Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-06


been withdrawn, and that the warrant was
still in the hands Of the police.
Some one who owed Smedley q grudge In
robbed-heard the news and went straight
away to Scotland Yard with 1t, and de-
tective went down at once to the town
where YarbGsoush thought he had seen $ the
about that after lapse of years. during
which Jack Smedley's crime and his mys-
terious flight had almost dropped out Of
remembrance, Tom Yarboroughs chance
visit to a little provincial theater suddenly
set the hounds of justice once more on his
track.
Rose Smedley, convinced that the man
who was acting with provincial company
under the name of Wilson was her missing
husband, went back to London with the
photograph of the woman who called her.
self Mrs. Wilson In her pocket.
The photograph was the clew by which
she hoped to trace the man. She thought
being recognized by Marlborough, would not
risk public appearance again yet awhile,
but the woman would probably get another
engagement. They were evidently poor and
would have to live on her salary.
Mrs. Smedley's first visit was to big
theatrical agency near the Strand-an
agency through which managers all over
the country engage their companies She
pretended that she was In search Of a
young friend. an actress, whose where
abouts she had lost sight Of for some time.
The agent might be able to give her some
information. Rose showed him the photo
graph, but he didn't recognize it. He
number of clients it was quite impossible
that he should remember them ALL Many
of them he did not even see, but obtained
snem 6y S HoT
with him he would make inquiries and he
might be able to let her know something.
She might call again in day or two il
Mrs Smedley allowed a week to pass.
and then she called upon the agent again.
The clerk took In her name and came back
with the answer that Mr.. -- was very
busy; would she kindly excuse him not
seeing her? He had no information to give
her.
Rose was disappointed, although she had
hardly hoped for anything better.
have THANK sIHsn yGI she said Inn c, sorry fr9,, to
photograph left with him?"
The clerk went into the private room
and presently returned with a photograph
which he handed to Rose.
Rose was just going when the agent came
hastily out of his room.
ct beg your pardon" he said. ..'but I've
given you the wrong photograph
/ left
The agent looked at it.
That's curious" he said. "for I've an
ly at what was giving my clerk. and
fancied that must have made a mistake.
Wait moment"
He went into his room and returned with
a letter.
II see how it's happened" he said. 1.-THE
photograph / have came this morning In a
letter which my clerk opened and put with
a number of others on my desk"
"A letter from Mrs. Wilson,"
NO. it is from Miss Elmore, but this
Is the photograph because my clerk en-
dorsed It with the name and address after
taking II out of the envelope"
Iya c61 DAgo nh~x1
fellow one to the photograph she held in
her hand. Both were photographs of the
same woman.
1--WE advertised for lady and gentle
said the agent, "and this is In reply to 1t.
Miss Gilmore is evidently your missing
friend. She is anxious to secure an en-
gagement for herself and husband. She
does not enclose his photograph, but says
he will call upon me by appointment, IL
the vacancy is not already filed.''
oh" exclaimed Rose, endeavoring to
kindly give me Miss Elmore's address,"
The agent hesitated. There was a look
in Mrs. Smedley's face that made him do
so. He was man OF the world, and he had
known instances before in which one lady
wanted another ladys private address for
the purpose of friendly greeting.
"It's hardly the thing" he said, "for
me to do without Miss Elmore's permission:
but as the engagement is still open and /
think she will just suit the part, judging
by her appearance and the press notices she
encloses, l shall write to her to come and
see me. and then I'll give her your address
IL you will leave 1t. That will answer the
same purpose. ! presume?"
"Oh. certainly" replied Rose, biting her
lips with disappointment. "Ill-IIi send
letter here for her which you can give
her or forward to her."
Certainly. Good morning."
The agent disappeared into his private
room again. and Rose went out into the
street fully determined what she would do
She hadn't the slightest intention of
writing to Miss Gilmore of leaving her
address for her. That would have put the
young lady her guard and have spoilt
the little plot which Rose was carefully
thinking out for her rivals discontinue
AS it was, she was afraid that the agent
merely telling the actress that lady had
been asking for her might arouse her sus-
picions. She didn't think they would re-
member her name at the office. She had
not written II down left a card. Even
IL they did, the girl might not think 1t of
any serious import. 1t was quite likely that
she did not know what Wilson's real name
was or that he had wife In London. He
had probably told her that he did not want
his friends to recognize him for some fam
lily reason. and that had caused the girls
agitation after the visit OF Tom Marlborough
as described by the landlady.
Looking on the brass plate outside the