The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-01-24
WHEELS OF FORTUNE
BY JOHN CARRINGTON
(copyrght.)

sLfN4 UEaat. 4"a
I've had 10 pur my foot down. NoI
that | wanted to, mind you. l like
Bevan. But what with Grace everlast
ingly nagging, and then Maule-"
Blame Maulei" l interjected.
Il do. I've done nothing else all
the evening. What the deuce did nc
want to interfere for? Things would
have Strengthened themselves out Il
he hadn't put his finger in the pie. As
it is. I've been driven to telling Bevan
that he'll have to wait for Wis unit
he's got promotion. It's cut the poos
girl up fearfully."
l said certain things about Naule
that ought to have interfered with his
sleep.
"Agd Bevan's off?' I asked finally.
First thing in the morning, I'm
sorry to say" lamented Nicholson as
he went up to bed.
We were a dismal lot at breakfast
next m~orning-that Is, those of us who
were present. Bevan's place was, oil
course, empty, and nobody showed sur.
prise at the absence of Wis.
We had barely begun the meal
when a scared-looking maid came in
asking If she could speak to her
mistress. Mrs. Nicholson, infected by
the girls nervous manner, paled as
she went out Of the room. Their en-.
sued a whispered conversation in the
hall, and then / heard a hurried ascent
of the stairs.
A couple of minutes later, Mrs.
Nicholson tottered In with a letter in
one hand and the other held over the
region of her heart.
Nicholson jumped up. What's the
matter?" he asked.
"Wis." cried his wife family. She's
gone! This letter." She held it
out.
Nicholson snatched and read It.
"Bolted with Bevan!" he whispered.
"Bolted?" echoed Maule. "But how
--when-where?"
Motor car, I'll bet!!" exclaimed
Tommy with his mouth full.
There ensued one of those short,
silent pauses that mark the progress
of a crisis. Then Maule and | sim
ultaneously jumped to our feet and
raced for the coachhouse. One car
stood in it, and the distinguishing
number showed 1t to be-Maule'sl
"As | thought" he observed cynical.
ly.
"Oh, go to blazes!' I shouted.
He went off with a shrug of the
shoulders that was, in itself. an in
dictment, leaving me a prey to more
painful emotions than / can express.
1t was bad enough to be suspected Of
conniving at the elopement when I
was innocent, but to have lost my
precious automobile into the bargain
saw it-a wreck! knew, intuitively,
how Bevan was at that very moment
driving it. l could see him! | con-
jured up a repair bill that ran into
huhu Gus lhiS Wdo my cWaiu W
sympathizing with a lovesick girl and
a dishonest sailor.
Never again!" l cried. jealousy re-
garding Maule's spick and span car. |
could have smashed it.
A step behind me made me turn. 1t
was Tommy.
"Well?" I glared.
Tommy pointed to the car, end
doubled himself up in silent laughter.
This was too much!
How dare you?" ! cried. Selling
him by the ear.
"Tt's--it's not old Malue's," he
gurgled. ITS yours! And h-he
! Doesn't know"
"How-what do you mean?" I STAN.
raered.
Il unscrewed the municipalities
list highland changed en-"
Lord" l gasped. DO you mean
it?"
Honest %injun," declared Tommy.
To make certain that he was not
getting at me | looked at the ma
chine numbers. That settled it. I
had not danced for years, but the
faldango that | broke into on the spot
would have turned Genee green with
envy.
Maule's face. with wonder depicted
all over it, came round the edge Of
the door.
1t took us quite five minutes to ex-
plaia things to him, and even then
he did not believe us until, like me, he
had seen the manufacturers number
on the chassis. After that we had to
bring him round with brandy.
Mrhelson got a wire late in the
Afternoon announcing the marriage OF
the Innaways at Dover by special
license. At the end Of half an hour
alone with his wife he dispatched a
long message full Of forgiveness and
blessings.
had a wire as we'll. Thanks awful.
ly for ca Left part at Canterbury,
rest at Warden. Hope you don't mind.
Love--Wis," 1t ran. l passed 1t over
10 Maple while ! wired back: Don't
mention It. Good luck"
! never heard anybody groan like
Naule.