The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-11-18

from it,
Colonel Pickett suppose you've
left the deed behind.
Jessop-,No-here it Is.
(Ie hands 1t TO Colonel Pickett,
who gances through 1t indifferentlyD
Colonel Pickett--NO doubt it's all
rIght-yes-yes-- sixtyseycn acres
yes--yes--scvcn thousanli nine hun
dred and fifty-three dOllars--yes-let
ifolcombe look at there, Hol-
Combe.
Holcombc-~iOh, I'm sure It's all
right. No use in my reading IT,
Gle goes 10 the window and be-
gins. to read with the greatest care.
Mrs. Holcombc watches him with
suppressed excitement)
Jessop-Have you got the check
ready, Colonel?
Colonel Pickett-No, bless my soul.
I forgot everything.
Tile seats himself at the table,
takes n check book from q drawer,
and writes.)
Mrs. Holcombo-I think I'll so,
Mr.. Jessop, while you gentlemen are
arranging your business.
Jessop-No, you must stay, mad
am. You
olcombe-Fearful mess OF words,
Jessop. And what's Anita-Mrs. Hol-
combe- got to do with It?
Mrs. Holcombe grows pale and
trcmbles slightly She clasps her
hands together nervously. Her eyes
are very brightD
Jcssop-Whg-in this state-in
any state, l think, sir-the wife
also must sign dsed. You see, she
has her dower-right in real estate.
Holcombe-Oh Che laughs)- i
forgot-to be sure.
(Mrs. Holcombe flushes, but with
a triumphant smile.)
Colonel Pickett-Are you all
ready, Holcombe?
Holcombe-Yes. let's get 1t over
with.
Jessop-But we must have two
Witnesses.
Colonel Pickett certainly am
getting old. Excuse me-I'l tele-
phone Moberly and Brown to come
up from the stables.
Colonel Pickett goes out Through
the door to the left. Jessop is at
the table busy with the papers. Mrs.
IIolcombe stands in front OF her
husband and close to him.
Mrs. Holcombe-Vincent - please
say you will-yoluntarily.
Holcombe-Oh, l see-you are
threatening me with q scene. You
Wish me to think you'll refuse to
sign t. / don't promise to crafty
your vanity. But you won't-I'm not
afraid of that-youN sign all right.
You're far too sensible to stake
anything on a losing game.
Mrs. Holcombe-No-it isn't that
way-but you'll see. often wonder
how it is possible for such a com
bination to exist in one man-such
bascness and such-(she sighs and
turns away
Colonel Pickett (entering form the
1nftl ubn,r'h In Nv
ten minutes.
Mrs. Holcombe seats herself at
The writing table, takes up the deed,
and glances at it,
Mrs. Holcombe (smiling sweetly
at Colonel PicketD-All this re
minds me of queer story. You
know, Colonel, Vincent and l wan
der about great deal, and meet
all sorts of people, some OF them
very unusual. There was a man
III call him Smith, as you might
know him il l gave his real name
he was business friend OF Vim.
cents. Id often seen them at the
races with woman whom l sup
posed was his wife. They kept to
themselves always.
(Holcombe, who is at the window,
wheels about and stares at Mrs.
Holcombe. Colonel Pickett and Jes-
sop are seated SO that they cannot
see him.
Mrs. Holcombe (returning her
husbands stare with a defiant
snhle) You remember them, Vim
cent? He knows the story by heart,
Colonel. l really ought to apologize
to him for making him listen to it
again. Well, once when we were
crossing. Smith and the supposed
Mrs. Smith were on the steamer
She was a bad sailor, and so am !,
and it happened that our chairs
were side by sfae on he deck
Lying there each almost against the
other, day after day, we fell into
conversation and she became ex-