Evening star., 1909-06-06
Nearly a Cad
Continued from page s


night" he said and you know how it takes it
out of me to lose my sleep"
That's too bad Larry dear" she replied.
Was 1t a guilty conscience that kept YOU
awake, You look if you had taken candy
away from sick child, and it had been proving
on your mind. Or maybe it was more serious.
think perhaps you must have set fire to the
Old Ladies Home
You positively humorous. Gerry" said
Colby suenly. My conscience doesn't trou-
BILE me-
oh your conscience doesn't trouble YOU
Perhaps my conscience troubles you," This
with a winning smile. No that wouldn't be
possible" she continued. because exchanged
my conscience long. long ago for the fear of
being found out
Keep on with your confessions, Gerry
said Colby with ominous sweetness. Il am
learning things about you that have been
hitherto unsuspected by me.
That is what marriage does for one, dear,
smiled Gerry. Now. listen to me. Larry. |
won't pretend any longer not to know what IS
your little mind. It's that letter."
WHAT letter." asked Colby plainly start
Now. dear, don't be subtle" said Gerry.
The table had been cleared and she was leaning
her elbows the tablecoth. looking at him
with her chin her clasped fingers. You
don't suppose I've lived with YOU for four years
without being able to read you like scarehead
in yellow papera When | arrived. glanced
over the evening edition of your mind. Shall
Colby said nothing, but regarded her with
wondering eyes.
We'll, these were IT, headlines, Husband
Suspects Wife. Is Tortured with Doubts.
Was the Letter from Former Sweetheart!
Now. don't interrupt me, my dear,
Colby was squlrmlng with amazement
'Of course. you don't deserve that should
tell you about that letter; but sometime |
might be in position where | should like a
little mercy sprinkled on my justice SO I'll let
you off rather easily. Here is the letter" She
drew it from her corsage and threw it across the
table to him. You may read it Oh, yes,
dear, | insist, you must
Colby drew the letter from the crumpled en-
velop and read the following. 1t was engraved.
The Misses McGonigle, having just returned
from Paris will be pleased to have Madame call
and inspect their importations of exclusive
French model gowns at their new showrooms.
426! Fifth Avenue
Colby slowly folded the note and replaced it
in the envelop Il plead guilty, he said hum.
Brownlow's handwriting the envelop"
:" was bit startled myself, when looked
at it" said Gerry, smiling again That's the
cleverness of these ads nowadays, the address
IS misleading
THAT evening Colby bought seats for an ul-
tra-popular opera comlque at exorbltant
price from a speculator, and at about seven
fifty-five. if anyone could have looked into the
window of certain taxicab that was tipping
down Broadway they would have a
naughty and beautiful lady with enormous
meeting of violets at her waist. At her
side was humble gentleman who cast adoring
glances at the beautiful lady from time to time
This couple could have been seen at
about eeven-thirty that same evening, at a
table in Sherrvs, while walters brought ex-
cesSvely expensive dainties to them
The humble gentleman, to close observer
might have been seen to offer covertly silent
toast to the beautiful lady, who thereupon
tilted her well modelled nose about four inches
higher But this evident disdain was dis
counted by the eye-corner smile she gave the
humble gentleman.