Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1916-10-06

He said nothing-he did nothing
that could give her cause for anger
or for reproof. Yet always he wove
about her subtle web of attentions
that was daily becoming stronger and
less easy to escape from.
Vaguely she felt this But she could
do nothing until some overt word or
deed should bring the man within
reach of her scorn.
AS for writing word of all this to
Tom she was far too sensible to do
such a fatal thing. She knew his
jealousy and that a mere hint was
enough to fan it into murderous flame.
So sorely puzzled as to what she
ought to do, she kept her own counsel
and waited.
tits that chuckle-headed husband
of hers who keeps us apart" Legrand
once told his chum, the manager, IF
/ could get him to give her up she'd
marry me in a minute. / know she
would. l don't believe she loves him."
The tour was nearing an end. On
the morning after the first concert in
Boston, Legrand sent for Laura and
the contralto to come to his suite of
rooms in the hotel at which the COM
pany was staying. He wished, he said,
to go over new songs with each of
them.
did you see the papers?" he asked
them as they came into his sitting
room. They've given us the best
notices we've had yet. At this rate
| we'll carry New York by storm. AS
usual, Mrs. Price, the critics are crazy
over your singing. And by the way,
would you care to glance over these
press notices for the New York en-
gagement while Mrs. Mcdonald and
run over this encore song Of hers?"
In remarkably short time the con-
tralto had sung the encore song to the
composer-accompan satisfaction.
Pleading shopping appointment she
went out, leaving Legrand and Laura
together.
AS soon as the contralto had gone
Legrand arranged a sheet of manu-
script music on the piano.
Its a f1orid, melodramatic thing"
he told her. 81 call it the Dagger
Song I picked up a queer old dirk
at curio shop the other day. And it
suddenly occurred to me that, though
there are dozens of Sword Songs no
one ever wrote Dagger Song So
I wrote this. Here" picking up an
antique knife from the table, "is the
dagger that inspired it,
He handed her the weapon. She
looked shudderingly at it's rusty blade.
81 like to think those dark stains
on the hilt are of blood" he said.
UGH" she shivered, dropping the
dagger on the piano top and rubbing
her fingers with her handkerchief.
She tossed the handkerchief down
on the piano, and bent over to read
the music. as Legrand began to play
the prelude.
After time she departed to her
own rooms, taking the song with her.
She had not been gone two minutes
when the outer door of Legrand's
sitting room was flung violently open.
Tom Price stood on the threshold.
Where is my wife," he demanded,
without other form of greeting, his
angry eyes searching the sitting room.
cat the office desk they said she
wasn't in her rooms. / met your man
ager in the lobby. He told me l would
probably find her in your suite"
"She just stepped out" answered
Legrand, sudden idea flashing into
his mind "But if you care to wait,
she'll be back again in a few min
utes."
"You seem pretty sure of it," said
Tom, pugnaciously.
why shouldn't be?" was the care
less rejoinder, 81 ought to be by this
time"
A false note in the elaborate care
lessness caught Toms attention,
though he only in part translated it.
81 don't believe you," he declared,
II don't believe my wife comes to
your suite at all. I believe you're ly-
ing. +"
when I talk to a drunkard or
crazy man." scoffed Legrand, II don't
resent things he says. But, II you
want my proof" his insolent gaze
roved over the room, that's handker-
chief of hers lying on the piano yon-
der"
Tom swooped down upon the hand
kerchief, shaking it out and holding 1t
to the light. In one corner it bore
Laura's familiar monogram. The hus-
band let it fiutter to the floor. His
head sank on his breast. All at once
the youth and hope and energy
seemed to be stricken from him.
what are you doing here anyway"
asked Legrand, well pleased with the
impression he had created. "She told
me you were still too lame to walk"
''The doctor told me my leg was
sound again three days ago." said
Tom, '1 didn't write her about it. /
ran on here instead to surprise her.
She"
It'll surprise her." assented Lee
grand with sneering grin, though
maybe not quite in the way you were