The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-07-13

Of formality and he tried to chill his
tone as II he were speaking to q total
stranger.
Good afternoon"
Mrs. Fosdick answered with ecuar
fee: Good afternoon. Won't you sit
down."
Thanks. Very picturesque seen
cry. isn't it?~
isn't it?" Fosdick seated himself,
looked about cautiously. noted that
Mrs. Whitcomb was apparently alb
sorbed In her letter. then lowered his
voice confidentially. His face kept up
strained pretense of indifference,
but his whisper was passionate with
longing:
Has my poor little wifey missed
her poor old hubby?"
"Oh, SO much!" she whispered 4.
HAS poor little hubby missed his
poor old wife,"
Horribly. Was she lonesome in
that dismal state oom all by her
selff"
"Oh. so miserablei can't stand II
much longer"
Fosdick's face blazed with good
news: I'm just little while we come
to the Utah line-then we're SAFE"
God bless Utah."
TIE rapture died from her face as
she caught sight of Or. Temple. who
happened to stroll In and 60 to the
bookshelves, and taking out q book
happened to glance neer-sightedly her
way.
BE careful Of that man, dearie,"
Mrs. Fosdick Kissed out of one side
OF her mouth. Hes a very strange
character"
Her husband was infected with her
own terror. He asked. huskily: What
do you think he is?"
"A detective! I'm sure he's watch
Ing US. He followed you right in
here"
"We'll be very cautious-till We get
to Utah."
The old clergyman. little fuzzy in
brain from his debut In beer, contin.
ued innocently to confirm the appear.
ance OF a detective by drifting aim
lessly about. He was looking for his
wife, but he kept glancing at the un.
easy Fosdicks. He went to the door
opened 1t. saw Mrs. Wellington finish.
Ing cigar. and retreated precipitate
ly. Seeing Mrs. Temple wandering in
the corridor, he motioned her to a
chair near the Fosdicks and she sat
by his side. wondering at his filmy
eyes.
The Fosdicks. glancing uncomforr
ably at DR.. Temple. rose and selected
other chairs further away. Then
Roger Ashton sauntered in, his eyes
searching for proper companion
through the tunnel.
He saw Mrs. Wellington returning
from the platform. just tossing away
her cigar and blowing out the last oil
Its grateful vapor.
With an effort at sarcasm, he wen,
to her and offered her one of his OWL
cigars. smiling: Have another"
She took 1t, looked 1t over. anC
Il Ps&AaiOu hio hOhy VIII tOTIIlula EQe
had heard men use when they hate
to refuse a gift-cigar: Thanks. III
smoke 1t after dinner. II you don't
| mind"
"Oh. don't mind" he laughed, then
bending closer he murmured: They
tell me We are coming to a tunnel. q
nice. long. dark. dismal tunnel"
Mrs. Wellington would not take a
dare. She felt herself already eman
cipated from Jimmie. So she answered
Ashton's hint with a laughing chal
lenge:
How nice Of the conductor to ar
range It,"
Ashton smacked his lips over the
prospect.
And now the porter, having noted
Ashtons impatience to reach the tun
mel, thought to curry favor and q
quarter by announcing its approach
He hustled in and made straight fol-
Ashton just as the tunnel announced
Itself with sudden swoop OF gloom
a great increase Of the train.noises
and far-off clang of the locomotive
bell
CrO BE CONTINUED