News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-10-11

OuA llltO lllc ullcy. we IL SeL
taxi before this mob"
But, look here-whaG business'v
you got mixing in?"
l. ASK hliss Law" said Whitaker
shortly. 1t had been on the tip of hi
r tongue to tell the man fatty: "I'm h
: husband" But he retained wit enoug
t to deny himself the satisfaction of thi
: shattering rejoinder. Il know her, h
added; that's enough for the pres
} ent."
At the entrance to the alley Ma.
paused to listen to the uproar within
| his well-beloved theater.
. I'D give five thousand gold dollars
, If hadn't met you this afternoon ?
} he groaned. 81 always knew that WON
an was a Jonah ~
you were calling her your MASCOT
! two hours ago."
She'll be the death of me, yet" the
little man insisted gloomily. He
stopped short jerking his arm free
Look here, I'm not going. I've got my
work cut out for me back there"-with
jerk of his head toward the theater.
Whitaker hesitated, then without re.
greet decided to lose him. 1t would be
as well to get over the impending in.
terview without q third factor.
VERY WELL" he said reckoning a
taxicab in to the curb. "Whats the
addressY
Max gave it sullenly.
$50 long" he added morosely as
| Whitaker opened the cab door sorry
/ ever laid eyes on you"
= Whitaker settled back in the cab
and, oblivious to the lights of Broad
way streaming past, tried to think. 1t
suddenly presented itself to his reason,
With shocking force, that his attitude
must be humblysand wholly apologize.
1t was a singular case: he had come
home to find his wife on the point of
marrying another mainland she was
the one entitled to feel aggrieved!
Strange twist of the eternal triangle!
Tar too soon the machine swerved
into Fifty-seventh street, slipped half
way down the block, described wide
arc to the northern curb and pulled
up, trembling, before modest modern
residence between Sixth and Seventh |
avenues.
Reluctantly Whitaker got out and. |
on suspicion, told the chauffeur to |
wait. Then, with all the alacrity of |
a condemned man ascending the scat |
fold, he ran up the steps to the front |
door.
A man-servant answered his ring
without undue delay.
Was Miss Law at home? He would |
see.
This indicated that she was at home.
Whitaker rendered card with his sur
name penciled after that of Mr.. Hugh
Morten in engraved script.
He stared round him with pardon
able wonder. If this were truly the
home of Mary Ladishs Whitaker-her
property-he had builded far better.
than he could possibly have foreseen
with that investment of five hundred
dollars six years since. Soft, shaded
lights, rare furnishings, the rich yet
delicate atmosphere of exquisite taste,
the hush and orderly perfection of a
home made and maintained with con,
summate art these furnished him with
dim, provoking intimations of an indi-
to which he was stranger
less than a stranger-nothing. -,
Almost Immediately he became
aware of feminine footsteps on the
staircase-there entered to him lady
well past middle age, with the dignity
and poise consistent with her years, her
manifest breeding and her iron-gray
hair.
'Mr. Whitaker"
He bowed.
Il am Mrs. Secretan, friend of
Miss Laws. She has asked me to say
that she begs to be excused, at least
for tonight. And am further instruct
ed to ask if you will be good enough
to leave your address,"
Certainly: I'm stopping at the Ritz
Carlton but"-he demurred-"I should
like TO leave a note, if 1 may-?"
Mrs. Secretan nodded an assent.
"You will find materials in the desk
there" she added, indicating an es-
critoire.
Thanking her, Whitaker sat down,
and, after some hesitation, wrote a few
lines:
Please don't think mean to cause you
the slightest inconvenience or distress. | ,
shall be glad to further your wishes in
any way you may care to designate.
Please believe in my sincere regret
Signing and folding this, he rose and
delivered it to Mrs. Secretan.
He found himself in the street. with
his trouble for all reward for his pains. ,
He wondered what to do, where to go, !
next. The driver of the taxicab was
holding the door for him, head bent to ,
catch the address of the next stop. But
his fare fingered still in doubt. 1
Dimly he became aware of the vio-
ent Rawlings of brace of news VEN |
Tors who were ramping through the I
street, one on either sidewalk. At the ,
spur of a vague wonder if the papers !
we're already nOising abroad the news