Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-11-02

had fought the great temptation. II
was almost vanquished. when In the
second number Of u new Journal for
Collectors ! came uiAn heading.
The Antiquary's Paradise" ] pro
test. ! tried not TO read the article.
knew what ! should ind-the sio'
ries OF the Friday curio-mart In the
Metropolitan meat market. ! vas do
termined not TO read IL. hut did.
Then ] told the Female connoissenr.
and my fate was fixed. I'VE must co.
she said. In grim resolve. The Female
connoisseur has great way with her.
-wey" I echoed DULY.
You and L." was her stern answer.
tried diplomacy. told her that
II was long way on. II was no
place for woman there she snorted).
II was dirty. very dangerous. ! told
her that half the mysterious disap-
pearanccs In the city were from that
part of town.
This seemed only to rouse the spirit
Of romancs In her. Her eyes .iis'
tened. oh won't It be fascinatinsT'
You must put on the very dirtiest
Of Clothes" ! said. with inspiration
dress seemed the most vulnerable
point-"oihcrwise they1i raise their
prices double"
''it'n be just like In n book" she
cried. For a married woman the y.
&. is absurdiy unsrammatical and
youthful.
I'VE shall have to make an early
start
I meant this as disbursement:
shc took II as mn added Joy. Yes.
well creep out In our old things. with
the milkman. Let's say nine o'clock.
on Friday next. from here"
Tk.s seemed TO clinch the matter.
"Ninc o'clock. on Friday next. from
here" repeated yncantiy. and said
-Good.by." Ny stock OF tact and pa.
ticncc was exhausted. After NIL. ]
could solve tho matter by forgetting.
I had nearly managed to forget. In
ail sincerity. on Thursday night. when
] received letter.
II hopc.' Il said. your cos.
iumo is ready! Mine is quite n tri.
umph. This iE only 60 remind yon.
We start from here at ninc n. m.
wet or fine"
II was not quite closing time for
kilograms. and I dashed to the near.
est post oHcc.
No Antiauary's Paradise II wet
narircd. Fnischood comes 30 easy on
"a tcicgraphic form. Then ] settled
down to pray for rain.
James," said to the butler. Il
may want calling Mt haif.past seven
tomorrow. II it's fine. But. mind"
! went on very imprcssIvciy-I hope
didn't wink-''if there should be
one drop OF rain. or any sign of drops
to come. shall not want calling un.
Ill nine o'clock. You understand" II
would not be my fault II James failed
TO wake me.
My conscience was entirely easy
when James came In next morning.
! merely felt n little sorry for the Fc.
male Connoisscur. alone In nil her
finery.
"Half.past seven. SIR" said James.
I leapcd up. what" I began.
in awful anger.
"Ah. tho weather." James contin.
nd. ITS Just like summer to-day.
A rare peace o. luck. sir. Not q
cloud" He drew the curtain swiftly.
letting in light that hurt my eye.
I suddenly resolved to overslccp
myself. but. soiueho", Couiu lOt
really sleep: and the thought OF the
F. C.'s disappointment came to weigh
upon me. I determined to see the
matter through. But one thing
would not do: I would not indulge
her by putting on absurd. odd clothes.
a dirty collar. and the rest. What
was the use OF It? She had said they
would take us. then, for dealers. As
though I could be mistaken for n
d,1ler. or she. eitherl I put on an
ordinary morning suit. and was at the
Eve house by nine O'Clock.
She must have been most eager for
the trip, for she was ready. and opened
the front door. At first glance I
took her for the servant. A mackin.
tosh coat of disreputable age, a
stained and napless skirt of serge.
cheap bead-chain. were the first
things to strike me. The F. c. curt
seyed.
Dyer like me. Alf?" she smiled
Such playfulness SO soon after
breakfast struck me as close upon
Immoral. Looking back. perhaps !
lwas in rather an unpleasant mood.
t"I didn't notice anything different"
b said.
The F. C. kept agreeable--she al
ways does. How like q mani" she
1aughed. mot notice!"
1 hate sneers at the sex. "I did no.
tice your DRESS" l said, "but it's as
usual Look at the hat, now; that
kives you away. No common person
could ever"
"Yes," she interrupted. pleasantly.
but coldly, 81 borrowed 1t from Liz.
the kitchen maid" Then she stepped
back. "Oh. but admit you're bet
tou're perfect"
said nothing. The F. c. rather an.
lows mo ot times when she ia sillv