The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-03-17

PEELED to spend several weeks each |
year ON the road while the resident
senior partner looked after the New
York end of the business.
"Now, the aforesaid Bob was ben
edict of some two years standing. and
supposed to be still enamored OF his
wife, who before her marriage had
been the lively and popular Madge
Herring.
Under these circumstances it irked
the junior partner that he must per-
force leave his pretty spouse alone in
the city-the term being understood
literally, for relatives she had none.
Not that he distrusted her for
single, solitary moment, but ne really
feared that she would be dull as we'll
as lonely.
$50 before he kissed her good-by 1t
was understood that if their rather
elderly mutual friend, Dave Atchison,
a wealthy New Yorker, should occa-
sionally invite Mrs. Denver to theater
or opera, or even to dinner some
where, there would be no harm in her
acceptance under the circumstances.
"All Of which fell out exactly as
planned, Atchison proving very gal
liant and charming substitute. He was
not too mature; he was a good spend.
err and above all things delighted in
being seen out and about with
young and pretty woman.
Nov you are not to imagine that
Mrs. Madge was otherwise than per-
fectly nice and entirely proper. But
she loved those excursions into the
gay uptown life which dear Bob
could not as yet afford, and so she
saw no harm in letting Atchison en-
terrain her, especially since Bob him.
self was wise thereto.
zone day-it was late in November
returning from spin to Yonkers In
Atchisons car, she shivered slightly
as they whizzed through the park and
her companion remarked:
"'Next time you'd better wear your
furs.'
"Madge made a little pout behind
her veil, saying while pointing to
shabby stole that had done duty since
the previous season:
"'This is all have
David Atchison was man of few
words, so he merely grunted. But in
stead of turning into Fifty-fourth
street, wherein the Denvers lived, he
kept right down the avenue, stopping
finally outside New York's 'classiest'
furrier's. In silence he helped her
to the sidewalk and led the way with.
in the plate glass doors.
| "'Set of furs for this lady he an
nounced, tersely, to the salesman
best you've got
"'Why Mr.. Atchison!' expostulated
Madge, in an undertone, her cheeks
aflame. 'What-indeed i couldn't
think of allowing you to do such a
thing!'
"'Thats all right growled Dave,
patting her shoulder. Pay me back
some day, you know, If you want to-.
"Madge's mind was in whirl. In
trice she was being fitted with one
costly garment after another-seal
sable, Persian lamb, mink; half-length
three-quarter length, full length;
coats, capes, stoles and muffs. Never
was woman so bedeviled. What witt
her bewilderment and her passionate
love Of rich and pretty things, sht
hesitated-and we all know what hap
pens to the lady who hesitates.
I'm the end she walked out Of thu
store and into the motor again clat
In an elegant three-quarter length
coat Of real sable, with boa and NUT
to match, for which, in private In
terview with the salesman, David Al
Gibson had exchanged a check ez
, pressed in four figures.
"Her only renaonstrance was: Tn
sure Bob will be dreadfully angry T.
which Atchison returned, with quie
laugh, Perhaps -but why tell him?'
"Oh, but l must!' almost waile
| Madge, they're far too handsome 70
: me, anyway.
Nonsense was her companion
. reioinder. 'Nothing's too good 70
, you. Where's your God-given w
; mans wit? Don't ladies sometime
/ save something. out Of their house
t keeping money! And he chuckled s
; that Madge herself had to laugh.
; "Well, Mrs. Denver could scarcel
J. sleep that night for thinking of he
I treasures and for the next few day
D she wore them delightedly ever
J. where, albeit she felt dreadful
s guilty. Then came the query: VIII,
!. would Bob say? How could she maxi
him understand? She was certain b
|. would not be pleased. And yet st
+ hated to send the furs back to tt
e donor.
e "At length she hit on what SCENE
!. to her q rather clever plan, althoue
+ it's carrying out involved some litt
duplicity, but by this time she WI
. ready to 60 to almost any lengths
keep her darling set Three da!
t before Bob was due she went out OF
a afternoon about dusk wearing b.
|. sables: when she returned they
t longer draped her shapely shoulde
n or shielded her hands.
t. SIN the interim she had visited
d pawnshop over on Sixth avenue,
ceiving in exchange SIS and q sms