavy footstep
and q deep. sulky voice. If George had
seen the barrister! II these two men
had met each other face to face!
Somehow or other, George was glad
when It was time to 60 home. 1t was
only Z o'clock as yet, and the sun was
shining on the fountains as the youna
men went across the square. They hoped
being In time to get cup Of tea before
Mrs. Sleaford let the fire out; for that
lady had an aggravating trick Of letting
out the kitchen fire at half past or {
o'clock on summer evenings.
When they came to the wooden door
In the garden wall. Slgsmund Smith
stopped down and gave his usual wills
tie at the keyhole; but he looked "
suddenly and cried:
"Well, I'm blest"
"What's the matterY"
1.-THE doors Open"
Mr.. Smith pushed It 40 he spoke, ant
the two young men went into the from
garden.
I'm all the time I've lived with thu
Eleafords, that never happened before.
said Sigismund. "Mr. Sleaford's awful!
particular about the gate being KEEP
locked. He says the neighborhood's I
queer one. and you never know wha
thieves are hanging about the place."
The door of the house. rs well a
that Of the garden. was open; Sigismun'
went into the hall. followed closely b.
George. The pnrlor door was open, AM
the room was empty. and 1t had an ab
normal appearance Of tidiness. as II al
tho litter and rubbish had been sudden
,ly scrambled together and carried away
There was n scrap Of old frayed rop
upon the table, lying side by side will
some tin.tacks, a hammer, and coupl
of blank luggage labels.
George did not stop to look at these
no went straight to the open window
and looked out into the garden. lie ha,
so fully expected to see Isabel sittin
under the pear tree with novel Il
her lap that he started and drew bac
with an exclamation of surprise at find
ing the garden empty; the place SCENE
90 strangely blank without the girls
figure lolling In the basket chair.
was a. II George Gilbert had been "a
miliar with that garden for the last to-
years, and had never seen It without SCI
Ing Isabel In her accustomed place.
II suppose Miss Slsaford-I suppos
they're all out" the surgeon said, rattle
dolefully.
II suppose they are out" slgismun
answered, looking about him with
puzzled air; land yet that's strange
They don't often 60 out, at least all a
once. They seldom 60 out at all, !
fact. except on errands. Ill call tn
girl"
He opened the door and looked int
the front parlor before going to carr
out his design, and he started back upO
the threshold as IL he had seen ghOs
"What Is it?" cried George.
my luggage and your portmantea,
all packed and corded; look!'
Mr.. Smith pointed. as he spoke, to
couple of trunks, hat box, carps
bag and q portmanteau, piled In hea
In the center of the room. He spok
loudly In his surprise, and the maid-o
all-work came In with her cap hangin
by a single hairpin to knob Of tumble
hair.
"Oh, sir" she said, "they're all gon,
they went at q o'clock this evenin'; an
they've gone to California, missus say
and she packed all your things. and sh
thinks you'd better have 'em took roun
TO the grocer's immediant, for fear {
being seized for the rent, but you was {
sleep In the house tonight, II you plea
ed, and your friend likewise; and I wa
to get your breakfast In the morning b.
fore I take the key round to the LAM
lord"
"Gone away" said sisismund; igor
away"
eyes, sir, every one of 'em. and II
boys was so pleased that they woul
go shoutin' 'ooray, 'ooray, all over ii
garding, though Mr.. Sleaford scolded
'em awful, and did hurry and tear q
thought he was a-goin' mad. b,
Miss Isabel, she cried about goin'
oil nolA alt