The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-11-30

"HENRY, Is THERE BODY IN THAT Box?"
kneeling on long. narrow pine box,
from which he was jerking nails with
a clawed hammer. His head was bent.
and he had not heard her quiet en-
trance.
All at once Pauline was cool and COL
lected Henry" she said evenly. ''is
there a body in that box?"
Mr. Fones sat back on his heels. his
mouth wide open, guilty expression
in his eyes. "Pollyw he gasped
''What are you doing here?"
"Henry, is there body in that box?"
repeated his wife calmly.
"A-a-what?" demanded Henry
Fones. aghast.
Pauline's voice was unwavering "A
bodyw
Henry arose and went around the
box and placed loving hand on her
shoulder. Polly. what is the matter?
Are you ill:" he queried anxiously.
"Henry Fones." she quavered all of
/. sudden. how could you do it? l
have discovered everything
Everything" repeated her husband
sheepishly. "And believed had COW
cred my trail pretty thoroughly. I
didn't want you to know. dearest"
II should think notv' cried Pauline
Historically. "Oh. Henry. you must
fly at once, but first do get rid Of the
-the-bodies!'
Henry Fones shook his wife vigor-
ously. "Polly Fones, are you crazy
with your talk Of bodies? What do you
mean?" he demanded sternly. and it
was this tone of his that brought Pau
line back to herself.
81 have found all these. Henri" she
said. bringing out the batch of tele-
grams. "All your dreadful secret"
Mr.. Fones scanned them carelessly.
What about emp he demanded
what do they mean, Henry?" She
pointed accusingly to the fatal word in
each message.
For one instant he stared, puzzled.
then he threw his head back in roar
of laughter that echoed through the
little house. BLESS your dear heart.
Polly" lie said at last, wiping the tears
from her pretty eyes. you've been q
railroad mans wife for three years
and don't know that it means freight
car bodies Some of them have been
in wrecks and need repairing. and
| others are worn out. When they take
the trucks from under them the upper
part is called the body Oh. lordy
what lot of discriminating evidence
you've piled up against met" He fold
ed her in his arms and kissed away hel
chagrin. He magnanimously forgave
her for her lack of faith in him; he
explained to her that the numbers al
the end of the message signified the
serial number of the car and was its
mark of identity.
Then she told him about the brass
] key and asked the question which llad
been lowering on her lips for severa
minutes. what are you doing here
Henry Fones?" and Henry Fone!
promptly explained.
''It's the House o. Dreams. dear-ft'i
my surprise for our wedding anniver
sary, the 18th Of June. I've worked
every spare moment since the OUTSIDE
was completed to get it ready for you
borrowed three days from my vaca
ton in order to run down here. AM
now I am discovered. Don't smothe
me. quite. Polly. darling! Oh. almos
forgot-the first question you aske
me. dear. This long box contains
, don't shudder- window shades
II feel like Bluebeard's wife" smile
Pauline as she gave the brass key
her husband.
Look there. Polly. read that" r.
turned Henry. holding the brass ke
! close to her eyes.
There on the slender shank SOM
;. thing was engraved in fine lettering
I "House o. Dreams" it said.
All at once the lettering was hide
p by the happy tears that fell from Pal
J. dns's eyes