The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-06-29

Mrs. Stubs to be faced and reckone1
with, and l had no doubt Casey him
self would in some manner commune
cate with me. 1t was probable ne
was uncomfortable both mentally and
physically, even as l had been the
preceding morning. And / was not
yet ready to communicate with him.
I plunged my face and head into
cold water, and felt better.
"One thing at Z time" 1 told my
self, and determined to brave Mrs.
Stubs boldly in her own apartments
in the basement.
I did not have to do so, however,
for even as I opened the door to de-
scend the stairs, ! heard the worthy
woman numbering up. putting like an
exhausted porpoise long before she
reached the top. I tried to assume
my usual manner, but felt an over
whelming inclination to be suave and
lattering to Mrs. Stubs and accord
her every Difference. Much lay with
in her power il she chose to. exert it,
aud I felt weakened and servile be-
fore her.
She entered, arms aklmbo.
Now, Mr.. Casey" she began.
7 turned desperately and faced
her. Better get the worst over at
once. Mrs. Stubs lifted both hands
with a gesture of CONSERVATION.
Am I myself" she gasped, "or
as ! dreamin'?"
Mrs. ,Stubbs," ] e%ntreated, be
calm"
Mrs. Stubs emitted a sound be-
tween a gasp and a gurgle.
Yesterday" she said. you was
Mr.. Casey, as I'm a Twin woman.
To-day you're yerself and no other"
Then I plunged desperately.
Mrs. Stubbs," I said, with assur-
ance, pray be calm. I am exactly
the same person I was yesterday. Am
I not always myself"
She had no appropriate answer, and
I continued %fluently:
yesterday, during the unfortunate
excitement that prevailed here, you
we're too much excited to realize what
you said or to really recognize any
one. I have always been myself and
never at any time Mr.. Casey"
Her lower jaw settled into a dog
sed expression that BODIED i'll.
You was Mr.. Casey yesterday, that
I'll swear"
Woman" I said, determined to
bully her into subsection, "be silent.
Don't yon know that Mr.. Casey is
in prison? How dare you charge me
with his crime? I'll u you for
libel"
Mrs. Stubs had made no charge,
but merely stated facts as she knew
them. Nevertheless. she dropped
covering into a chair and threw her
apron owe her face. =
I'm a decent woman" she walled.
"I'm honest, I am, and never have !
had to deal with policemen before.
And 1 do say, and will say, that the
goings on of you young gentlemen is
something scandalous. And I hereby
give you notice. And I'd like my
rent, which it hasn't been paid this
long time"
Mrs. Stubs paused for breath, then
renewed the attack.
Poor dear! With her purple vel.
vet and white feather, as conidin' as
could be. It's my nephew says she,
what I amt seen this many a year.
says she. I'll go right up says she.
And go she did-me p'intin' out the
way and her walkin' to her doom.
Oh, dear"
advanced to Mrs. Stubs and took
her hand in mine. 1t vas a horny
hand, much roughened by honest
toll, hut never have I more tenderly
pressed the softest dimpled hand of
my experience. I had suddenly de-
termiaed to try her with moral sua.
sion.
Mrs. Stubbs." I said, with gently
modulated voice, "believe me, I feel
deeply for you. 1 can we'll under
stand what this must be to n OF
your sensitive nature"
BY the swift indrawing OF her
breath I knew she was listening.
II regret deeply" I continued,
chat you should have been so an
noycd. But surely you do not believe
the charges made"
Where are they?" whispered Mrs.
Stubs, looking fearfully about, as
though she expected them to come
through the ceiling.
"Mr. Casey, Mrs. Stubbs, is Ian
gushing in q prison cell and has been
since yesterday. I do not know why
you confused me with him. Surely
yen read the papers and what they
said. I don't know where Ferguesson
AID Starr are--I wish I did"
I spoke truly enough there; I very
much wanted to know their where
abOutS.