Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1907-02-15

feel for another man. The old fury
of jealousy surged in his veins.
Tommy Curtis dead?" she said.
slowly. did you say that you have
to raise the money on-on-"
The ring" he concluded, briskly.
Eyes: but my difficulties are only
temporary. But I must have money
at once. Let me have it now, and /
can negotiate tonight. Everything
depends on my having the money
first thing tomorrow morning"
II don't feel up to the ball to-
night" she answered. Cant you
raise the money any other way?''
NO." he retorted sharply. But
you shall have it back. I
shall get out of this hole, but we
shall have to retrench."
There was silence for a moment.
Outside the traffic roared. London
had begun to enjoy itself, and electric
landaulettes flashed past. II have
changed my mind" said Mary Sylves-
ter, at last. AS she broke the silence
she looked furtively at her husband.
II will go to the ball tonight. 1t is
well when pleasures are coming to
an end to enjoy ones self when one
cam"
Her husband did not answer. He
could not think without pang of re-
greet of the spoiled life. He had
never liked Curtis; he had detested
all the young exquisites who sur
rounded his wife wherever she went.
But Curtis he had detested more than
any, because he was the only man
he had ever feared. He looked at
his wife, in all the glory of her beau.
ty, and wondered at women. After
all, they had been very intimate; he
had only been dead two days, and
she proposed to dance tonight. Per-
haps, after all, she had never cared
for him and he had worried himself
for nothing.
Every WE'LL" he said. "But let me
have the ring. I must negotiate to-
night"
you may as well let me wear it."
she returned.
He repreSSed movement of impa-
thence. 81 must insist on your allow
ing me to have the ring"
"The very best Partisan paste
fetches very little" she answered,
with sheer in her voice. "As sur
prises are in the air to-day, may as
well tell you that I sold the famous
diamond two years ago to pay my
bridge debts and to settle one or two
other little accounts. Do you remem-
Der my asking you for money, and
your refusing it? You told me that
/ must pay my debts out of my al
lowance. Do you remember"
Yes-he remembered.
II had to send the ring away, and
I thought you would miss it. So I
arranged little scheme that proved
very successful" she went on impas.
sively. when I had to put my
rings down on the piano I managed
to secrete the diamond one. Nothing
could be easier No one counted my
rings or noticed its absence. l just
put my hand up to the lace of my
dress where it was draped across
the breast, and slipped it in. These
low cut bodices are very convenient.
/ also arranged for it's finding. | was
sorry about Tommy Curtis, but some
one had to go to the wall, and he
was the one on whom suspicion nat
urally fell. If it is imperative l will
stay at home tonight, and you can
have the rest of my jewelry, but 1 am
afraid you won't find it of much use.
You have not been very generous for
a rich man.
Her cool, pretty vuice stopped.
Her husband stared at her half dazed,
and staggered out of the room.
Mrs. Sylvester went to the bali,
and was very much admired. Her
husband sat at home and envied poor,
foolish Tommy Curtis, lying in the
suicides cemetery at Monte Carlo,
with little black cross 20 mark his
grave and a bullet through his brain.
The Bystander.