The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-04-08
Her ACID TONGUE
BY John BEAUMONT.


what Miss Celeste has been hiltini
for the last ten minutes he cried
Celeste may have been unfortun
ate In her remarks. said John Noaile
soothingly. but she meant nothing 0
that sort"
i Vincent Chester laughed Eve
since Miss Celeste NoaiIes descende,
upon her brothers household at ths
death Of his wife, she had fought
Vincent He was boy then but even
then In love with Elyia and Mis-,
Celeste had higher ideas of matri
mony for her very attractive niece.
This evening the two had been ex
amining ring and somehow, none
knew how, IL had disappeared. They
had hunted all over for it. but 1t could
not be found and II was to be expect
ed that Miss Celeste's acid tongue
would but thinly veil her suspicious
thoughts
If Mr.. Chester's conscience is un,
easy" chuckled Miss Celeste. Il can
understand that he takes to himself
purely impersonal speeches"
Vincent turned to Mr.. Noailes "Will
you search me. sir?" he asked
Nonsense" cried his host. Celeste,
for henyen's sake keep still My boy.
no one believes that you would steal
anything except one thing
He patted Elyia's shoulder mean
ingly to explain his last sentence, and
thereby added fuel to Miss Celeste's
fame
= don't see why he should not be
searched" she fumed The ring was
here moment ago and now it is
gone"
You see.v said Vincent. Again
ask you to search me"
My boy, you were not a day old
when | first took you in my arms,
said Mr., Noailes. Il would as soon
accuse myself Of crime as to believe
It of you.1
Well if you won't" said Vincent
briskly IN have TO do it myself, |
guess
Rapidly he turned out the contents
OF his pockets, spreading them on the
table, John Noailes sprang forward as
though to stop him, but Elvia laid a
OBTAINING hand upon his shoulder.
1T is better so, she whispered 1T
is the only way to convince auntie.'
They stood silent until the things
had been returned to Chester's pock-
cts, then Mr. Noalles stepped for
ward
This should satisfy you, Celeste,
he said sternly 4 want to tell you
that If you ever raise the question
again shall not condone your second
offense"
Very well, said Miss Celeste with
shrug of her shoulders. Since
seem to be SO much in the way here
suppose that Mr.. Chester will per
nit me TO retire"
She swept grandly from the room,
leaving the three to face each other
uncomfortably All knew that Miss
Celeste was not satisfied, and were
fearful Of her next outbreak
Each tried to appear at ease, but |
INC plcdSuit VI lhD-NlSft " as SDHb anu
presently Chester made an excuse for
taking his departure. Elvia followed |
him to the door.
'Wil you drop in tomorrow eve
ning2' she asked I'VE shall proba-
bly, be able to tell you then where
we found the ring"
Il am afraid that cannot get |
around he said uncomfortaby. III
you find IT will you write?"
Won't you come over?" pleaded
Elvia but Vincent shook his head.
He had been shocked by the accusa-
ton, and not even the belief OF Elvla
and her father could salve his wound
ed feelings yet 1t seemed almost as
though he we're passing out of Elvia's
life
TIP in her room Miss Celeste was +
sitting at her writing table. while her
busy pen covered sheet after sheet of
note paper Not until she had written
4 dozen pages did she cease her work
md then going over to her bureau
she unlocked the upper drawer and
irew forth a gaudy title-page From
he inside OF this she clipped
coupon which she attached to the let
Ter before slipping it into an en-
relope.
A year before. while visiting the
,ity she had been tempted to visit
vaudeville iheater at which a man
md woman known as the X-Rays we're
:reating a sensation with some mind
eading accomplishments Always in
lined to the supernatural. she had
'een greatly impressed by the Rays
accomplishment and had slipped back
he next afternoon to purchase some
4 the books which gave her the right
o ask questions by mail.
Once or twice since then she had
onsulted the oracle and now she was
writing for advice ais to the where
bouts Of the ring, II was well ssi
er faith that she was not present at
he answering Of her question.
Two young men sat before a table
J a cheap theatrical boarding house
hen messenger entered with a
ackage of letters to add to the pile
n the table. One OF them caught
ne thick blue envelope up