Free press., 1907-02-09

anybody then" Tom was not to be put of
so easily as that, SO he said he would wait
outside
AS he was turning from the door
young lady came up from the stage, dresseu
"Oh, Mrs Wilson" said the doorkeeper.
there is the gentleman as wants to see
Tom turned and looked at the young lady
She was very pretty and about four and
twenty.
and wondering how he should get out what
was on his mind without making a mes.
of it. II only wanted to ask Mr.. Wilson
Perhaps can answer it," replied the
young lady, looking at Tom with search
'I-er-I'm afraid not. I'd sooner wait
for him. shan't detain him minute
ager for an moment" IS said id the leAyS young n Iady
and she went down the stairs to the stage
again.
Tom waited and waited The actors and
actresses passed out, and presently the fire
man came upstairs.
hfm,s hfGpsr' rms gentleman waiting i0F
There amt anybody in the house now
then?"
81 don't know the company by name, but
there amt nobody left in the house, 1 can
tell you that the reply.
"Ah," said the stage doorkeeper, "then
wife must have gone through the 'front.'
Then Tom at jumped to the conclu-
sion that the young lady had told Wilson
that he (Tom) was still waiting, and they
had both slipped out the front way to avoid
meeting him. And this convinced him that
his surmise was correct, and that the actor
with Jack Smedley's voice was Jack Smed-
ley himself!
Tom Marlborough blurted out his story, for
he full of it. 1t was not until he saw
the effect of his narrative upon poor Rose
that it occurred to him that he had done
unwise thing.
''I don't believe it. Mr.. Marlborough" sho
exclaimed, her eyes filling with tears 81
don't believe it. My husband was cruel t.
to leave me in doubt and suspense ali these
years, but surely he would not venture back
again and run the risk of detection-and
and
She could not bring herself to say what
was in her mind. which that wicked
as Jack Smediey had been to her. he
would not be so wicked as to come back
wife.
But her curiosity was excited The idea
don revived all the old feelings of doubt
and anxiety which she had after a lapse
of years conquered.
Tom" she said presently, 'I must Sc"
this matter out. L shall go down to this
place. Will you come with me?"
Certainly e.; said Tom. feeling that he
go first and make sure. You see, I may
have been mistaken after ALL"
NO. Ill go myself can't rest now
till I know the truth.
Mrs. Moncreif started for the continent
alone, Rose explaining that important
business of a private nature would detain
her in town for few days.
The next evening, accompanied by Tom
Marlborough Mrs. Smedley went to the the
ater. 1t was a different play-the bill
had been changed, and there was no Mr..
Wilson in the cast.
Tom went round to the stage door and
interviewed the stage doorkeeper again,
Did he know if Mr.. Wilson was in the
town still, and could he give him his ad-
dress? Tom referred to the acting
manager, who said that Wilson had not
been to rehearsal that morning, and on
sending to his lodgings it found that
he and his wife had taken their luggag7
and left the town. 1t a very extraor-
dinary thing to do, as a weeks salary was
due to them, and the manager couldn't
derstand it.
Tom Marlborough understood it and Rose
understood it. Jack Smedley had ventured
back again, believing that his crime was
forgotten and that in the strolling actov
no one would recognize him Directly he
had been told that a Mr.. Marlborough
wished to see him he knew that he was
discovered and he had fed, taking with
him the woman who called herself his
wife.