Free press., 1907-02-09

these surmises were correct, and Rose
couldn't leave the matter where it was.
Mr.. Marlborough she said. Il de-
ternnined that l will find this actor who
if he is my husband. l can't rest now
until I know the truth, however terrible
Tom Marlborough went back to London
he had his business to attend to, but Rose
went to the hotel and stayed in the little
town She determined to find out from
the company and from the landlady of Mr..
Wilson's lodgings what kind of man this
She went next day to the lodgings. The
landlady could tell her very little. Might
she the rooms? Certainly.
They were poorly furnished. dull, un-
comfortable-looking rooms-smalI parlors
divided by a folding door They were what
is known in the profession as theatrical
diggings," and they changed their occu-
pants almost week by week. Some of the
tenants were careful, but some were not
and the general appearance of the apart
ments bespoke rough usage and neglect
Rose looked about the rooms in vain for
that the last occupant had been her hus-
band. She didn't know what she had ex-
shape form.
ask questions of the landlady. What sort
OF looking man was Mr.. wilson? How
old did he appear to be; etc. etc. The
lodger. She had so many coming and going
that they were pretty near all alike to
her, and she saw very little OF them. But
she did notice Mrs. Wilson she was a
very pretty, rather delicate-Iooking lady
she noticed her particularly because when
she came to pay the bill and to say they
were going away, she seemed nervous and
frightened and her manner attracted attsn-
tion.
Rose felt sharp pang of jealousy as she
listened to the landlady's description of the
the first time it occurred to her that even
if she traced her husband he was utterly
his wife, had usurped her place, and all
that was left to her now was to prove the
fact of her husbands treachery, sue for a
divorce and be free again
Gradually she began to that was what
she ought to do. Why should she spend
the rest of her life bearing the name of a
man who had treated her so infamously
who had committed criminal act, and left
her without word only to come back
again after many years with another
man as his companion
Yes. she had another motive in finding
John Wilson, the actor, now. Love was
dead, and revenge had taken its place.
But how was she to find the man? She
her. The man had left no address at the
lodgings; there had the slightest
idea as to where he was going when he
Rose went back to the theater and saw
the 1f,sD manage g 81 She explained that the Mr.
peared was. she believed. a friend of her
family's and she was very anxious to dis
cover his whereabouts. The manager was
polite but he knew nothing of Wilson he
had engaged him for the tour. which
menced about a month previously. Wilson
applied for himself and wife.
"Have you the letter." said Rose. She
thought to herself that she would recognize
the handwriting, and that would set her
doubts at rest.
The manager couldn't say; probably it
was destroyed; but he would look among
his papers and He absent for
about ten minutes: and then he returned.
at can't find the letter." he said 'but
I've found photograph he sent with it,
His photograph" cried Rose. Let me
see it I shall know it at once
DhOtOPraDh-the nhOtOPrarh
of his wife"
He placed in Roses hands the photograph
of young woman. and Rose looked at it
with mingled feelings of curiosity and re-
The landlady was right The girl was
cacy and refinement in her features. and
the eyes were very large and beautiful
May may / keep this?" gasped Rose,
as with a deep sigh she lifted her eyes from
Certainly. if you wish it. And now I
must ask you to excuse me. We are play
ing new piece tonight. and I'm wanted
on the stage" F.
Rose thanked the manager and left the
theater with the photograph of Mrs VIII
son in her pocket. She had made up her
again. she said to herself, wherever
her, and when 1 do her 1 shall
not be long before I find out where this
man is who passes as her husband"
Five minutes after Mrs. Smedley had left
the theater a gentleman arrived and sent in
his card. There were two words in the
corner which procured him instant admis-
sion. Those two words were Scotland
Yard"
The gentleman explained his business in
a few words. He wanted some information
about Mr.. Wilson, an actor in the COM
pany.
why, there's just been lady here on
the same errand," said the astonished man
ager. What's Wilson been doing?"