Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-11-15
Margaret Carrots
Husband
AN AaoNIz1NG EXPERIENCE.
CHAPTER LVIII.
By JANE PHELPS
X X X X \ i: X X X X X X

CHAPTER LVIII.
l looked at mother in amazement; !;
scarcely comprehending her question
anent Bob. Surely 1 had not heard
arightl
"You look very tired, dear,'' she said
after a moment. 81 was afraid the trip
would be too much for you Is Robert
coming right up2"
81 Ism t he here7" asked as mother
laid the baby dow annd helped me re-
move my hat.
"Why mol didn t he come back with
youg" she asked, her expression one
of surprise.
'fHe had left when 1 arrived - said
as | returned her kiss, the clerk said
he left the hotel about the time L start
ed. He should be at home now," and
the tears / ad tried to hold back all the
way home fell freely.
"There, there, Margaret, everything
will be all right. He probably had some
business to attend to and so did not
come directly home"
Has he wired again9" asked, pay
ing no attention to mother attempt to
comfort.
"No, we have heard nothing since the
message he sent the day you left"
mother replied, then "come and let me
fix you something to eat."
81 couldn't eat bitel' l declared
just as the door bell rang.
" A telegram, ma 'am," Della said as
she opened the door, then stood in open
mouthed surprise to see me with mother.
81 didn't know you was at home
ma am, +" she added, as 1 almost tore
the telegram from her outstretched
hand.
"Home tomorrow Bob" / read, then
dropped weakly into chair and allow
cd mother to sign the messenger slip.
~ told you it was all right, moth
er said after Della left the room, II am
only sorry you had that long hard trip
for nothing.'
Just then Donald cried. He had heard
my voice and wanted me to take him
up, so l was saved the necessity of re-
plying to mother / eudled him in my
arms while l reread the message. Won
deringly / noticed that it was sent from
some place of which j had not heard. /
spoke about it TO mother and she said
it was suburb of Chicago, and that no
doubt he had been obliged to go there
on business, and had seen no need to
notify the hotel.
It was very late and after a hot cup
of tea l started for bed. / was not quite
undressed when the bell rang again. !
slipped on a bath robe and opened the
door to another messenger. / trembled
so could scarcely read the yellow slip:
seUnavoidably detained again. Home
a day later Bob. "
What could have detained hims slept
very little in spite of my weariness-
speculated upon the business that had
taken Bob to the place from which
both messages had been sent. could
nothing he had told me which
would necessitate his presence anywhere
save in Chicago.
Once the thought of another woman
came to me as lay wide awake in the
but / dismissed it as ridieul-
ous. Bob loved me. 1t was, as mother
had suggested, some business of which
/ knew nothing that had so delayed him.
should / tell him had followed him
to Chicago ealy 20 meet with disaps
pointment. or should I caution mother
and Della not TO speak of my absences
The money l had used for my expenses
was money Bob had given me for
new winter suit; but as after he had
given me money he never again men,
TONED il to me, knew I was safe from
questions from him. That I would do
such thing never would enter his
mind. But / had not decided what to
do in the matter wnen finally fell
asleep.
In the morning I showed mother his
second message She had remained all
night, but had come 70 the breakfast
table dressed to retarn home TO father.
he viii be home tomorrow night,
then, sac commented as sAe read.