The Delta independent., 1912-06-07
CHAPTER vi.
A Conspiracy in Satin.

A Conspiracy in Satin.
The tall man emptied one hand Of
its suitcase to clasp the hand the new
conner granted him. He held it fast
as he exclaimed: Don't tell me that
you are bound for Reno!" She whim-
pered: "Pm afraid so. Mr.. Ashton"
He put down everything to take her
other hand. and tuned his voice to
coincidence: why, thought you and
Sam Whitcomb were"
"Oh, we were until that shameless
Mrs. Wellington"
Mrs. Wellington? Don't believe I
know her"
Il thought everybody had heard of
Mrs. Jimmie Wellington"
Mrs. Jimmie-oh, yes, I've heard
of her!" Everybody seemed to have
heard of Mrs. Jimmie Wellington.
What a dance she has led her poor
husband" Mrs. Whitcomb said. and
my poor Sammy fell into her trap,
too"
Ashton, jealous comforter, took a
wrathful tone: Il always thought your
husband was the most unmitigated-"
But Mrs. Whitcomb bridled at once.
How dare you criticize Sammy! He's
the incest boy in the world"
Ashton recovered quickly. That's
what started to say. Will he contest
the-divorce?"
"Of course not" she beamed. 1.-THE
dear fellow would never deny me any
thing. Sammy offered to get it him
self, but l told him he'd better stay
in Chicago and stick to business.
shall need such lot of alimony."
TOO bad he couldn't have come
along" Ashton insinuated.
But the irony was wasted, for she
sighed: Yes, l shall miss him ter
ribly. But we feared that il he were
with me 1t might hamper me in get
ting a divorce on the ground of de-
sertion."
She was trying to look earnest and
thoughtful and heartbroken, but the
result was hardly plausible, for Mrs.
Sammy Whitcomb could not possibly
have been really earnest or really
thoughtful; and her heart was quite
too elastic to break. She proved II
instantly, for when she heard behind
her the voice of young man asking
her to let him pass, she turned to pro.
test, but seeing that he was a hand.
some young man, her starch was in.
stantly changed to sugar. And she re-
warded his good looks with smile, as
he rewarded hers with another.
Then Ashton intervened like a dog
in the manger and dragged her off to
her seat, leaving the young man to
exclaim:
Some tamarind, that!"
Another young man behind him
growled: "Cut out the tamarinds and
get to business. Mallory will be here
any minute"
Il hate to think what he'll do to us
when he sees what we've done tc
him."
"Oh, he won't dare to fight in the
presence Of his little bridey-widey. Dc
you see the porter in there?"
Yes, suppose he objects"
well, we have the tickets. We'll
claim it's our section till Mallory and
Mrs. Mallory come"
They moved on into the car, where
the porter confronted them. When he
saw that they were loaded with bun
dies of all shapes and sizes, he waved
them away with scorn:
The emigrant sleepa runs only
Toosdays and Thuzzdays."
From behind the first mass OF pacl
ages came a brisk military answer:
You black hound! About face
forward march! Section number one.
The porter retreated down the aisle
apologizing glibly. "Scuse me TO
questioning you, but you-all's baggag
looked kind O. eccentric at first"
The two young men dumped thei
parcels on the seats and began to un
wrap them hastily.
"If Mallory catches us, he'll kill US,
said Lieutenant Shaw. Lieutenan
Hudson only laughed and drew out
long streamer of white satin ribbor
Its glimmer. and the glimmering eye
of the young man excited Mrs. Will
. comb SO much that after "A little hes
tance she moved forward, followed b
the jealous Ashton.
"Oh, what's up?" she ventured. Il
looks like something bridal"
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