The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-19


you won, have to leave us.
Humph," unused Hidretl bitterly. II suppose
she politely suggesting that here is chance to
myself
Aloud he said: {" I'm very much afraid tina, is jus,
what must do, think I'll hun, up Mr.. Tolman and
find ou, where can get a train.
Whatever doubts he might have had about Miss
Neviles unwillngness part with him. there was no
question about his hosts reluctance
But Hildre,h insisted upon he necessity OF his
reaching ST Louis speedily than the boa, could
So arranged that he should be landed Boards
town.
After he had been landed at the Bcardstown Ievee
he looked around for some one to carry his luggage
TO the station
How get these things to the ,raine he asked
OF the usual group of leree lounsers
Mebbe you can get Haley's hack" of the
loungerS observed indicating rickety landau Keeling
down the street toward the levee.
Almost before it had stopped woman jumped out
and down the waters edge. irauticay waving
her Observation-Disclosures without rcsul,-at the two
boats which, after merely slowing down to let Hill
dreth make quick landing had gone rapidly until
they we'll down the where. miles
below, they were to tie
Didn't those boats land herc," she demanded.
just slowed up to let this gentleman ashore
Hildreth lifted his hat the woman turned toward
him.
YOU" she seemed to be taking rapid and some
what puzzled survey OF him-"you were-one OF the
pilots?"
"No" HHdreth shook his head "A mere guest"
"Oh. of course with embarrassed laugh. II
think you must be Mr.. Hildreth. Z" my way
to catch the boat at Peoria she on my hus-
band that he would be there night and
thought would surprise him.
1--WE to have been there, said Hildrcth. " but
the plans were changed.
"Oh, that's it, Well. as my train was coming into
town here / had a glimpse OF the boat and-well I
doubt if the porter has caught his breath yeti"
She laughed but made a rueul erimace in the dree-
ton of the boats
George Tolman aren't you ashamed off
that way and leave your wife in this predcament!"
she exclaimed.
Hildreth jumped. Then he thought that his ears
must have deceived him.
"May know he asked feebly.>" whom have the
pleasure of-oi wanting to serve,"
"Why with a look of surprise almost of suspi-
cion-" why. IL thought you my husbands
guest"
al Mr. Tolman's guest" Hdresh replied
"Well-Mr. Tolman is my husband
"Your-"
Hidreth swallowed and tried again
"Your-husband? Then-you are-Mrs. Tolman?s
{" A not unnatural inference" the ironeal reply.
"Then youre-you're not deod?'
N-not yet "-regarGing him in evident alarm and
moving closer to the group of loungers
Mrs. Tolman." Hildreth said hurriedly in . low
tone. Il that you think belong in asylum.
once more-are you Mrs. George Tolman, the wife Of
the owner OF those boats and" he clinched the
ter the mother of little Harold?"
L ami" remarked the lady stfiy
"Wel." said Hdreth, " don't pretend to under
stand it, but you I'm delighted find that
you the kind OF angel you instead Of the
kind thought you were He turned to the deeply in
teresed spectators Those boats tie up about
ten miles below here. and want a good to take
this lady and myself down there"
1t with difficulty that Hildreth treasured
Mrs. Tolman to his identity and his sanity, but
when, the of their ride. he had given her
under the seal of secrecy-an account of the comedy
OF errors which had shipwrecked him the Boards
levee. she regarded him with the sympathy with
which woman always rewards man for whom she
has sentimental herself when he lets her int
the secret of his romantic intentions.
g / wonder. she said. with shrewd smile whether
Mr. jerks will feel that you deserve a reward for hnd-
ing the lost Mrs. Toman."
Oh" protested Hildrcth, jerks misunderstood
me- OF course"
Later. Hildre,h contcnted himself with discovering
by indirect tactics tina. the baldsh young gentleman
who had called Tolman WILDLY man." used the
phrase OF figure OF speech for any husband whose
wife present. whether due her actual de-
in the OF Mrs. Toinlan the sudden
illness OF i dear sister.
AS for Harolds declaration that his cousin Dolly
was to be his " second mamma" tina, fatiering
recognition OF Miss Neyiiles extreme desirabi,y that
HIdreth forgavc its share in his discontinue.
1t not until he back in ST. Louis rst;ur-
ously dividing his time between the housc-boa and
the jeweler who making the engagement ring 20
order, that Hdreth found in his pocket the telegram
which had acquired and lost importance with such
traordinary suddenness. A. first he tried to write
reply but up the feeble attempt and finally wired
the long suffering Wicks follows:
Local color Of levee extremely variable Generally
black, but rose-eolor at present Particulars later
FRED