The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-10-07

@HAA ANttA ~
Have got the tickets. Be at my
Office not later than Z, and we will go.
Till death and after Alfred"
He sat stunned, rereading it mechan-
ically, as II 1t meant nothing to him.
Gradually the words seemed to burn
into his brain. Here. then, was full
and dreadful confirmation Of his worst
suspicious. He had not been mistaken
last night in thinking there was some
secret understanding between them.
Here was their secret flashed Gswil-
, derlngly before him.
He started to his feet and snatched
his watch from his pocket A quarter
past 6. There was a bare possibility
that he might even yet be in time to in
tercept them. and he must make the
most OF that.
AS he passed the Hilberts door a
vaguely forlorn hope tempted him
aside. and he knocked till the servant
opened 1t.
rs Mr.. Hilbert herew he demanded.
mo. sir"
Where is Mrs. Hilbert?"
In the drawing room. sir"
Il want to speak to her. Don't
trouble. l will 90 to her. He stepped
inside and closed the door. and Nelly
was scared by the pallor and the tense
expression of his face.
why What's wrong, Edmundy
she CALCULATED
lie told her. painting and stammerlnG
incoherently.
Nonsense" she interrupted. There
must be some mistake
There is no mistake" he cried. Il
have his letter to her"
Where Is it,"
HE saysr-he was fumbling hastily
In his pockets-'he says he has booked
their passage and she is to meet him
al his Office by I. Oh. l can't
find it-must have left IT at home! But
il doesn't matter-I've told you what it
says What am l to do?'
~Oh. dearT' faltered Nelly. "I knew
III told Alfred last night that he
was far too attentive to Letty-but oh!
I never dreamt"-
THE ruffianr' he ragged. wildly. "If
/ can only lay hands ON him! But
! can't stop. want to catch the next
train to Euston. It's fast train and
may get me to his office just in time
"Oh, please wait-let me come with
your
They reached the station not mo-
ment too soon. The train stopped mo-
where until it arrived at Euston AS
it drew up at the platform Edmund
sprang out and assisted Nelly to
alight.
"Herel What's upg Where are you
two OF tos''
They started round and were face to
face with Alfred Hilbert.
Where is my wife?' gasped Ed
mnnd, seizlng his arm.
Don't talk like a fooll Tell me
what's happened"
You know well enough
Il tell you don't; l want to know,
And / want to know. too. what are you
two tearing Off together like this for?"
Either he was hardened and ac-
complished hypocrite or he really did
find II hard to realize exactly what lie
was charged with. and eventually he
was as bafiled as themselves.
IAN can say is, he reiterated. "that
note was not from me-
But it's in your writing" Edmund
insisted.
Cant help that I've never written
to Lefty in my life-not since you've
known her Ned anyhow. Where's
the letters'
II thought had it with me"-Ed-
mund began to search through his
pockets again-"I must have left it.
No. here it is.n
He pulled it out. and the other two
read it over his shoulder.
Yes that's mine. right enough" Al
fred admitted. Then, all OF a sudden
he broke into a roar Of laughter. 1T
is mine"
TITS no laughing matter
why. mustn't a man write to his
own wife. then? It's the note sent to
Nell. here. the day before yesterday"
1T can't be. How can it be?" pro-
tested Edmund. Il found 1t at my
house-in the fireplace"
"All right! You ask Nelly"
Nelly glanced at itagain eagerly.
80 it isr' she cried. laughing hyster-
ically "We were going to the theatre.
and weren't sure whether we could get
seats. and Alfred wac to try and book
them on his way to the city and let me
know, and that's his note"
And you both thought I''--
well, but" Edmund interrupted. re-
lieved and mortified at the turn affairs
had taken, how is it that 1t was in my
houseg"
"Why, / called to see Lefty this