The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1913-10-31
THE
HUSBANDS
OF EDITH
Blu
GEORGE BARR
~M'CUTCHEON
CopJEtohe b Dodd. t1ssd e Co.
Cop3Rtohe b Dodd. tiesd & Co.
CHAPTER XIV.
!hs ProdiaaI Husband.

uUO VVOo1OAS 0UOO0UO
~HE uniucky Brock, wild with
rage and chagrin. had paced
his temporary prison In the top
story Of the Tirol from IL
o'clock till 2. bitterly cursing the fools
vho were keeping him In DURANGO
more vile than that from which they
had generously released him. He real
E1ed that It would be unwise to create
disturbance In the house by clamOr-
ing for freedom. because. In the drst
place. there already had been scandal
enough. and. in the second place. his
d%istrustful bondsmen had promised
faithfully to seek out the devoted Con-
ME and apprise her Of his release. He
had no thought. Of course. that in the
meantime she might be duped into pay
ing a hribe to the guard.
Not only was he direfully cursing the
trio. but also the Anticipated Medcroft
and his own Anticipated self. 1t Ia to
be feared that he had harsh thoughts
Of all the Medcrofts. as far down as
Raggles. His dream Of love and hap
piness had turned into q nightmare:
the comedy had become a tragic snarl
Of all the effects known to melodrama.
1t occurred to him at 2 o'clock that
pacing the floor in the agony of sus-
pense was q very useless occupation.
He would go to bed. Morning would
bring relief and surcease to his trou-
bied mind. Constance was doubtless
Sound asleep in her room Everything
would have been explained to her long
before this hour. She would under
STAND. SO. with the return Of his old
sophistry. he undressed and crawled
into the strange bed. Somehow he
did not like 1t as we'll AZ the cot In
the balcony below.
Just as he was. dropping OF into the
long delayed slumber, he heard a light
tapping at his door. He sat up in bed
like q dash. thoroughly wide awake.
The rapping was repeated. He called
ont In cautious tones. asking who was
tnere. at the same time slipping from
tndsto tumble In the darkness for his.
clothes.
"'Sh!" came from the hallway. he
rushed over and put his q to the
door. st is I. Are you awake? I
can't stay here. It's wrong. Listen.
Here's q ~note-under the door. Good
night. darling! I'm heartbroken."
'"Thank God. it's your be cried soft
y. "How ! love you. C~onstancew
"tRh: Edith is with me! Oh. I
wish It were morning and I could see
you. have so much to say"
Another q%uerulous voice broke in:
'For heavens sake. Connie. don't
stand here any longer. Our reputa-
lions are bad enough as 1t is, Good
night Roxbury:" He distinctly heard
the heartless Edith giggle. Then came
the soft. quick swish Of garments and
the nocturnal visitors gone. He
picked up the envelope and, waiting
until they we're safely down the hall.
turned on the light.
t'Dearest." he read. ut was not my
fault and | know it was not yours.
But. oh. you don't know how I suffer.
e ed all throu.h those hours Of waiting
at the cafe. They did not 6nd me un-
til after 2. They were drunk, They
tried to explain. What do you think
the authorities will do to me II they
End that | gave that horrid man bride
money? Really. I'm terribly nervous
But be won't dare say anything. will
he? He is rs guilty as |. for he took
II. He took 1t knowing that you were
free at the time But we will talk it
aver tomorrow. I've just got back to
"a -
Edith brought me up to hear your dear
voice. i am 80 glad you are not dead.
Its impossible to release You tonight
Ehose wretches have the key. How l
Ioathe them! Edith says the hotel IL
Wild with gossip about everything and
Wefybody. It's Just awful. Be Of good
heark my beloved. ! Will b your
80 2HH&F 1T .a4 81 Et