The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-09
CHAPTER XI
BETTY TAKES MATTERS IN HER
OWN HANDS.


touched the pillow.
Betty planned and schemed until day
blight When she did sleep it was to
drs&vn a thousand fragmentary visions,
in all of which Charles Nelson figured
prominently, and in every one Of them
he assured Betty over and over again
that he had not stolen the money. When
he was not telling her of his innocence
he was looking at her with admiring
eyes and declaring that she was the
ore woman In the world that pleased
him.
AS the dawn drew near Betty had
made a firm dissolution. But she said
nothing of it to Wharton.
That gentleman. after good nights
rest, was decidedly in more even
frame OF mind And Betty watched him
with interest as he displayed his excel
lent appetite at breakfast.
She wondered how a man could he
one way one day and another the next,
and she studied, Wharton as an outsider
would do It wasn't her husband who
sat there eating and joking, bat one OF
the species. Man
Getty had learned a great deal. Her
experience with the boarder had been
an eye-opener 10 the sex in general and
Wharton tn particular,
lie EepTRdClta EeE Win .HeT TACK OF
cheerfulness. She did not take ofrense.
hut replied In a voice which betrayed
nothing She was learning TO keep her
own counsel
AT last Wharton was off.
''I-ll be home a little earlier than
usual this afternoon he said. as
Betty turned her cheek to him for the
Good-by kiss. "Cheer up, and don't
DC so serious. Laugh, 7 like TO see
women laugh. 1t puts me out Of sorts
TO find gium face when I come
home"
81 hope Til be laughing at dinner
time" replied Betty, IF that Is what
you want"
'All right. Think it over. It's the
smiling woman who is able 10 hold on
to her husband he added, as he put
on his hat and coat
'By-by.' he called out as he left
the apartment.
AS soon as she was alone Betty dis
played an alscrity which she had not
shown during Wharton's presence
She hustled about the apartment
washing dishes, and sweeping and
dusting the rooms until everything
was in good order.
Then she proceeded to dress herself
She took her black broadcloth street
gown from the closet and got out hel
best hat, with the feathers
"I'r do a little detective work for
myself" she muttered. with unmis
taxable determination as she fastened
the hooks on her skirt and then ad-
5usted her hat at the prettiesI angle
for Betty was too utterly feminin,
ever TO overlook her appearance. ever
IN crucial moment
Some persons would have rushed
out in their oldest clothes, but not s,
with Betty Wharton
I'll find this Charles Nelson" sh,
told herself as she jabbed a long hat
pin Through 10 its destination. az
show him that there is one woman n,
can't steal from and get away unpun
ished."
She forgot ali about ordering tn,
things for. dinner. The only idea in he
mind was Nelson and the money. Sh
meaut to end one and in so doing Sc
cure the other.
She went out into the street an,
walked and walked until Il suddenl,
dawned upon her that she had no Sc
destination
To lnd Nelson was her wish, bu
where 10 go TO look for him was some
thing. she had not figured out. New
York was such big place, and as sh
narrowly escaped being run over sew
eral times she began TO feel how SINAI
she was in such crowds Of people an
how altogether seuseIess her quest
She knew that Wharton would neTeI
have laughed at her for pursuing sue,
a VIII o the WiSp, but she wouIdnr
stop 10 worry about that She ddn'
consider the million and one hidin
places that the boarder might take ad
herself that Nelson was somewhere q
New York, and that there was on
chance ia a thousand she might com
across him.
She couldn't understand her husband
peculiar aversion 10 calling in the %
lice. She herself was still convince
that that WAS the only plan 20 be pun
sued but remembrance OF Wharton
positive command decided her 20 d
nothing in that direction for fear or ar
gering him beyond ~ hope Of pardon.
Betty walked on and on with IN
firm resolve to accomplish somethin
before she returned 10 the apartment
that day.
Whartons words and manner Ia
stirred uD her innermost feelings {
such an extent that she became DC
termined not only 10 trap the thief 70
but also 10 prove 70 Wharton that sh
was possessed Of far greater inten
aence than he seemed 10 give her ere,
It for owning.
She was so deeply absorbed IN D.,
thoughts that she took no Notice Z
the way size was knocked and josuc
About Persons VINO were ia just q
great q hurry as she was did not hes
tate 10 push ner from one side 10 al
other Newsboys thrust their paper
into her face. Flower vendors oIere
their perishable wares. but Mrs Whal
ton went on unheeding.
one figure alone was ever before he
The man, Charles Nelson. IL her mind
eye she saw him As viVidly as when j
first entered her apartment
size WAS walking rapidly along BrOaC
way, when at the entrance to a bus
subway station, She caught sight of
pair of broad shoulders. She could M
sec the mans face, FOR n pOlicema
fnterposed between, but Betty hurTie
on and drew rs close al possible Sti
Eettv could not see the mans face. 81
Me- detsrmined 20 watch, however.
Tbs naan eas hiakiHg roy file euhNa
stsps. Just as he reached them II