The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1911-08-31

reached his house and as he carefully
inserted the key in the lock he
breathed a hopeful prayer that this
time his wife OF a year had not walt
ed up for him. OF late he had formed
an unregenerate habit of spending |
two or three evenings a week away |
from home. though Ina never re- |
preached him. and invariably met him |
with the cheerful smile.
As he entered the darkened hallway |
he heaved a sigh OF thankfulness. All
was still For the first time In their
year together there was no soft little
rush from the den upstairs, no dim
pied face thrust over the banister to
greet him Yet such is the incon-
sistency OF man that once an oddly
neglected feeling seized him. The
knowledge that Ina could have at last
grown so Indifferent as to go peace
fully to bed and to sleep while he was
still straying happily in the outer
darkness Of the night came to him
( with something OF n shock
! He opened the bedroom door softly.
! The bed had not been disturbed. He
p
J the bureau lay a note. He seized It
In something OF a panic.
81 have gone out" he read. 81 may
( be late. Don't wait up"
"The deucel" he muttered. even as
he breathed gusty sigh OF relief. AT
any rate II wasn't tragedy--or
scandal But what the dickens
Gone where?
At that moment the hall door
closed sharply. Light footsteps
mounted the stairs. A moment later
Ina swept into the room, neck and
shoulders cleaning in her prettiest
gown. eyes sparkling. cheeks flushed
like a rose.
Where have you been?" demand.
ed Ina's lord.
"Out amusing myself" returned Ina
fiippantly. She came over and kissed
him. Poor boy" she cooed, have
you been waiting long9 told you
to go to bed"
Il want to know where you've
BEEN" persisted Jimmy doggedly.
do ever ask where you've been?'
mo. but that's different"
"Yes. that's different" mimicked
Ina.
Jimmy sat still. morosely regarding
. her
9 II haven't done anything to brinl
{ discredit to the sacred name OF Ian
Y ming" she informed him, "if that
Q what you're afraid Of But I'm no
/ going to sit around here like a sill!
g dummy while you go off and have fun
t I'm going to have some myself"
). In the days that followed curlosit.
s and suspicion tortured Jimmy. TIL,
thing happened twice again In tn,
IS next week. but never could he fore
g from Ina the latest inkling of wher
L. she had been.
"a The third time he found the explar
s. atory note on his dressing table h
i. turned and went swiftly downstair
'e again. determined to watch for he
le return and discover What he coult
" but just as he he turned the corner c
rs the stairway Ina closed the hall doc
It. He thought that she looked distinct
startled and somewhat confused. II
Al strode to the door and threw It opel
es No one was in sight
where have you been?" he d.
a, manded. angrily. "and with whom?
e, insist on knowing"
IN Really? Well, II you must kno
It. where | am in the evenings, Jimm
re- dear, you'd better stay at home an
Nv find out"
er Stay at home and find out. Thi
ri gave him an idea. To tell the trut
ey his convivid evenings abroad we
e, beginning to lose their zest now tn
lr. his subconsciousness was robbed
he the peaceful picture OF his wife slttir
an at home In dreamy alteration, eager
Iv. waiting his return. He was apt
IS. grow morose and depart early. f.
of Jimmy loved his wife sincerely in h
he mans way. Relations began to gro
wv strained between him and Ina.
A few nights later he announc
tie that some OF his old classmates we
er. having reunion and that he wou
er. be late getting back. kissed In
MS tramped down the stairs and bang
ng the hall door. A moment later
ds slipped into the darkened recepti
co. room on the right. drew chair to I
les window facing the street and sat dow
is Low down trick to spy on her."
nd muttered. but. by Jove! I've got
&c know where she goes"
ns The minutes passed. Nine o'clo
liz came-ten-ten-thirty No sound cal
from upstairs.
"Confound i'll" muttered Jimmy. &C
fooled that time Well, she won't
out this late. Might as well go
-. sleep till midnight and then let OF
VI jIst got back"
ns He threw himself on a couch a
lV promptly slept.
uS' In the meantime Ina. lounging &C
yer fortably In an easy chair upstairs.
'as rused her novel till the clock stru
eSs eleven. Then she rose. slipped II
lnu her dressing room and commenced
an elaborate evening toilet. About
ign quarter to twelve. fully arrayed, I
iu, drew a graceful evening wrap abb