The Green Forest tribune., 1910-11-18

The Skeleton m His Closet
By STACY E. BAKER
Copyright I9ro by Associated Literary Press

more to do with men," she complained bitterly. "The very brazenness of that Emery Jarvis-to say that normal minded girl shouldn't take such things amiss I'm sure no girl with common sense would allow her fanee to act in that scandalous manner. Anyway, I'm glad it's all over" To prove this, Ethel burst into convulsive sobs and hid a flushed and tear-wet face In a convenient pillow.
 Weeks passed, but the two erst- while lovers seemed hopelessly es- tranged. Ethel made no attempt to salve the wound caused by her letter, misunderstanding.
 Gradually the gossips in the little town-and there were many-grew ac- customed to the new order of things, and everybody ceased to interest themselves in the affairs of the young eougle.
 It was a month after this that old Pollit Che was portly butcher, own. ing the meat shop next to the drug emporium) ventured to incorporate something of a remark that caught the youths puzzled interest.
 What was that?" demanded Jarvis, ears metaphorically a-cock. Just re- peat that last sentence.'
 T said" came from the butcher, that that there book I've been read ing-'Dr. Jekyll and MT Hyde'-re. minds me of your doings." He poked a pudgy forefnger playfully into the ribs of the youth.
 You'll have to be more explicit" snapped the drug clerk. q cant un- derstand What are you driving at?"
 Can't understand, eh?" commented the other, sourly He was angry at 1 can put it plainer all right. mean that you tried to play double just like that Jekyll-Hyde feler did. Every evening after you called on the girl you was engaged to. you went straight to the house of old Doc. Blyly to see his daughter. My wife she seen you do it time and again, she did"
 The dull red stained the face of the angry butcher She's the one that put crimp in you. too. Ethel Mur- ray is too fine a girl to be galavanting around with young fellow that she thinks thinks a heap of her. and all the while he don't. but is making her out fool by sneaking away from her house to call on another girl"
 So it was your wife that caused this trouble between Ethel and me. was it? Pity she can't learn to attend to her own affairs, isn't it?"
 The butcher, his mind relieved. stamped heavily out of the drug store. but he left a knowing youth behind him. Mrs. Pollit was a gossip monger of some notoriety in the community. She resided just opposite the Blyly home, and now that the i.ate meat man had given him his cue. Jarvis could understand many things.
 That evening, his heavy jaws set firmly and his broad shoulders thrown defiantly back. the drug clerk mount ed the steps to the Murray home and rang the bell
 Ethel answered the summons, An angry flush dotted her cheeks when she saw who her visitor was, but Elm. ory ignored these trouble signs, and pushed by her and into the familiar par!or
 "I am here to explain" began Jar vis Mrs. Pollet's loquacious hus- band has just told things. and I think I understand"
 q don't care for explanation" in- terrupted little Miss Murray formally.
 Nevertheless" persisted Jarvis, pa tiently, you are about to receive them Listen, dear, l have never called on Miilie Blyly in my life-let alone after left here. When you re- ferred to the skeleton in my closet. I took the phrase literally. There is a skeleton in my closet-a six-foot skel- eton of a man that Dr. Blyly loaned me to aid me in my studies, because we'll I'm studying medicine with him. you see. I don't want to be a drug clerk all my life. T."
 But here h1s late fiancee, face asmiie, interrupted his sentence in a very pleasing way