Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-06-13
DAILY STORY.
A WIFE'S RUSE.
TOriginal.l


of leisure. He spent much of his time
ut his club or his Clubs. for he belonged
to number of them. the rest either in
shooting or fishing,or racing horses or
some out of door amusement. Those
who blamed him for wasting his time
could not charge him with Incidence
or effeminacy. volunteered for the
Spanish war and came out
with an excellent krecord. But the war
over. he returnedt to his shooting, fish
ing. horse racing tand the like.
Martindaie hadl married Il very love
ly girl who had borne him three chill
dren. SO far assbeing true to his wife
and children was concerned. he was
model husband. but he would not stay
at home His wife Was Obliged to
pass most of her time alone with her
children, while her husband was CAD
ding about. This uronbled her greatly.
Some day" sin, said to him omi
nously. you may have cause to re-
gret your neglect tof me. l am very
lonely. and l mayt he tempted to en-
courage some oneLpf the men who
would be glad to benny cavalier
Wouldn't bIamesyou a bit. my dear,
if you did,
4 determined look came over the
poor woman's face shat denoted pur-
pose And a purpose was carried out
One afternoon MaItindale came home
and found certain man about town.
Archibald Griffith. sitting in the Ii
brary with his wife. The husband
greeted the intruder cordially. then
went upstairs. where he was soon
heard rOmping with the children. The
wife, who had hoped forssome express
sion of jealousy. sighed. Her cavalier
soon took his leave. but 1t the door re-
ceived a pressure of the hand and an
invitation toicOme again soon.
From that time forward for season
Griffith was u constant attendant upon
Mrs. Martindale. always receiving an
at least outward welcGme from the
husband. Mrs Martinda9e accepted all
Griffiths invitations, bu1 her conduct
excited no blame. Everybody consid-
cred that her husband was getting no
more than he deserved, and all had i'm
plicit confidence in the xife.
One morning Mrs. Martindale receiv-
ed note from Griffith announcing that
he had suddenly been called away and
might not see her again for some time.
The note was not unWelcOme. for she
had Sickened of the role she was play
ing and didn't quite know thow to end
ii. As her husband had made no COM
ment on her cavaliers attentions so he
refrained from asking what had be-
come of him. observation-disclosures as much
away from home as before. and the
wife was obliged to admit to herself
that her plan of making, her husband
Jealous had signally failed.
Now Mrs. Martindale was n deter
mined woman and vowed that she
would force herthusbandfto show some
concern for her conduct If she had To
pat herself at fiEnit forever in his eyes
One night when MaTtin!ale was play
ing game of bridge at, his club tele-
phone message came from his home
that his wife was very.ill and he must
come home at once. He delayed SO
long that another message came saying
that his wife was dying and wished to
see him before 1t would be too late
He finished the game and went home
Mrs. Martindale WIS in bed. She
was gasping and her face was livid.
A physician stood by. evidently at
loss to know what to dojfor her. AS
soon as she had reSained,her voice she
directed that every one should leave
the room except her husband. Then
she called him close TO her and spoke
with apparent effort.
Ned. / have confession to make
You know Archie Griffith? Well, in
that affair | wrongedfyou."
'How?"
Don't force me totSpeak the word"
"Criminally?'
The wife groaned. but said nothing.
And you wanted me to know this
before you dledT'
Yes" came family from the strck-
en- woman.
We'll. Bess, I'm sorry you hadn't
taken a more convenient time to tell
me- I'm behind in a game of bridge
and I must go right back Ta-ta"
The bedclothes were thrown off with
Il Jerk. and the sick woman stood on
the floor
This is too much" she cried. You
care so little for me that even that
which can alone hold us and our poor
dear little ones together is of no mo-
ment to you
''Bess," said the imperturbable hus-
band. you're the biggest liar in Amer
lea. Do you remember the new butler
who came soon after Griffith began his
attentions? Well, I put him I'm to
watch you. He saw your cavalier at
tempt to take liberties with you the
night before he left town, and you re-
PEELED him with Indignation. The next
day gave Griffith the choice of pistols
or departure. and he chose departure"
'Oh. Ned. did you really care that
much for me?'
Il certainly did, sweetheart, and
more. You have done your best to
make me show my love for you. and
shall put you TO no further trouble.
shall give up amusements and from
this time forward devote myself to
business, to you and the children. But
one who has been so near death needs
bracer"
Touching bell, the butler appeared