Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-11-18
CHAPTER K.

May forced little laugh.
THAT child gets such queer notions
in her little head. l was trif1e eX-
cited about your homecoming; that was
all. It's the first time we've been sep
arated''
Eyes, and the last, let us hope" The
words were spoken with the emphasis
of lover.
We'll go next week then?" asked
May.
why, it's scarcely time. There'n be
some things to buy
I'VE can get almost everything we
need when we arrive"
''Still, there are always odds and
ends when you're breaking up house
keeping"
THAT won't take Tonga day or
two"
You'll need travelling dress
iii buy one ready made" said May.
Il know you've been looking already.
Doris said you were shopping yester-
day said Strickland.
SO Doris, thought May. has been tell
llo ucl dlIcduy oI'Luc VI tuC
things which she was directed not to
reveal How much more had the child
told? But May disclosed nothing of
her agitation to her husband as she re-
piled:
Yes; l was looking for travelling
dress, but | couldn't get anything to
suit me-.
Strickland rose from his chair and
went over to the table on which Doris
had deposited the travelling bag.
wait minute" he said. I've been
doing a little shopping myself" And
he took from the bag a package which
Ne handed to his wife.
For me?" said May
Yes
The gift pleased the woman, but in
her mind was still uppermost the de-
sire to get away from New York.
"Oh. Robert I'll be SO glad to get
away. I'll start packing tomorrow
Here entered into the lives Of Robert
and May Strickland and Of their child
Doris and of Joan and Gerald TraSk
and of their children and of Stanley
Glover and Of others person of whom
none of them knew up to that mo-
ment. He was humble instrument
of Providence, a man of loWly station.
He did not know that he was to play
a part in mighty tragedy. Yet bis
intervention. to play the part of the
fateS such as was assigned to those
mystic women by the ancient Greek
tragedians warped the courses OF the
earthly lives Of many persons. His
coming into the existences of the
Stricklands was announced by the
maid Bertha who entered and said:
There's a Mr.. Burke here to see
you, Mrs Strickland
Strickland turned to May:
who's Mr. Burke?'
why, | don't know"
Tell him to come in. Bertha" said
Strickland.
There entered into the room a man
of medium height, stockily built with
an honest, open countenance which
testified plainly to his Irish extraction.
He was dressed very obviously in his
Sunday suit" and he seemed not quite
at ease in the finery. But the coat
and trousers were dusty and bore Il
few cinders. telling the careful observ-
err that he had recently travelled in
railroad train. His first remark was
addressed to May.
Are you Mrs. Robert Strickland
num-
Yes"
Il don't like to bother you, num-
''Sit down, Mr.. Burke" said Strick-
land, indicating the sofa.
THANK you. sir. | found a purse
that belongs to you, mum, | think
If Strickland's face had been turned
at that moment toward his wife in
stead of to the stranger in his home.
he could not have failed to note the
agitation in her face and manner 1t
was with tremendous effort that she
Gained herself and said to her hus-
band:
Robert, dear, your dinner will be
ready now; you'd better go in before
it gets cold"
Il can wait few minutes" said
Robert.
perhaps Mr.. Burke will excuse you"
she persisted.
''I'll only take Il minute. num-" said
Burke. I've come all the way from
Long Branch
"Have you lost a purse. May?" ask
ed Strickland.
May tried to speak without concern
why. no: | don't think So
Are you sure. NUM- asked Burke.
Positive" she replied.
"Where did you find the purse. Mr.
Burke?' asked Strickland.
'On the platform Of a railroad sta
ton at Long Branch last night. I'm
the news agent there"
Long Branch? Then it can't be
yours, Maya said Strickland.
Certainly not. Mr.. Burke has evi-
IDENTITY made a mistake"
The woman's positive note brought
a questioning look to the face Of