The Caucasian., 1911-07-20

"HENRy, IS THERE BODY IN THAT Bo4F'
kneeling on long, narrow pine box,
from which he was Jerking nails with
n cIawed 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, rs
there a body in that boxT
Mr.. Fones sat back on his heels, his
mouth wide open, a guilty expression
In his eyes. "PollyW he gasped.
"What are you doing heref"
"Henry, is there body in that box"
repeated his wife calmly.
"A-a-what?" demanded Henry
Fones, aghast.
Pauline's voice was unwavering. "a
| bodyv'
Henry arose and went around the
box and placed loving hand on her
shoulder. "polly, what is the matterf
Are you illg' he queried anxiously.
"Henry Fones," she quavered all OF
! sudden, "how could you do 1T l
have discovered everythingw
"Everything?' repeated her husband
sheepishly. "And believed had COW
cred my trail pretty thoroughly. 1
didn't want you to know, dearest"
| sT should think notp' cried Pauline
Historically. 'Oh, Henry, you must
| fIy at once, but first do get ridaof the
| --the-bodiesr'
/ - xxyffo yiUnT-
ously. ''Polly Fones, are you crazy
| with your talk of bodies7 What do you
mean?" he demanded sternly, and 1t
was this tone of his that brought Pau
line back to herself.
81 have found all these, Henry" she
said. bringing out the batch Of tele-
grams. "AIl your dreadful secret"
Mr.. Fones scanned them carelessly.
"What about 'em?" he demanded.
| "what do they mean, Henry7' She
pointcd accusingly to the fatal word In
each message.
For one instant he stared, puzzled
then he threw his head back In a roar
ef laughter that echoed through the
little house. 'Bless your dear heart
Polly he 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 1t means freight
car bodies. Some Of them have beer
In wrecks and need repairing, and
others are worn out. When they take
T the trucks from under them the upper
part is called the body oh, lordy
what a lot of discriminating evidence
you've piled up against me!' He fold
ed her in his arms and kissed away he1
chagrin. He magnanimously forgavs
her for her lack of faith In him; h'
explained to her that the numbers a
the end Of the message signifieG thu
serial number. OF the car and was 1T
mark of identity.
Then she told him about the brass
key and asked the question which hat
been lowering on her lips for severa
minutes, "What are you doing here
Henry Fonesy' and Henry Fonel
|, promptly explained.
"Tt's the House o. Dreams, dear-iti
: my surprise for our wedding anniver
snry, the 18th of June. I've worket
+, every spare moment since the outsid'
was completed to get 1t ready for you
, / borrowed three days from my vaca
. ton in order to run down here, ant
! now I am discovered Don't smothe
!. me, quite, Polly, darling! Oh. almos
3 forgot-the first question you aske
me, dear. This long box contains
! don't shudder- window shadesTs
q II feel like Bluebeard's wife, smile'
! Pauline as she gave the brass key :
, her husband.
: Look there. Polly, read that" n
d turned Henry, holding the brass ke
2 close to her eyes.
There on the slender shank some
/. thing was engraved in fine lettering
Il "House o. Dreams 1t said.
7 All at once the lettering was hiddc
D BY the happy tears that fell from Par
! sna'n avaa.