The Caucasian., 1911-07-20
Mrs. FOneS and
tfleBrass Key
How She Discovered Her tins-
bands Secret
By CLARISSA MACklE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

"Goodby, DEAR" said Henry Fones
as he kissed his pretty wife fareweil.
"Expect me home on Friday" and he
dashed for the elevator. Pauline way
ed him last goodby from the window
five stories above the sidewalk, and then
proceeded to set her house in order.
In due course she reached the bed |
room. where the belongings OF her
husband were scattered from one end
of the apartment to the other. she
was hanging up blue serge coat
when n brass key tumbled from
pocket and struck the polished floor
with challenging ring.
"What n funny keyP' thought Pau
line as she picked 1t up and examined
1t closely.
"What curious keyl' she remarked
after awhile. II wonder what door 1t
fits" Whereupon Pauline Fones, who
was ordinarily the least curious OF
young women, deliberately tried to ht
that key into every keyhole in the
npartment, not even emitting the chif-
foniers and the refrigerator.
Mrs. Zones was baffied in her eff
fort to find a keyhole to f1t the brass
key, and now she sat down, warm ana
rather out of sorts, to examine the
thing. It was of quaint design, with
a long slender shank terminating In
twisted handle. Complicated, Indeed,
must be the lock which this key fitted.
Perhaps It was the key to some piece
of furniture in the railroad Office,
where her husband was assistant to
the claim agent, and so she laid II
aside and tried to forget all about It.
But all sorts of unwelcome thoughts
| crowded her brain as she went to and
! fro. and she could not repress shud-
der each time she passed the shining
| key.
Before she sat down to solitary
luncheon Pauline determined to ban
ish the specter of suspicion that
| haunted her now, to her own dismay.
she carried the brass key to the
clothes press and dropped 1t In the
pocket of the blue serge coat with a
| little laugh at her own foolishness In
| distrusting such q simple, open mind
ed man as Henry was. As she with
drew her hand her fingers touched a
bit of paper, and Pauline blushed as
she found herself drawing out several
/ yellow telegrams fastened together
with brass clip.
| She read the first message, that on
top of the pile, and sank down upon
the nearest chair with a frightened
cry. Her suspicious had not been
proundless. What was this dreadful
thing her husband had done-was
about to do?
The message stood out clearly-nay
IL blazed In her dismayed eyes:
]. Henry Fones-Sending body today
Wire If you can use It. Fair condition.
B1NLEY.
The other kilograms referred to the
same grewsome subject; other bodies
had been sent. some in fine condi
tion," others BADLY broken" still 9th
ers s'bad, beyond repair"
Il The first one, however, bore the date
of the day before, and her husbands
sudden departure for vague "out OF
town. destination furnished clew tc
|, the messages. Her husband had ap
peared embarrassed when she pressed
him for a reason for his sudden de
| parture: now she recollected that these
mysterious absences had been occur
ring with greater frequency as tht
spring advanced.
He had been looking haggard ant
careworn Of late, and he had complain
ed OF being dead tired day after day
: Was all the mystery to be disclosed b.
: the finding of the brass key aud th
discriminating telegramsf She mus
j, find Henry at once and beg him, pei
suade him, to cease this horrible traffi
In Pauline shuddered and closed he
eyes.
But not for long She was q pluck
] little woman, and now that her eye
Ill were opened she lost no time in seel
e ing her husband.
Her first act was to telephone hi
. Office and casually inquire where
j telegram would reach the assistar
claim agent. The reply made be
heart beat faster as she hastily dress
Z ed herself to go out:
: "Mr. Fones Is at Cliffedge-you ca
Is reach him today or tomorrow by vii
!, if 1t Is a personal matter"
Iel ..It is personal" said Pauline.
,fl Cliffedge-of all places! That lit
summer resort on the shore where 81
and Henry had hoped to build a co
tage some day. What was he doir
Y there, unless-uniess this awful bus
: ness was transacted in that peacef
ol spot7
.ol Quite convinced that her husbaT
eI was temporarily insane, Pauline pu
,a chased a ticket for Cliffedge al
s hastened to the side of that unfort
nate man. In her hand bag were Il
brass key and the bunch of telegram
! It was a brief half hours ride
+ Cliffedge, and she was glad to lea
/ the stuffy coach and emerge into Il
ID crisp. salt laden air Of the seashore.
i short ride in the long stage, a hesita
Il Ing inquiry of the red faced driver, al
Il she was set dewn at the end Of lol