The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-04-10
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
l Counterfeit Husband.
Ry5A. LOUIS RAYsoLp.
Copyright, 1890, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.l

Newspaper Syndicale.l
* OBJ ANDERSON, owner of the
Anderson Studio Apartments,
- gazed at the caller in his office
In CONSERVATION. Her information hac
been wholly unexpected.
$50, Miss knthony," he said al
length, you are really going away.
Isn't there any chance at all tDt you
may reconsider"
Helen Anthony threw him a 1eeting
glance. She had lived in the apart
ments for nearly two years and had
grown to like the gray-eyed man with
the lazy drawl who now sat locking
at her with such evident dismay
And he had shown every sign CT en-
jcyslk the friendship she had given
hitn, her occasional companionship at
the theatre, an infreqaeLt invitation
to5tea in her studio. She wondered II
he had said the right word in time he
might have kept her in the city. Well
It was too late now.
NO. she said, II am really going
home. j haven't exactly failed; but.
on the other hand, my success hasn't
amounted to enough TO justify my re-
naming here. My mother is not well
and las considerable 20 worry her.
My place for the present is back
hone
II say Hel-Miss Anthony" said
Anderson earnestly, 81 can't begin to
Won't you give fortune one moro
chance?.
He was surprised at the vehemence
of his feelings. A confirmed bache-
Tor, so he imagined himself, at the
age Of thirty-five, he had lively ap-
probation Of the easy-going freedom
he would be giving up IL he asked this
girl TO marry him and she said yes.
And YET
His thoughts were interrupted
no, she replied quite definitely, 81
am going"
That night Bob could not get to
sleep. His inclinations were drawing
him In two opposite directions. He got
up, lighted cigarette, and stood by
the window, meditating. His glance
wandered idly across the court to tho
ell of the building in which was the
studio Of the girl he did-and didn't
want to marry.
AID, startled violently out Of his
musings, he saw man who had
climbed the fire escape, disappearing
into Helen's window.
"A burglar!" He threw his dressing
gown about him, took his revolver
from the drawer, and hastened to her
aid. AS he reached her door, he caught
voices raised In alteration within.
No, no, girl! Don't do it, tell you.
ii = %
Bob seized the handle of the door.
Helen" he cried, ''if you can, open
the doori"
Came from within mans angry
curse. Then followed swift steps and
pale-faced woman flung the door
wide. What do you mean by trying
TO enter my room at this time of night,
1r Anderson" she cried.
OBJ was altogether taken aback.
I-I-" he stammered. 81 saw
stly," she said cuttingly, my
say it Nell," came the mans
m within.
isband," she concluded weak
lied as If he had been struck.
beg your pardon" he said and
IN his heel.
ours he paced his room, trying
ganize his shattered outlook on
for now that Helen Anthony
irreyocably another's, 1t had
Come to him how deeply he loved her.
Why bad she deceived him?
Three days later, Helen, white and
weary-eyed, stopped him in the hall .
u am staying week longer than I
expected she informed him coldly.
Here Is the difference in rent"
Bob took the crisp, new bills she
held out to him without comment,
making no effort to detain her as she
walked quickly away. But when he
came to deposit the money IN the
bank he met with surprise. "Coun.
terfeit, declared the teller with calm
certainty and stamped It full OF tri.
angular holes.
At the words man stepped quickly
forward to Bob's side. Counterfeit"
he said.
Yes, said the teller, at is, but /
can youch for Mr.. Anderson
There's a gang working the city.
but we're after them and sooner or
later viii put them where they belong.
From whom did you get this?" The
man seemed very certain of himself
and Bob concluded he was treasury
agent.
Bob hesitated, Then ,"No," he said
shortly I've had a lot OF money com.
Ing in from various sources in the last
few days and I cannot place this"
We'll, It's your loss" said the other
cheerfuliy.
my loss It IS" said Bob and went
put The loss Of couple of five dol.
lars bills meant nothing, but when It
came to losing faith in the one wo.
man he would have said was pure gold
that hurt.
The setting sun was turning to
points Of fire the myriad windows of
The city's buildings as Bob reached the
Apartments. In the gathering twilight
Of the room he at first scarcely saw
the slender figure leaning back in
his deep cushioned chair Then, 'Hel.
en!" he cried, and. forgetful that he
u ~ 4. III