The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1912-09-04
Copyright. IOii. By n. K. Fly 90.
CHAPTER XxxV.
Mr.. and Mrs. Little Jimmie.

MIS-. sammy WHliCOiub hdu iOhSVN
for the sweet privilege OF squaring
matters with Mrs. Jimmie Wellington.
Sneers and back-biting, shrugs and
shudders Of contempt were poor COM
pensation for the ever-vivid fact that
Mrs. Wellington had proved attractive
to her Sammy while Mrs. Yelling
tons Jimmie never looked at Mrs.
Whitcomb. or If he did. his eyes had
been so blurred that he had seen two
of her-and avoided both.
Yesterday she had overheard Jim
mic vow sobriety. Today his shining
morning face showed that he had
kept his word. She could hardly wait
to begin the Irritation which, she
trusted would render Mrs. Wellington
helplessly furious for six long Reno
months.
The Divorce Drummer interposed
and held Jimmie prisoner for a time.
but as soon as Mr.. Baumann released
him, Mrs Whitcomb apprehended
him. With smile that beckoned and
with eyes that went out like far-cast
fishhooks, she drew Leviathan into
her net.
She reeled him in and he plounced
in the seat opposite. What she took
for bashfulness was reluctance. To
add the last charm to her success,
Mrs. Wellington arrived to see it.
Mrs. Whitcomb saw the lonely Ashton
rise and offer her the seat facing him.
NJ at
with the back of her head so close to
the back of Mr.. Wellington's head
that the feather in her hat tickled his
neck.
Jimmie Wellington had seen his
wife pass by. To his sober eyes she
was a fine sight as she moved up the
aisle. In his alcohol-emancipated
mind the keen sense of wrong en-
dured that had driven him forth to
Reno began to lose its edge. His own
soul appealed from Jimmie drunk to
Jimmie sober. The appellate judge
began to reverse the lower courts de-
cision, point by point.
He felt a sudden recrudescence Of
jealousy as he heard Ashton's voice
unctuously, flirtatiously Offering his
wife hospitality. He wanted to trounce
Ashton. But what right had he to
defend from gallantry the woman he
was about TO forswear before the
world? Jimmies soul was in turmoil,
and Mrs. Whitcomb's pretty face and
alluring smile only annoyed him.
She had made several gracious
speeches before he quite comprehend
ed any of them. Then he realized
that she was saying. I'm so glad
you're going tc stop at Reno, Mr.. Well
ington."
Thank you. So am l." he num-
bled. trying to look interested and
wishing that his wife's plume would
not tickle his neck.
Mrs. Whitcomb went on, leaning
closer: I'VE two poor mistreated
wretches must try to console one All
other. mustn't WEI"
"Yes,-yes,-we must" Wellington
nodded, with a sickly cheer.
Mrs. Whitcomb leaned little
closer. do you know that | feel al
most related to you, Mr. Wellington?
Related" he echoed, "you?-to
me? How"
MY husband knew your wife SO
well"
surged over him, and he growled:
"Your husband is a scoundrel."
Mrs. Whitcombs smile turned to
vinegar: "Oh, can't permit you to
SANDER the poor boy behind his back
II was all your wife's fault"
Wellington amazed himself by his
own bravery when he heard himself
volleying back: And / can't permit
you to SANDER my wife behind hel
back. 1t was all your husbands
fault"
Mrs. Jimmie overheard this behinC
her back. and IT strangely thrilled
her. She ignored Ashton's existence
and listened for Mrs. Whitcomh's mex
retort. II consisted OF simple. Icy
drawl: Il think I'll go to breakfast"
She seemed to pick up Ashton with
her eyes as she glided by, for, finding
himself unnoticed. he rose with q
careless: II think I'll go to break
fast" and followed Mrs. Whitcomb
The Wellingtons sat dos-a-dos fol
some exciting seconds. and then on q
sudden impulse. Mrs. Jimmie rose
knelt in the seat and spoke across the
back of IT.:
1T was very nice of you to defend
me, Jimmie-er-James"
Wellington almost dislocated sew
eral joints in rising quickly and whirl
ing round at the cordially OF hel
tone. But his smile vanished at hel
last word. He protested, feebly
James sounds 80 like IA butler
Can't you call me Little Jimmie
AGAIN."
Mrs. Wellington smiled indulgent
ly: well, since it's the last time
Goodbye. Little Jimmie" And sh'
put out her hand. He seized II nun
grily and chung to II: "Good-bye!-
arsnf VIM eating on nj HenOT"