Holbrook argus., 1911-11-21
IN THE NIGHT
 WATCHES
By MABEL C. ENGLAND
Copyright, 1911. by Associated Literary
 PTess)

Mir. Jimmy Lanning stepped out of his friends studio and called back 8 iovial goodnight to the group of choice spirits there Congregated and turned homeward. It was midnight when he reached his house and ss he carefully inserted the key in the lock he breathed Q hopeful prayer that this time his wife of year had not wait ed up for him. Of late he had formed an unregenerate habit of spending two or three evenings 8 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 sigh of thankfulness All was still For the first time in their l 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 st 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 3 shock,
 He opened the bedroom door softly. The bed had not been disturbed. He passed into the dressing room. On the bureau lay 9 note. He seized if in something of panic.
 q have gone out" he read. "I may be late Don't wait up.'
 "The deuce!" he muttered. even ss he breathed gusty sigh of relief, At any rate 1t wasn't tragedy-or scandal But what the dickens Gone where?
 At that moment the hall door closed sharply. Light footsteps mounted the stairs moment later Ina swept into the room, neck and shoulders gleaming in her prsttiest gown, eyes sparkling, cheeks flushed like a rose
 Where have you been?" demand ed Ins's lord. Out amusing myself, z returned Ina hippantly. She came over and kissed him. Poor boy" she coced, shave you been waiting lon27 told you tc go to bed.'
 T want to know where yon've
 been" persisted Jimmy doeecdly..
 Do ever ask where you've been ,? | No. but that's different"
 Yes, that's different" mimicked Ina.
 $ Jimmy sat still. morosely regsrdins F her
 q haven't done anything to bring discredit to the sacred name of Ian
 hing" she informed him, If that'i what you're afraid of. But I'm no a dummy while you go off and have fun Q I'm going to have some myself
 Tn the days that followed curiositl s and suspicion tortured Jimmy. Tn. t thing happened twice again in thu next week, but never could he fore from Ina the latest inkling of wher' s she had been.
 h The third time he found the explsr atory note on his dressing table h ' turned and went swiftly downstair
 again, determined to watch for he
 -eturn and discover what he could l. put just as he he turned the corner c s the stairway Ina closed the hall dool d He thought that she looked distinctl
 startled and somewhat confused H | strode to the door and threw it opel e No one was in sight. is Where have you been7 :" he d. handed, anerily, "and with whom? l. Insist on knowing"
 le Really? Well, if you must kno f u-ha I ir1 ho -11,,4nra Tinar,
 lear, you'd better stay at home an
 find out"
 Stay at home and find out. Tn
 gave him an idea To ten the trut his convivial evenings abroad we '" beginning to lose their zest now tn aS his subconsciousness was robbed in the peaceful picture Of his wife sitti1 ., at home in dreamy sdoratiou b. eager waiting his return. He wslE apt IS grow morose and depart carly. F v Jimmy loved his wife sincerely in |
 mans way. Relations began tro gre s' strained between him and Ina. t1- few nights later he announc n that some of his old classm ates we
 having reunion and that he Nyou O be late getting back, kissed IT n- tramped down the stairs and ban 2 ve the hall door. A moment later !, slipped into the darkened recepn oh room on the right, drew 9 chair to t. -ly window facing the street and sat dow nd Low down trick to spy on her." }, muttered, but. by love! I've got know where she goes"
 The minutes passed. Nine o'clo OC thirty. No sound car ,11 from upstairs.
 "Confound itl" muttered Jimmy "C
 fooled that time. Well. she won't -, out this late Might as well go |" sleep till midnight and then let on or just got back '
 or He threw himself on 3 couch al
 promptly slert
 In the meantime Ina. lcunging col
 fortably in an easy chair upstairs. I
 rused her novel till the clock stru
 eleven Then ehe rose, slipped in