The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1914-06-12

Just got into the auto and waited for
his wife to Join him there.
Minna knew the fellow instantly.
He put his hand on her arm. "Minna
don't you know me?" he asked.
Hush" she answered swiftly y
THAT is my husband. Don't let him
see you talking to me-
Jaw, say!" burst out Emmett i'm
petuously, that fat man isn't your
husband. I'm your husband. Who is
he-millionaire or duke?"
Il can't see you now" whispered
Minna in agitation.
When, them" he asked DULY.
Sunday afternoon" She gave him
her address quickly. Then she went
on. And Emmett, though he was :
scowling, had to remain content.
The memory of her, the reflection
that he had lost her through his own
GROWING folly, burned in his brain.
But he meant to win her again-this
divine woman who had given herself
to him, whose life he had wrecked,
How easy it would be, he thought, to
feign repentance, to tell her he had
sought her. His mind was busy
during the next three days.
Minna had not said a word to Pop"
Why? Well, l think there is an in
stinct in the best women to want to
test their husbands. | mean that all
the advantages of the union, in this
case, were on Kupfel's side. Minna
had money, beauty, youth, and health,
and he was only a bald and fat old
Dutchman who had once been kind to
her when she was in distress. He
had picked her up out of the gutter.
And he was her husband. There was
something to balance against what
she contributed to the marriage, but
it was not so much. Perhaps Minna
wanted to show her husband what she
had given up for him. And perhaps
she wanted to see how the two men
would act. But l am sure she had no
intention of being false to Pop"
-IlAAllH lNAutuLAy DdQ 6uE5L5 VI
Sunday afternoons, and Pop" who
shone mainly in more copvivial So
ciety, always retired on such occa-
siOns to the kitchen, where, with his
pipe and a bottle of beer, he would
sit in his shirtsleeves, his feet upon
the table, reading ~"F1iegende Blaet-
ter and laughing as heartily over the
jokes as though he had never heard
a joke before. On this occasion he
withdrew as soon as the visitor was
announced. Minna had taken care
that he should not hear the name
and she had left the connecting door
open.
Emmett came ia and took a chair
beside her.
well, Minna," he said, II never
thought to meet you like this, after
our parting. Mtnna, l want to tell
you how hard I tried to find you again
I have been madly in love with you
ever since"
Minna heard that the rustling Of the
newspaper had stopped. She wondered
what Pop" was going TO do. He mus
have heard. You see, she had never
wholly understood Pop"
who is that fat fellow you've takeT
up with?" asked Emmett "Shucks,
Thought you had better sense, Minns
Wen, / suppose you'll shake him and
resume the old partnership with me
won't you?"
There was a noise OF heavy pacing
boots In the Kitchen, but Emmett eyi
IDENTITY thought they were in another
apartment, for he paid no attention
He put his arm round the dancer.
I'm going to take you back. MIN
ma" he saiE. And this time it's go,
ing to last longer" he added.
Pop! Pop!" called Minna. Bring
Wilhelm in here to show him to Mr.
Emmett, VIII you?"
Pop" Kupfel came out of the kiteh.
en- and into the parlor. He was in his
, shtrtsleeves, and in his arms he car,
ried a red-faced duplicate Of himself
about a gear old, and he stood al
Minna's side like a fat old soldier.
This is my son, Mr.. Emmett" said
: Minna. And this is my husband.
s You see, now, there are important rea-
sons why I should not resume the old
partnership as you phrased it, with
Q you, aren't there?"
i Emmett rose up and his face grew
purple. And that was the critical mo
! ment. Perhaps Minna, good woman
though she was, had at times found
Pop" a little trying and thought re-
~gretfully Of how much better she
could have done IL she had not mar
ried him. If Pop" had lost his dig
t nifty, now, he would in a way have
been found wanting.
; But, as Emmett stood there, scowl-
! ing and sneering, and breathing heav.
lily, Pop" put down the baby and
waddled solemnly up to him.
TIM sorry my wife can't go mid you
to live" he said thickly. Won't you
' dake Elm glass beer before you go, Mr..
b Emmett"