The Cairo bulletin., 1911-03-13

John and Gertrude Bingham were
obliged to have live with them Johns
aunt, a disagreeable old woman. who
was constantly making them misera-
Bile. There were two reasons why they
should keep her III the house. One
was that she had no other home, and
the other was that she possessed
about $4,000 Of property which John
expected or at least hoped she would
leave to him at her death Besides,
I the old lady was constantly quarre,ing
with the only home open to her and
making new wills, leaving her money
to some distant relative. There were
81 number of these wills outstanding.
but John knew that he had the last
one locked in his desk in his bedroom.
Not long after this will was made
the old lady became an imbecile, AMI
/ it became necessary to send her to a
sanitarum. John now felt perfectly
safe, for his aunt could not make an
other will that would be legal
| The old lady's departure was the be-
ginning of new era In the lives of
! John and Gertrude. Not a ripple ever
came between them, and their home
was peace and comfort True, Johns
income was very small, but his aunt
had never paid any board, always
| throwing out as reason that at her
death he would be amply reimbursed.
But the cost of living was constantly
increasing, and ut the time of the old
lady's departure his household ex-
penses were double what they had been
when the coupie were first married.
Mrs, Bingham's mother became iii.
and Gertrude was obliged to go to her
While she was away John slept in the
house, taking his meals at restaurants.
He would return from business late in
the afternoon, get on ms best he could
till dinner time, then go out and dine
alone at cheap cafe.
At last Gertrudes presence at her
mothers home was no longer neceS.
sary, and she concluded to give John
surprise by returning without notify
hour as would take her to her own
home about the time John reached it
after business hours. She arrived be-
fore him. Going upstairs, she saw
figure fitting through the hall. Ger
trude gave chase and cornered wo-
man in one Of the bedrooms. She was
altogether too well dressed for com
mon thief Indeed, she was very come.
ly, so the demon of suspicion entered
Gertrude's breast.
$50 this is the way my husband
passes his time while | am away, is
it," she said to the woman. the blood
mounting to her check. while at the
same time a tear stood in her eye
The woman made no reply at first.
She seemed to be thinking. Presently
she said:
Il presume you are John Bingham's
wife. If youamakc any ado about my
being here you will ruin him and me,
You will also make my husband miser-
able and bring disgrace and unhappi-
ness on my children. l beseech you
let me 90. John will tell you how we
have been tempted"
81 will let you go after John comes
home and l have had an opportunity
to tell you both my opinion of you"
"You shall not prevent my going"
The woman started to leave the
room, but Gertrude stood In the only
opening. How the matter would have
resulted no one knows, for at that mo-
ment the front door was heard to open
and close and some one was heard in
the lower hall. In another moment
John Bingham appeared In the upper
hall His wife turned upon him like q
fury. The cornered woman simply
stared at both the others without
speaking.
Il never saw this person before"
said John quietly, but firmly. Mad
am" he added, addressing the stran-
ger, what did you come into my
house for? You had some object III
doing so, but | confess it puzzles me
to guess what it u.s. You are too wen
dressed for thief. Your pretending
to come here to visit me is a subter-
fuge"
He studied her for a few moments,
dH"ing which she stood mute looking
from him to his Wife like one at bay.
Whatever was her real object In en-
tering the house, matters were going
hard with her John turned to Ger
trude and said quickly:
Aunt Caroline is dead. | resolved
a notice to that effect at the ONCE to-
day. She died the day before yestcr-
day The letter was delayed by being /,
sent TO the wrong address"
Husband and wife looked at each
other. An idea struck them at the |
same moment, or perhaps it was COM
munlcated from one to the other by /,
telepathy.
1.-THE will!" exclaimed Gertrude. !
"Go to my desk and see if 1t is |
there" said John. Here IS the key"
She took the key from him as she |
passed him, went to the desk and |
looked for the will.
'Tts gone!' she cried, running back |
to where she had left the other two.
Madam" said John sternly to the |
woman, "you are some relative Of mine |
who. having heard Of the death Of my
aunt and having an old win leaving
her property to you, have stolen mine
a