Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-14
, KATE ELMORE, LEADING LADY &

anybody then" Tom was not to be put on
so easily as that, so he said he would wait
outside.
As he was turning from the door II
young lady came up from the stage. dressed
"Oh, Mrs. wilson," said the doorkecper.
there Is the gentleman as wants to see
Tom turned and looked at the young lady
She was very pretty and about four ana
twenty.
and wondering how he should get out what
was on his mind without making n mes
Of it; u only wanted to ask Mr. Wilson a
Perhaps I can answer IT," replied thu
young lady. looking at Tom with a search
ing glance.
for him. l shan't dctain him a minute"
'Ill go and see II he can leave the man
ngcr for n moment, said the young lady
y and she went down the stairs to the stage
again.
Tom waited and waited. The actors and
actresses passed out. and presently the fire
Seen Mr.. Wilson % said the stage door
keeper. This gentlcman's waiting for
"Everybody's gone" replied the fireman
'Thcre amt anybody In the house now"
How long has Mr.. Wilson been gone
thor? p.
there amt nobody left In the house. l can
tell you that" was the reply.
"Ah.' said the stage doorkeeper. then
its no use you waiting; Mr.; wilson and hi
wife must have gone through the 'front.'
Then Tom at once 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 surmisc was correct, and that the acto"
with, Jack Smedley's voice was Jack smcd-
ley himself!
Tom Marlborough blurted out his story, for
he was full of 1t, 1t was not until he saw
the effect OF his narrative. upon poor Ros"
that 1t occurred to him that he had donr
an unwise thing.
81 don't believe 1t, Mr.. Marlborough" sh"
exclaimed. her eyes filling with tears. Il
don't believe it. My husband was cruel to
leave me as he did. lie has been cruel
to leave me in doubt and suspense all 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 was that wicked
as Jack Smedley had been to her. b"
would not be so wicked az to come back
wife.
But her curiosity was excited, The idea
that her husband was alive and near Lon
don revived all the old feelings Of doubt
OF years conquered.
"Tom.' she said presently, 81 must Sc"
this matter out. | shall 90 down to thi"
Certainly" said Tom. feeling that he
was "in for it," "but-er-hadn't l better
20 FIRST and make sure, You see, I may
have been mistaken after ALL"
mo, I'll go myself. can't rest now
till | know the truth
Mrs. Moncrein started for the continent
alone, Rose explaining that important
business OF n private nature would detaiu
her In town for u few days.
The next evening, accompanied by Tom
Marlborough, Mrs, Smcdley went to the the
alter. II was a different play-the bill
bnl ha., na.l and thnra un0 m MI
Wilson In the cast.
Tom went round TO the stage door and
interviewed the stage doOrkeeper again
Did he know II Mr.. Wilson was In the
town still, and could he give him his ad
dress? Tom was referred to the acting
manager, who said that Wilson had not
been to rehearsal that morning. and on
sending to his lodgings II was found that
he and his wife had taken their luggag
and left the town. II was a very %extraor
binary thing to do, as a weeks salary wa
due to them, and the manager couldn't un'
derstand IT,
Tom Marlborough understood II and Rose
understood 1t. Jack Smedley had v%cnturcG
back again. believing that his crime was
forgotten and that In the strolling acton
no one would recognize him. Directly h
had been told that a Mr.. Marlborough
wished to see him he knew that he wa
discovered and he had fed. taking with
him the woman who called herself his
wife.