Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-01-04


"Then shall take tho train to moth
err. and youll 60 home, and I'll never,
never see or speak to John again az
long as live"
Jim reflected. ITS q sort Of low
game to play" he solIloquized. Lily.
dear, are you dead sure you've got
John correctly? You know he isn't
much Of a hand to show his feelings,
but he's got 'em. all right"
81 know he doesn't care for me, and
I'm going to show him that he's lost
me-"
GAN right" said Jim finally. "Now
about the details. John gets back
about
"Half-past Ave-"
Suppose we start at FIVE. then, and
wait at the station till seven. That will
give him time to catch us. Say In
your letter that we are leaving on
the sik-thirty for-where do you say3'
"san Francisco" gulped Lillian.
"That's good enough. And l guess
you'd better have a real trunkful Of
clothes, In case he doesn't come and
you have to go to your mother"
Jim went away. leaving LILLIAN In
a flood of tears. Outside the house he
stopped and shook his head regret
fully.
At half-past five John arrived home
with box of fresh candy, to find Lii
liam gone. He read the letter upon the
table. She was gone with the man
who had always loved her, she said,
and she had made the biggest mistake
in life in marrying John. The train
for San Francisco left at six-thirty, and
he needn't try to find where she had
gone, because he would never See her
again.
John put the letter down calmly and
looked at his watch. Then he tool;
down the railroad guide. There was
no train for San Francisco ut six-thirty.
John washed and did his hair, put
on clean collar, selected his favorite
walking stick, and went into the stree,
and took a car to the station.
At six O'Clock Lillian paced the plat
form beside Jim in anguish. What
would John do? She was beginning to
grow afraid. She had never seen
John angry, except once, when he
kicked an impudent plumber out Of
the house. He had seemed terrible
then. What would he do? There might
be murder.
She went up to Jim. 81 think you
had better 60" she said. "You aren't
really necessary, you know. John
won't know who the man was for sure
If you stay here he may shoot you"
Jim looked scared. "You think So
Lillian?" he asked in a hollow voice.
at would be terrible" said Lillian
sobbing.
~ have a bunch John won't come
said Jim.
"What do you meanf"
HE must have got your letter al
hour ago. almost. It's twenty-five pas
six. / am sure he isn't coming. Prob
ably he Is glad to be free"
"Jiml"
"And you're happyt to be rid of him
continued Jim. Hes a worthless
scamp. Lily, dear, suppose we con
vert that program into reality"
"Jim, have you lost your senses"
mo, I've just found them. dear. I've
always loved you. Let us really go Il
San Francisco. dearest, and be happy
the rest of our lives"
"How dare you insult mel" cried
Lillian furiously. "And how dare yoJ
insult my husband7 oh. you traitor
never dreamed you were so wicked
Leave me at once. Oh. John. John, VIII!
don't you come to mel"
She turned away from Jim. who hest
tated, and then, with hopeless expires
sion on his face. went up to her.
"Tll go, then, Lilly" he said. "Bu
say you forgive me. II was your beaut!
fascinated me and threw me Off my bal
ance. Let me take you home"
There's John I" cried Lillian aghast
1t was John, strolliny amiably along
the platform. He nodded nonchalant
ly to Jim. and raised his hat TO hi
wife.
"Just in time, dear" he said. "Wha
a joke to play on your poor old hus
band! I'm grateful 20 you, NOR
grateful than 1 can tell, Jim, for find
ing ler."
az wasn't a joke" cried Lily. "Anl
Jim Lldn't find me. Jim was coming
with me-"
John smiled. swell, he's coming
back" ne said. "Do you think yol
can make a nice Welsh rabbit for sup
per. Lily2 Jim loves 'em-don't you
Jlm?"
Lily. In despair. suffered her hus
band to take her by the arm, and sooI
the three were comfortably enseonce'
In taxi. At the door, however, jim
turned away.
Il guess l won't come in tonight, oil
man." he said.
And. as John turned toward him: "
guess it'll be all right now, won't II?
John gripped his hand. "You wer'