The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1920-07-08
A SLIGHT
MISTAKE
By sAIDEE E. BALcoM.

- nj
''You are temperamental," profound.
ly announced Prof. Erastus Vandelier
to Ronald Dempster.
What does that mean?' inquired
the latter, and he winked at his
friend, Don Parker, who had induced
him to expend dollar to get the cru
dite bump expert to cast his horoscope,
so to speak
"You are prone TO jump at concln-
sions."
you've hit It right, professor" ac-
knowledged Ronald buoyantly. "And
why not? Have missed 1t? Got mar.
ried on an impulse. and what treas
ure I've won! Changed my business
over night and drifted straight into the
current of success"
"you are also quick-tempered," con-
tinued Professor Vandelier
"But sunshiny. and come up smiling
the next minute"
"And you are disposed to be jeal-
GUS"
At this Ronald fairly hooted.
"What's that? Say 1t again Don do
you hear? Me, jealous! Why. man,
could only he so of my wife, who loves
me to distraction and is as near an
angel as superior human being can
be"
The imputation dwelt with sangIine
Ronald Dempster after that. He ex-
praosa1 hip,caf ,voI,,bl.y rn fho ,,,ottar
rs he and his friend left the sanctum
of the hump reader. Ronald told his
wife OF the circumstance and together
they laughed over it.
''The idea,'' resented Edith, and
wanted TO visit the professor and give
hinA a piece of her mind. why. Ron
Md" she cried, "you are just perfect !"
1t was two days after that when a
friend, meeting Ronald on the street,
passed the time Of day with him and
made the remark:
II saw Mrs. Dempster out for an
airing over ut the park" he observed.
"How well she looks. And that hand
some man with her! Some visiting
relative. supposef"
"Wife- handsome man--reiative?"
repeated Ronald. Are you sure ii was
my wife?''
Didn't see her face. but couldn't
mistake that chic blue hat she wears,
and the coat to match aud the fur col
lar"
Nonsense |" CALCULATED Ronald, a
..A: n ytn w
ing himself, Il suppose more than one
woman in the world wears that same
outfit. As to relatives. handsome or
homely, we have none nearer than
Chicago"
"rhat so? My mistake. So long"
Ronald was restless and uneasy all
that afternoon. He arrived mt home
half. an hour earlier than usual, to be
greeted with delight from Edith on ac-
count of that welcome circumstance.
Been out today, Edith?" was his
first question.
Dear me. no, with my sore throat.
Although It's little better this eye-
ming. Besides, this is the maids day
off. you know.
Ronald was satisfied and relieved.
But as he left the house that day
TO week the fierce fire of a terrible
fear drove him forth with a tOrturing
idea. In the upper hall he had picked
up n half-written sheet of paper. 1t
bore In pencil some lines Enthusiastically
in Edith's perfect handwriting. 1t
read:
because | really believe you love
me as you say you do | Will meet you
in Forest park. south end, at two
O'Clock Thursday afternoon"
Heavens, Horrors! A demon of
frantic bIoodthirstiness seemed tug.
ging MT the wildly beating heart of
Ronald Dempster. His own wife's
handwriting! The same park where
his friend had. seen Mrs. Dempster!
How he withheld himself from return
ing to the house and giving expression
TO his agony before her he could not
anaiyze He passed a wretched fore
noon. Long before two o'clock he was
at Forest park--at the south end.
From a clump of bushes affording q
clear view OF the various paths he
peered and fumed and fretted.
AT last !" he holted forth, and his
eyes glared and he clenched his hands
and his face grew red and furious.
A man, aud handsome one. Occu-
pied bench not thirty feet away from
the spot where Ronald stood. Beside
him was seated--oh who could 1t be
hut Edith?
Ronald had been smoking furiously
to calm his perturbed nerves. He
puffed wildly as he stole up to the
couple on the bench. Within two feet
OF the pair. he removed the cigar from
between his lips Squarely. crusLiryly.
he jabbed II against the hand Of the
handsome man.
With wild howl of raga and pain,
the latter sprang 70 his feet. He inn
mediately discovered his assailant and
he started TO make a wild rush. tor
tured with the agony OF the burn. Just
then his companion turned. Ronald
fell hack with q gasp.
.Martha--the maidr' he uttered In