The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-11-02

"Oh, thank you, my DEAR" said the
unsuspiclous Snollett. nd never
found time to go round for it,"
S ,e made no comment but watched
him take it ou', snap it on his watch
chain and slip it into its accustomed
plate IN tie lef, breast pocket of bis
vest.
You beas,! You hr r-ut.!' she
cried, tragically, and ss the hurricane
of tears hurst she ran from the room
and shut herself into her own apart.
ments again.
Poor Snollett was thunderstruch.
He tried. in sneaking way. for the
servants were greatly in evidence, to
gain audience with his wife, but she
would not open her door, and he spent
the night on the conch in the library
and went down own next morning
in a most bewllderel state of mind
and with an empty stomach.
L\ dia = actions 50 worried him that
he could not keep his mind on his
business. About noon, Charlie Paget.
an old friend and a good lawyer, came
in. G rarlie's eyes twinAled, but his
manner was solemn.
See here, Abram," he said, what 8
this hear about you?'
What is it?" in dawning wonder at
the lawyers solemnity.
"Why, this trouble with your wife,
said @ larlie, with the air of funeral
mute. "Abram, l never thought it
of you. l never would have suspect
ed that you, Abram S Snollett, were a
gay deceiver-that you were living a
double life-'
"Double- Well, a word not
exactly permissible in good society.
"Whas do you mean?" yelled Smollett,
his homely face turning deep brick
red.
''Be calm, Abram," said his aggra-
waiting visitor. "Your wife-poor,
unfortunate woman-has just been to
my office to see me. l know all!' He
said it as tragically as though he had
spent years in melodrama.
"See here!" Smollett arose in his
might, seized Paget by; the shoulders
with no gentle force and seated him in
a chair. "This has gone far enough
he said, in passion. Explain your
words. What has my wife been to
see you about?"
"Divorce!" said Charlie, in sepul-
chral voice.
Smollett's face was pitiable. "How
what"
"How did she discover your in.
famy?" demanded Charlie, without
compassion. "She saw that lock of
the other woman's hair in your watch
"The other woman!' gasped Smol-
lett. "What other womanr'
"In your watch?'
"a woman in my watch?"
mo, mol" The lock of hair :.
Smollett drew out his timepiece.
He gradually grew calm. He opened
the back case, and the yellow lock
fell into his hand. He looked from it
to Paget.
"Is this it?"
THAT, l presume, is the fatal evi.
dence-"
But Smollett withered him. "Do
you mean that my wife has been to
see your
"Yes.'
"Where is she now?"
II prevailed on her to 60 home and
wait until had seen you,' said the
lawyer chuckling wickedly.
Smollets put on his hat and did not
appear IN the office again that day,
much to the disturbance of certain
stocks in which he was known to deal
heavily. But in the afternoon he was
seen driving with his wife in the park,
and later they occupied box at the
theatre.
Paget dropped in on him day or
two later.
HAS the divorce been settled out OF
court?' he asked.
Now, l suppose you think you're
smart, don't your returned Smolfett.
"Well, I'm always glad when / Cal
bring families together instead Of sep
arating them, if there isn't any money
in it for me-" said Charlie.
"Hub!' grunted Smollett.
"And in this case the evidence was
80 dead against you. Any woman
could have wade a perfectly clear
brief out of it"
"Oh, don't suppose you will be
satisfied till you know it all, growled