Putnam patriot., 1913-11-21


 she had to go to Europe. And for some reason or other-the secretary didn't know why and it doesn't matter, anyhow-the wedding was sidetracked Instead. they took notion to run off to little country hotel, for one of those honeymoons that-that never came through the custom-house."
 "No!"
 Yes. And, as an afterthought, yes, again. I can show you the hotel reg ister with"
 "'The fool didn't register under his own name, did he?" demanded Gregg.
 No said Blake. Registered un- der the name of Fowler. But any hand. writing expert can prove he wrote it, and the hotel manager can swear ] Standish was the man. The manager is ready to swear Standish called the i woman his wife, too.'
 "Oh, the jay!" grinned Gregg, the worldling.
 You see" went on Blake. "he real ly expected to marry her They were l just taking time by the forelock And then--here's the queerest tangle of all ! after that week there, it seems she ] backed out and wouldn't marry him at all. No, Gregg. it wasn't he that threw her over. This was the other way around. The Woman tilted him and went back to her family. One week of Standish was about all she was up to. And she baked at making a life job of it. I don't wonder"
 But didn't her family find out?" Tt seems not. They thought she had r been away visiting a girl friend in the country. She got home safe, and everything looked proper as a rainy Sunday in a grave yard. Some wom- en sure have luck" "Go on," urged Van Dyke.
 That's about all," finished Blake. She woke up, as I told you. to find ] it was ke-and-no-harm-done- 1 thank-heaven. And as far as I can make out, they haven't seen each oth- CT since I won't swear to that part of it. But if they have. his secretary doesn't know it. Nor"
 Who was the Woman?" queried Robertson.
 That" answered Blake reluctantly lis the one thing left to find out
 Van Dyke fairly groaned
 "Then," he demanded, how is this miserable story going to help us?"
 "Oh.' replied Blake, "the nets cios- ing around her. I hope to have her name tonight"
 -ot,V to sA 4x, night. Before the Mullins bill comes up. The names no use to us after that"
 But" asked Robertson. "eyen If we do get it tonight. what use can we make of 1t? The house will be on the final debate of the bill by ten o'clock By making use of every trick we know we can fix only a few hours de lay at most What good"
 What good?" ,retorted Blake. Lust this: Standish's long suit is morality. A lot of us have had smirches on our names from time to time. He newer has So the clergy are for him and the people swear by him. It's his chief pull with both church and pub lie. Now--if we can get this story. properly authenticated. on the floor of the house tonight, it'll give lot of men-Gregg, here, for instance-an ex- cuse to swing over to us"
 "Oh, we've got himi We've got himt" muttered Robertson once more, his usually quick mind loafing blissful ly over the single grand idea
 "Yes," amended Van Dyke dryly, we've got him-if we can get the nnnds en 'ie.+ '.hN"t it. our story is worthless. Thus far. it seems, nc one knows her name"
 Except Standish," corrected Blake
 -'What good does that do us? He won't tell"
 What one man knows" returned Blake sententiously, another can find out"
 And" put in Gregg, lowering his voice, speaking of finding out re. minds me. That little devil of a tele- phone girl over there-Do you sup pose she could have heard anything we've been saying?"
 If she has a whole pair of ears, answered Blake. sinking his own voice, "she surely could Especially what I've been saying For I've been straining my voice to talk loud enough for her to catch what said. ever since we sat down here"
 "The deuce you have?" exclaimed Van Dyke What for?"
 For the same reason I've been laying down." returned Blake Don't worry over that A man whose voice is as tired as mine isn't straining that throat unless it's for a good cause And you can leave the finding of the Woman's name to me. too, guess Now trot along. all of you Mark, go in and order dinner. I'll be there in i've minutes. I've a couple of things to attend to first"
 The group began to drift across the corridor in the direction of the din ing-room. Blake detached himself from the rest and started back toward the telephone switchboard. But Tom, noting his fathers move. intercepted him. The young fellows face looked worried and his manner had lost some of it's wonted buoyancy.
 Dad" he said
 "Hey?" asked Blake, stopping and turning toward his son.
 Reading Toms face, as he was ac- customed by instinct to read every countenance that came into his range of notice. Jim nodded and led the way to the amen corner
 Now, then" he demanded, half guyingly, half-anxiously, what's on your mind? Speak up, son. There ~ayar vat ur1e a dafieata Suhiecf that