Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-05-23

'The funny part Of 1t is." declared
Bangs, drowning his friends voice by
raising his own. ''that somebody out
there, some scalawag friend Of this
Thomas. must have got wind OF what
was up and sent word to him, 'cause
when they went to hunt for him In
Boston he'd gone. skipped. cut stick.
And they amt seen him since. he was
afraid Of bein' took up for bigamist.
you see-for bein' a bigamy, mean.
Well. you know what I'm tryin' to
say. Anyhow. If 1t hadn't been for me
and Phoebe
"You and Phoeber' snorted Asaph.
"You had a whole lot to do with 1t,
didn't you? You and Aunt Debby IL
do to 20 together. I understand she's
cruisin' round maxim proclamations
that she was responsible for the
whole thing. No, Stree! It's Phoebe
Dawes that the credit belongs to, hnd
this town amt Gone nothin' but praise
her since 1t come out You never see
such a quick come-about In your life
unless twas Heman's. But you knew
all this afore, Whit Peabody must
have told YOU"
Captain Cy had listened to his
friends story with face expressive
of the most blank astonishment. AS
he learned Of the trip to Trumet and
its results his eyes and mouth opened,
and he repeatedly rubbed his forehead
and muttered exclamations. Now. at
the mention of his lawyers name. he
seemed to awaken.
Hold onw he interrupted, waving
his hand. Hold on! BY the big dip
per, this isis Where Is Peabody? !
want to see him"
Here l am. captain" said the attor-
ney. He had been out to the barn to
superintend the stabling Of the span,
but for the past dve minutes had been
standing. unnOticed by his client, on
the threshold Of the dining room.
See here" demanded Captain Cy-
"see here, Peabody. Is this yarn true?
Is 1t, now-this about Phoebe and all?"
Certainly It's true. l supposed you
knew 1t. You didn't seem surprised
when / told you the case was settled"
Surprised! Why. no! / thought
Heman had Never mind that. Land
Of love. she did it-she"
He sat weakly down. The lawyer
looked anxious.
"Mr. Tidditt." he whispered. II think
perhaps he had better be left alone for
the present. He's just up from a sick
bed. and this has been trying fore
noon. Come in again this afternoon.
l shall try to persuade him to take a
nap"
The board of strategy. its curlosi-
ty unsatisned, departed reluctantly.
When Mr.. Peabody returned to the sit
ting room he found that maps were far
indeed from the captains thoughts.
The latter was pacing the sitting room
floor.
where Is she2" he demanded. "She
was standin' on the steps with Heman.
Have you seen her since"
His friend was troubled.
"Why. yes, I've seen her." he said.
II have been talking with her. She
has gone away"
"Gone away! Where? What do you
mean? She ain't-ain't left Bayport?"
mo, no! What in the world should
she leave Bayport for? She has gone
to her boarding house, guess. At all
events. she was headed in that direc-
ton"
"Why didn't she shake hands with
me2 What made her go of and not
say a word? Oh, we'll, guess likely
I know the why" He sighed deSpond
emily. II told her never to come here
again"
"You did? What in the world
"Well. for what I thought was good
reasons; all on her account they was.
And yet she did come back and kept
comm even after Ase blabbed the
whole thing. However, l spose that
was just to help Georgianna. Oh.
hum! l am an old fool"
The lawyer inspected him seriously.
"Well, captain" he said slowly. IF
1t is any comfort for you to know that
your reason, isn't the correct one for
Miss Dawes going away can assure
you on that point. think she went
because she was greatly disappointed
and didn't wish to see you just now"
disappointed? What do you mean"
"Humph! l didn't mean to tell you
yet, but l Judge that I'd better. No
one knows 1t here but Miss Dawes and
I. and probably no one but US three
need ever know It. You see. the fact
Is that the Arizona woman, Desire
Higgins. isn't Mrs. Thomas at all He
Isn't her missing husband"
"What"
Eyes, it's 80. Really It was too
much Of a coincidence to be possible,
and vet It certainly did seem that 1t
would prove. true. This Higgins woman
was apparently SO anxious to find her
missing man that she was ready to
recognize almost any description, and
the slight lameness and the fact OF his
having been in Montana helped along.
II we could have got q photograph
sooner the question would have been
settled. Only last week. while was
in Boston. l got word from the de-
tective agency that photo had been
received. went to see It Immediately.
There was some resemblance. but not
enough. Henry Thomas was never
Mr.. Higgins"
"Butzbut-they say Thomas has
akipDed out"