Arizona republican., 1910-02-13

you won't have to leave U" "
 Humph!" unused Hildreth bitterly. T suppose she is politely suggesting that here is chance to re- move myself"
 Aloud he said: "Pm very much afraid that is just what must do. think I'll hunt up Mr. Holman and find out where can get train"
 Whatever doubts he might have had about Miss Nevile's unwillinsness to part with him, there was question about his hosts reluctance
 But Hildreth insisted upon the necessity of his reaching St Louis more speedily than the boat could So was arranged that he should be landed at Boards town.
 Alter he had been landed at the Beardstown levee to the station
 How can get these things the train? he asked of the usual group of levee loungers.
 Mebbe you get Haley's hack" of the loungers observed indicating riekey landau reeing down the street toward the levee.
 Almost before it had stopped woman jumped out and down to the waters edge, franticaly waving her handkerchief-though without result-at the two boats which, after merely slowing down let Hl- dreth make quick landing had gone rapidly until they we'll down the stream where ten miles below. they to tie up
 Didn't those boats land here?" 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 hm-"you were-one Of the piIots?" E7..
 "No," Hildreth shook his head "A mere guest" "Oh, of course with an embarrassed laugh. "I think you must be Mir Hdreth was on my way to catch the boat at Peoria" she went on my hus band wrote that he would be there tonight and thought would surprise him."
 "We were to have been there," said Hldreth but the plans were changed"
 "Oh, that's it! We'll. as my train was coming into town here had glimpse oi the boat and-weIl I doubt if the porter has caught his breath yet. '-,
 She laughed but made rueful grimace in the direc- ton of the boats George Tolman. aren't you ashamed to run of that and leave your wife in this predieamentl' she exclaimed ..
 Hldreth jumped Then he thought that his ears must have deceived him. ,e May know" he asked feebly. I" whom I have the pleasure of-of wanting to serve?" "Why with look Of surprise. almost Of suspi- cion-" why, 1-I thought you my husbands guest" ... s ,,.-.,--., --se -s "I was MT. ronan's guest" Hidreth replied
 We-Mr. Holman i. my husband"
 "Your-" 70 .t Hildreth swallowed and tried again
 Your-husband, Then--you are-Mrs rolmani" "A not unnatural inference" was the ironicsl reoly Then you're-youre not deodf"
 N-not yet et"-regsrdng him in evident alarm and moving closer to the group of loungers
 Mrs. Holman" Hildreth said hurriedly in low tone. Il can see that you think belong in an asylum and 1 don't blame you. But uiH you please tell me once more-are you Mrs George Holman. the wife of the owner of those boats and he clinched the mat ter" the mother of little Haroldi"
 am!' remarked the lady stifHy Well" said Hildreth. T don't pretend to under aa1 kt,& you are the kind of angel you are instead of the kind fao~gi you were" He turned to the deeply i'm terested spectators Those boats are to tie up about ten miles below here and a good team to take this lady and myself down there'
 It was with some difficulty that Hildreth treasured Mrs. Holman to his identity and his sanity. but when, n the. course of their rde he had given her under the seal of secrecy-an account Of the comedy of errors.which had shipxtecked him on the Boards town leyee, she regarded him with the sympathy with which woman always rewards manfor whom sh. has no sentimental herself when he lets her nts the secret of his romantic intentions z:R.
 wonder, she said with shrewd smile whether MT Jenks will feel that you deserve a reward for ind ing the lost Mrs. Tolman,
 Oh." protested Hildreth "Jenks misunderstood me. of course" Later Hildreth contented himself with discovering by indirect tactics that the baldish young gentleman "ho nad called Ioiman widdy man.. used the phrase of figure of speech for any husband whose wife was not present, whether due to her actual de- cease or as in the of Mrs. Tolman to the sudden Illness of dear sister.
 As tor Harolds declaration that his cousin Dolly was to be his second mamma" that was aatterins recognition of Miss Nevilles desrabiy that Hildreth foreave its share in his dscom6ture
 It was net until he was back in St Louis raptur. ousy dividing his time between the house boat and the 3eweler who was making the engagement ring 10 ofdef that Hildreh found his pocket the telegram which had acquired and lost importance with such ex traordinary suddenness At first he tried to write reply but tore up the feeble attempt and finally wired the long suffering Wicks as follows: Local color of levee extremely variable Generally black, but rose-eoior at present. Particular. later
 FRED.