River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1917-01-11

| by accident and recognized it as that
Of lady who had been named to her
| at the last Arts ball"
"Ah," said Debnam, ives, 1 see, at the
/ Arts ball, inspector. This is a mystic
rious and very CHASTITY CASE
"It is indeed, sir" agreed Dunbar.
! "Can you throw any light upon the
| presence of Mrs. Vernon at Mr.. Le-
roux's fat on the very night of her
husbands death?'
/ II can and l cannot" answered the
! solicitor, leaning back in the chair and
again adjusting his pince nez, in the
manner of man having important
matters = and gloomy, very gloomy.
matters-to communicate.
"GOod!' said the inspector and pre-.
pared to listen.
you see," continued Debnam, 1.-THE
late Mrs. Vernon was not actually re-
siding with her husband at the date of
his death"
"IndoodP'
"Ostensibly"-the solicitor shook a
lean forefnger at his vis-a-vis-"os
tensibly, inspector, she was visiting
ler sister III ScOClanQ.
Inspector Dunbar sat up very
straight, his broWs. drawn down over
the tawny eyes.
These visits were of frequent oc-
currence and usually of about a weeks
duration. Mr.. Vernon, my late client,
q man-I'll not deny it-of inconstant
affections Uou understand me, inspec-
tor0. did not greatly concern himself
with his wife's movements. She be-
Ionged to smart bohemian set, and
to use a popular figure of speech
burnt the candle at both ends-late
dances, night clubs, bridge parties and
other feverish pursuits, possibly taken
up as a result of the-shall | say cool
ing?-of her husbands affections"
There was another woman in the
case?"
Il fear so, inspector. In fact, am
sure of it. But to return to Mrs. Yer
non. My client provided her with am
pie funds, and l myself have express
cd to him establishment respecting her
expenditures in Scotland. under
stand that her sister was in compare
lively poor circumstances, and l went
so far as to point out to Mr.. Vernon
that f100 was-shall l say an exces-
sive?-outlay upon weeks sojOurn in
Auchterander, Perth"
"a hundred pounds!'
"One hundred pounds!'
WAS it queried by Mr.. Vermont"
mot at ALL"
"Was Mr. Vernon personally ac-
quainted with this sister in Perth?
HE was not, inspector. Mrs. Yer
non at the time of her marriage did
not enjoy that social status to which
my late client elevated her. For many
years she held no open communication
with any member Of her family, but
latterIy, as | have explained, she ac-
CURED the habit of recuperating-re-
cuperating from the effects Of her
febrie pleasures-at this obscure place
in Scotland. And Mr.. Vernon. his in
terest in her movements having con
sidera bly-shall say abated: -offered
no objection, even suffered 1t gladly.
counting the cost but little against
"Freedom?" suggested Dunbar. scrib-
bling in his notebook.
Rather crudely expressed. perhaps
said the solicitor. peering over the top
of his glasses, "but you have the idea.
/ come now to my clients awakening.
Four days ago he learned the truth;
re learned that he was being de
ceived!'
"Deceivedr
Mrs. Vernon. thoroughly exhausted
With irregular living, announced that
she was about to resort once more to
the healing breezes Of the heather
land" Mr.. Debnam was thoroughly
warming to his discourse and thor
oughly enjoying his own dusty phrases.
'Interrupting you for moment, said
the inspector, "at what intervals did
these visits take placer"
cat remarkably regular intervals, In
spector. something like six times a
year."
"How long had Mrs. Vernon made
custom of these visits?"
"Roughly, for two years"
THANK you. Will you go on, sir?"
"She requested Mr.. Vernon then, on
the last occasion. to give her check
for ESQ, and this be did unquestioning-
~. On Thursday. the I'd of Septem-
Der, she left for Scotland"
did she take her maid?"
Her maid always received holiday
on these occasions. Mrs. Vernon wired
her respecting the date of her return"
did any one actually see her OFF,"
mo; not that ! am aware of, in
spector."
ITO put the whole thing quite blunt
ly, Mr.. Debnam," said Dunbar, fixing
his tawny eyes upon the solicitor, "Mr.
Vernon was thoroughly glad to get rid
Of her for q week?"