Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-07-20
- ~-.
Mrs. F0neS and
theBrasS Kew
How She Discovered Her Hus.
bands Secret
Rv CT ARISSA MACklE
By CLARISSA MACKlE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.


Expect me home OH Friday" and he
dashed for the elevator. Pauline wav-
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 we're scattered from one end
Of the apartment to- the other. She
was hanging up blue serge coat
when a brass key tumbled from a
pocket and struck the polished floor
with n challenging ring.
"What funny kcy!" thought Pau
line as she picked it up and examined
1t closely.
"What curious key!" she remarked
after awhile "s wonder what door 1t
fits" Whereupon Pauline Fones, who
was ordinarily the least curious OF
young women. deliberately tried to fit
that key into every keyhole In the
apartment. not even emitting the chif-
foniers and the refrigerator.
Mrs. Fones was bafiled in her et-
fort to find a keyhole to fit the brass
key. and now she sat down, warm and
rather out Of sorts, to examine the
thing. 1t was of quaint design. with
n long slender shank terminating In
twisted handle. Complicated, indeed,
must he the lock which this key fitted.
Perhaps 1t 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 1t
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 ard dropped 1t in the
pocket of the blue serge coat with
little laugh at her own foolishness In
dstrusling such simple. open mind
ed man as Henry was. AS she with
bit of paper and Pauline blu she'd as
she found herself drawing out several
yellow kilograms fastened together
with brass clip.
She read the first message. that on
top Of the pile. and sank down upon
the nearest chair with frightened
cry. Her suspicions had not been
ground pSs. What was this dreadful
lh n, her husband had done-was
about to do?
The message stood ont clearly-nay,
II blnZpd in her diSmayed eyes:
J Henry Fones-Sending body tod:y.
Wire II you can use 1t. Fair condition.
BlNLEY
The other kilograms referred to the
same grewSome subject; other bodies
had been sent. some in fine condi
ton" others badly broken" still 9th
rrs bad. beyond repair"
The first one however. bore the date
OF the day before, and her husbands
sudden departure for vague 'out OF
town" destination furnished clew to
the messages. Her husband had ap-
peared embarrassed when she pressed
him for IL reason for his sudden de-
parure: now she reco!lected that these
mysterious absences had been occur
ring with greater frequency as the
spring advanced.
He had been looking haggard and
carcworn of late. and he had complain
ed Of being dead tired day after day.
Was all the mystery to be disclosed by
the finding of the brass key and the
discriminating kilograms? She must
find Henry at once and beg him. per-
suade him. to cease this horrible traffic
in Pauline shuddered and closed her
eyes.
But not for long. She was a plucky
little woman. and now that her eyes
were opened she lost no time in seek
ing her husband.
Her first act was to telephone his
office and casually inquire where
telegram would reach the assistant
claim agent. The reply made her
heart beat faster as she hastily dress
ed herself to go out:
"Mr. Fones Is at Cliffedge-you can
reach him today or tomorrow by wire
If 1t is a personal matter"
at is personal said Pauline.
Cliffedge-of all places! That little
summer resort ON the shore where she
and Henry had hoped to bui'd cot
tape some day. What was he doing
there, unless-unless this awful busi
ness was transacted in that peaceful
spot?
Quite convinced that her husband
was temporarily. insane, Pauline pur'
chased ticket for Cliffedge and
hastened TO the side Of that unfOrtu-
nate man. In her hand bag were the
brass key and the bunch Of kilograms.
1t was q brief half hours ride to
Cliffedge, and she was glad to leave
the stuffy coach and emerge into the
crisp, salt laden air Of the seash0re. A
short ride in the long stage. hesitat-
ing inquiry of the red faced driver, and
she was set down at the end Of long
plank walk that skirted the beach.
"Foller that walk and you'll find Mr..
Fones down to his cOttage-it's the last
one in the row and sets off by ITSELF"
advised the driver as he whipped up
his horses and left her standing there,