Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1914-10-30
CHAPTER XIX.
R~nN Thrnrb rAA

o0uN ShoAS'
The Truitt divorce sensation had
reached and passed it's height.
One day. when the decree was
scarcely two weeks old, a man alighted
from an incoming express train. He
did not look like a roue or the villain
OF a famous scandal; he himself did
not know that he had been heralded
in such a role. His doctor would hardly
have recognized him. He was still
thin and the cane had not been dis
carded, but he was clear-eyed and
healthily bronzed and the limp was
far less noticeable thar at any time
since the accident.
Six months he had spent in the
northern wilderness, living in the open.
sleeping under the stars, with no COM
pany out his own thoughts and a taci-
turn half breed Indian. Blu they had
not been lonely months, nor did he
think them wasted. For they had
brought him to what he was pleased
to call a new birth.
The first news of the Truths sep
aration had evoked scant interest from
the gossips. But as the time set for
the trial approached it began to be
whispered about that more than the
usual stale story of domestic disagree
ment lay behind the affair. The whis-
per became an audible chorus. 1t was
a dull season in a year when no impor-
tant election impended, there was a
dearth of spicy news; the newspapers
avidly seized this chance to give flavor
to their columns. From some source,
which might nave been identified as
UDity's lawyer, reporters were fur
nished material for innumerable sug-
gestive rumors. Vague but deftly
worded ~innuendoes of Truths cruel
treatment Of his wife appeared, Of his
sly profiigacy, of the n strikingly
handsome woman who had captivated
his fancy and whom it was supposed
he would marry after the divorce.
From Truitt, who had completely dis
appeared, came nc denial. His flight
sion of guilt.
At the trial, to be sure, the testi-
mony was a distinct disappointment.
1t proved merely commonplace deser-
ton and touched but lightly on only
n short-lived period Of dissipation
during which Truitt, at certain mid
night suppers, had shared with other
men the more or less interesting COM
pany OF sundry nameless women. The
public, deprived OF the scandal for,
which its mouth had been watering,
decided that Mrs. Truitt had been
overly magnanimous in thus sparing
her husband and let its heated mag
nation supply the lacking details.
Truitt entered no defense and a decree
was quickly handed down. Mrs. Truitt
at once sailed for Europe.
He hailed a cab and gave the name
Of a club that to cabby brought Wis
ions of a liberal tip. In a few minutes
the destination was reached and the
| passenger descended to the pavement.
At that moment a woman, whom he
recognized as one of Unity's familiars.
approached. He lifted his hat and
bowed. She looked squarely at him
and passed on without greeting. Red
surged into his cheeks.
"Cut!" he muttered. q" suppose
Unity's given her version Of U
smash-up. Unity would"
He paid his fare and entered the
portals from which no rich man had
ever been excluded. At the desk q
well dressed and usually very polite
young clerk SO far forgot himself a.
to look his amazement.
"Mr. Truitt! supposed you were
out Of town. l thought" He stopped
In confusion. remembering that 1t was
no part OF his business to think.
Mark looked hard ut him. You
thought"
Il thought you were out OF vi
stammered the clerk.
II was. And now Tn back" Mark
answered dryly. $50 / think I'll AZ
range for rooms here indefinitely"
Nor was this al Of the city's greet
ing to the returned wanderer. The
rooms arranged for, he turned away
| from the desk, 70 come face to faes