Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-04-09

Int drew up at the terminus. he Ieaped
out IN a manner which was almost sui
cidal in its haste.
He rushed into a fly and was driven
to the hotel The hall porter smiled at
him and touched his cap. He had not
| forgotten Mr.. Bolam's tip. and had in
deed, often wondered why he alone, OF
| all the staff, had been thus singled out
| for distinction.
Afternoon, sir" he said, cordially.
| Luggage coming on?''
no. no; I'm not stopping" snapped
Mr.. Bolan. I've only come down tor
an hour or two" Then. lowering his
voice little, he said: There was a Mr..
bruce staying here. Can you tell me
where he's gone?"
/ The porter smiled knowingly. sHe's
gone ON his wedding trip, sir" he re-
Iplied
Mr.. Bolam was staggered The details
which the porter proceeded to give
seemed to float to his ears from a long
way off.
Married they was at Saint Nicholas
yesterday, sir. The brides father give
the lady away, and they've gone off
abroad for the honeymoon"
Bolam looked up eagerly. and slipped
into the mans hand half crown.
Look herel" he said, hurriedy. do
me favor Here is my card. Let me
know directly they return"
Mr. Bolam journeyed back to town.
full OF a resolve. Directly the newly
married pair returned to Bournemouth
he would 60 there and reveal everything
to the girl. He would denounce the
tramp as scoundrel and an impostor.
and by doing this he would, perhaps. save
his own skin in the event of criminal
proceedings being taken later, when the
truth came out. as it was bound to do
Yes, that was the best plan, and. indeed.
there was no other. He must throw
himself on her mercy and explain that
the joke had travelled farther than he
had intended
At the beginning of the fifth week the
postman brought him a letter which
bore at the back the crest of the Hotel
Ventnor. He tore it open with trem-
bling fingers. An ill-written note Law
within. The hall porter presented his
compliments, and begged to inform Mr..
Bolam that "Mr. and Mrs. Denham
bruce" had just arrived at the hotel.
Now for it, muttered Mr. Bolam and
once again he set out for the south
coast, "and l wish to goodness I'd never
had anything to do with the wretched
business at ALL
When he entered the private sitting
room of the hotel he saw the tramp
seated at table writing something.
Near the window the bride, looking ex-
ceedingly brown and happy, was engaged
in sewing. She smiled as Mr. Bolam
entered.
"We have been expecting you-my
husband and t. she said, sweetly. and
the strange gentleness of her tone caused
/ Mr.. Bolam to feel more nervous than
ever. Wont you sit DOWN."
Mo- he cried, Il won't. haven't
come here to congratulate you or to beat
about the bush. I've come here to tell
you that you've been and done the most
mad thing woman could do. You've
married an impostor. That man is not
! Denham bruce. He is a tramp whom
| picked up outside a common lodging
house in Drury Lane. His likeness to
Drnce gave me an idea-an idea by which
believed l might punish you for not
accepting me. You understand / helped
him to impersonate Druce but | swear
that | never dreamed the scoundrel would
go so far as actually to marry YOU.
put this statement on record here and
now, IN the hearing of you both, and
shall repeat it in the witness box if the
occasion arises. Let that man deny it if
he can"
The tramp advanced toward Mr.. b.
lam with a smile
Il certainly shall not deny it, he said.
st is all perfectly true. Moreover, my
wife was aware of the whole truth when
she did me the honor to accept me-
'What?" gasped Mr.. Bolan, as his
knees began to shake. what? You
actually had the assurance to tell her
the truth
THE truth-the whole truth-and
nothing but the TRUTH replied the tramp,
with a curious smile. Il told her of your
scheme, | told her of my part in it, and
told her something else which you did
not know told her that l was, in
reality, Denham bruce himself, and not
his douhle!"
iou-Denham Druce!" muttered Mr..
Bolam, catching at the table for support.
Precisely. The signature at the foot
of this check which | am going to pre-
sent you with, and its subsequent cash
ing at my bank, will convince you that
am speaking the truth You see, I
CHANGED to be Summing on the night
you met me-slumming for the purposes
of my new novel, and / was dressed for
the part. Seeming an adventure, re-
solved to aid you, but not in the manner
You intended. | came down here-I met
a very charming lady-we became
friends, and the rest you know as well as
| do. And now, Mr.. Bolam, you will
kindly accept this check, which will re-
fund you the expense you have incurred
for my wardrobe and hotel bills, and you
will then take your choice of leaving this
hotel by the door or Dy the window"
A pause followed Mr.. Bolam tried to
speak, but his rage was too terrible for
words. He perceived an ominous look
in the authors eyes, and he moved to-.
ward the door-P Beaufoy in Tit Bits,
]