The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-31
Cop7nszt ID 81 tas B55ss- GeIrII @

ment Bernys anticipated entrance.
He drew himself up IN his chair and
said in a loud, astonished voice:
Last night? Then the woman you
saw here last night was your wife?"
The actor gravely inclined his
head.
81 saw my wife" he said solemnly.
last night at Deledda's restaurant
II was entirely by accident. / liked
the Mexican cooking and had been
more than once TO that place. Last
night I was about to enter the back
part of the restaurant when I saw her
sitting there alone in the corner. For
a moment I could not believe my eyes.
| got behind lace curtain and watch
ed her. She was changed, but 1t was
she. I heard her speak to the waiter
and # I'd never seen her face I'd have
known the voice among a thousand.
Shed grown stouter and think even
prettier, and she looked as If she
were prosperous. She was well
dressed and her hands were covered
with rings When she went out
followed her and she came straight
here from the restaurant and rang
the bell and came in"
Are you sure she didn't go into
one of the other flats? There are
four in the building"
mo, she came in here. I compared
the number on the transOm with the
address you'd given me on the card"
What an extraordinary thing"
said DOminick. Its evidently some
one my wife knows who came to see
her that evening. probably to keep her
company while I was out. But l
can't think who it could be-"
He tried to run over IN his mind
which one of Berny's acquaintance
the description might fit and could
think of no one. Probably 1t was
some friend of her working-girl days,
who had dropped out of her life and
now, guided by Fate, had unexpectedly
reappeared.
It's certainly a remarkable coin
cidence." he went on, that she should
! have come to this fiat, one Of the few
| places in the city where you know
/ 'He ptOpIe- IL SHe u sOut W any VI
| the others"
! A ring at the bell stopped him.
"There!" he said, that's Mrs. Ryan.
| Now we'll hear who ii was"
For a moment they both sat silent,
listening. the actor with his face
looking sharp and pale in the sus-
! pense Of the moment, the muscles of
his lean cheeks working The rustic
| Of Berny's dress sounded from the
stairway and grew in volume as she
slowly assembled. The two men rose
to their feet.
Come in the den for moment
Berry" Dominick called. There's a
gentleman here who wants to see
you"
The rustic advanced up the hall
and the portiere was drawn back.
Bernice, brilliantly dressed, a mauve
orchid pinned on her bosom, stood in
the aperture, smiling.
Buford's back was against the
light, and, for the first moment she
only saw him as g. tall masculine out
| line and her smile was frank and
| natural But he saw her plain as a
| picture and before Dominick could
| frame the words of Introduction, start
ed forward, crying:
| "Bernice Iverson!"
She drew back as II struck and
made a movement TO drag the portiere
oyer her. Her face went white to the
lips. the patches of rouge standing
out on her cheeks like rose-leaves
pasted on the sickly skin.
"Who-who's that?" she stammer
ed. turning a Wild eye on Dominick.
Mr. Ryan" the actor cried, beside
himself with excitement, this is my
wife! This Is the woman I've been
| talking Of. Bernice. don't you know
me? Junius Carter?"
He's crazy" she faltered, her lips
so loose and tremulous they could
hardly form the words. 'T never saw
| him before. / don't know what he's
talking about. Who's Junius Carter?'
This is my wife. Mr. Buford," said
! Dominick, who had been staring from
one to the other in blank astonish
| ment. We've been married nearly
! three years. I don't understand
| It's Bernice Iverson, the girl mar
! ried in Chicago. that I've been telling
| you about. that I saw last night al
the Mexican restaurant. Why. she
can't deny it. She can't look at me
| and say she doesn't know me-Junius
| Carter, the man she married in the
Methodist chapel, seven years ago, in
| Chicago. Bernice--"
He approached her and she shrank
back
Keep away from me-" she cried
hoarsely, stretching out a trembling
hand. Il don't know what you're talk
ing about You're crazy. Junius Car
ter's dead" then suddenly turning
on Dominick with a blazing look of
fury-"It's you that have done this!
It's you, you snake! I'll be even
with you yeti"
She tore herself out of the folds
of the portiere which she had clutched
to her and rushed into the hall and
into her own room. The banging of
the door behind her shook the house.
The two men stood as she had left
them. staring at each other, not know
ing what to say. speechless and
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