Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1911-08-04

"HTyBY, Is THERE BODY IN THAT BoxF'
kneeling on a long, narrow pine box,
from which he was jerking nails with
clawed hammer. His head was bent,
and he had not heard her quiet en-
trance.
All at once Pauline was cool and coll
lected. Henry" she said evenly. rs
there a body In that boxF
Mr. Zones sat back on his heels, his
mouth wide open. a guilty expression
in his eyes. "Polly!' he gasped.
.What are you doing heref
"Henry. is there body in that boxT
repeatedlhis wife calmly.
"A-a-whatT demanded Henry
Zones, aghast.
Pauline's voice was unwaverlng. "a
bodyT
Henry arose and went around the
box and placed loving hand on her
shoulder. Polly. what Is the matterf
Are you ILL.," he quered anxiously.
Henry Zones" she quavered all OF
| n sudden. "how could you do III l
have discovered everything"
"Everything?" repeated der husband
sheepishly. And believed had COW
cred my trail pretty thoroughly. I
didn't want you TO know, dearest
'I should think mott" cried Pauline
| Historically. "Oh, Henry, you must
fly al once. but first do get rid Of the
-the-bodieS"'
Henry Zones shook his wife vigor-
ously. Polly Fones. are you crazy
with your talk of bodies? What do you
meanT he demanded sternly, and il
was this tone of his that brought Pau
line back TO herself.
II have found all these. Henry" she
said, bringing ont the batch Of tele
grams. IAN your dreadful secret"
Mr.. Zones scanned them carelessly
"What about emp he demanded
what do they mean, HenryT She
pointed accusngly to the fatal word In
each message,
For one instant he stared. puzzled
then he threw his head back in roaI
| Of laughter that echoed through the
little house Bless your dear heart
Polly" he said Mt last. wiping the tears
from her pretty eyes, you've been g
railroad mans wife for three years
and don't / now that II means freight
car bodies Some of them have beer
In wrecks and need repairing, ant
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 me-" He fold
ed her in his arms and kissed away he'
chagrln. He magnanimously forgav'
her for her lack of faith In him; b,
explained to her that the numbers a
the end of the message signified thu
serial number of the car and was 1t,
mark of identity.
Then she told him about the bras.
key and asked the question which hat
been lowering on her lips for severa
minutes, "What are you doing here
Henry Fones?" and Henry Fopel
promptly explained.
"It's the House O. Dreams. dear-it'i
my surprise for our wedding anniver
sary, the 18th Of June. I've worked
every spare moment since the outsid,
was completed to get 1t ready for you
borrowed three days from my vacs
ton in order to run down here. ant
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
III feel like Bluebeards wife," smiled
Pauline as she gave the brass key t
her husband.
Look there, Polly, read that" re
turned Henry. holding the brass Ike.
close to her eyes. A..
There on the slender shank some
thing was engraved in fine lettering
House O. Dreams" 1t said.
All ut once the lettering was hide,
" the happy tears that fell from Pau
Ines eyes.