Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-10-21

Strickland takes it pretty hard. On
fully fond Of her
While business vas being discussed
Mrs. Trtsk had sat silent. Now the
mention of another woman aroused
her-perhapS it was the thought OF Il
wOman'S possessing what had been de-
undivided affection of Il husband-and
she asked:
rs she Il nice woman?
Was it the firing rounds of golf.
the WEAKNESS induced by hours Of
travel or something else which made
Trask yawn before he replied to his
wife? Certain it was that the mention
Of another woman in itself would not
tire him. the man who combined keen
acumen in financial affairs with IL pur-
suit of pleasure that would have done
credit or discredit to a Roman Of the
days Of imperial decadence.
Couldn't say. Never met her. he
answered. Then he turned to Glover
saying:
You better put that $4,000 in tho
safe, Clover
why the cash?" asked the young
man.
Again the smile appeared on the lips
of Trask.
well, he said it had been so darn
ed hard for him to get it that he
wanted the pleasure of handing it to
me in ten $1,000 bills. Be sure to de-
post it in the morning.
Glover took the money and went to
the safe Mrs. Trask sat quietly. no.
ticing nothing. distracted by thoughts
Of 1.-The other woman" Trask sat at
the desk, stretching his limbs and
yawning. Neither saw that the money
was deposited securely in the inner
compartment of the safe. Glover turn
ed his head to ask. Shall l lock it.
sir?
yes" said Trask, and Glover rose
with the words "Anything else?'
81 don't think so. Oh. yes. Better
remind me to get that card from Strick-
land in the morning"
"All right" said Glover. III go to
my room now" He picked up Mrs.
Trask's account books from the table
and said to her. iii have these ready
for you in the morning Mrs. Trask'
She thanked him. and there were
three Good nights as he left the
room. When he had gone there was
brief silence, broken only by pro-
digious and discourteous yawn from
Trask. 1t was plainly to be seen that
between Gerald and Joan Trask there
was nothing Of the sweet confidence
and intimacy of married life which
make happy wedlock the nearest earth
ly approach to heaven. Long before
she had begun to bore him. Years be-
fore he had forfeited by infidelity and
Indifference the love she had once felt
for him. But it not was dead. 1t
needed but the spark of renewed af
lection, respect and truStwOrthineSs on
his part to bring it into full blaze.
Joan Trask was Il good woman. wife
Of whom any man might have been
proud. Even in physical attractions
she was not wanting, and strangers
seeing her decked in costly raiment
and jewels envied Gerald Trask his
consort. Her face told nothing of the
inroads which her husbands success
sion of Sights and insults. combined
with infidelities. had made on her
spirit.
For the sake of the children'-ob
potent justification Of how many pa
tent women.-she had borne with him.
But tonight-somehOw tonight was diff
ferent. Her soul was consumed by a
burning desire to know who "the other
woman" was. Not that it mattered
the latest of a long line. But Joan
Trask was insistent this time. He was
her lawful husband. and he must come
out into the open.
AS soon as Glover was out OF earshot
she turned to Trask.
Gerald. who is this woman" she
asked.
"Oh. what woman?" The words were
drawled out in a tome which might
have betokened WEAKNESS of either
body or spirit.
''The one who called up awhile ago"
Trask put his hands into his trousers
pockets and rose, stretching. Say,
aren't you done with that yet? l told
you I don't know he replied.
She persisted You do known