The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-04-09
A Bachelor
Husband
BY RUBY M. AYRES
Copyright 1874. by w. J. watt q CO,
CONTINUED From Yesterday

IL was approaching I o'clock be.
fore his eyes fell on tho little heap
OF letters on the smoking room table,
and from sheer rcstlessness he took
them up and opened them one by
one.
A biii--a motto from q man asking
him to play golf--s letter in Miss
Chestcr's writing. sent back from
Scotland. and note without a
stamp.
lilo was about TO throw the last
iistlessiy aside az OF no interest.
when he recognized Feathers writ.
ing.
Dear cnrts-I rans yru this morning,
but they said you we're cut. 90 I am writ.
ing aud sending this nets by hand. ss
sans you 10 set u as soon as t0u come
In. lou will know BY the time you re-
ccive this that your wife has left the
house. II you had not come 10 my rooms
last night and told me what you did.' God
only knows In what tragedy We might
have found ourselves This morning l
ava my best TO set things right. but I vss
too late. 80 am ~ritins this oots to you
You know the Yellow shssf on the Oxford
road near s0mersen tockt 10 you will
Be there IN. evening at E,se you will
f,nd Mr.. fawiess I know this 10 tho
end OF eur friendship, and thru my fault.
My only excuse 10 that thought 1 was
. strong man. es, perhaps We are all
weak when u esmss 10 the test
Feathera
Chris never knew what happened
during the next hour. He only came
TO himself again as he was driving
like a mailman thru tho darkening
night. the cool breeze singing his
face.
Twice he took the wrong road. and
had to turn hack. cursing and pray.
ing. and almost sobbins In his fear.
IL Was then that he heard steps
running up tho road toward him.
and a mans voice calling thru the
mis-, and darkness.
Ito started tho car again impa
tientiy. but as he did 80 mans
figure came out OF tho gloom into
the uncertain ltght OF his lamps.
There's a car in the river
For Gods sake. sir. come. It's a mile
from the lock and not a soul nearer
Lost tho road In this mist they must
have done" lie read refusal In
Chris face. and no broke out again
passionateiy. "oh. for Gods sake.
sirl There's a woman In It's
Chris hesitatod no longer. lie
caught up a strap which lay a, the
bottom OF tho car and. dragging a
lamp from its hook. ran back along
the road with the man.
They were at the waters edE~
now and holding tn. lamp low down.
they could SEQ the wheel tracks thru
tho damp. short grass on the bank
and the broken rushes where the car
had taken lts plunge.
The river was deep there. but II
II had been half the depth IN. danger
would have been almost as great. for
Chris knew that the car would. In
all probability. have turned over had
Il been going even at q moderate
speed lie flung off his coat and.
making a cup Of his hands. shouted
into the darkness:
"Huilo, Hullo-'
Chris caught up the strap. TIE
fastened one end round his walls, and
gave the other to tho man, who
stood shaking and helpless beside
him:
'Herci Talks this. and DON'T let 4,
60, I'm going inf''
He took the plunge thru the dark.
ness biindiy.
He CROPPED around Desperately.
cursing tho darkness. and his fingers
caught In tho soft silkiness Of a
wosnan's hair.
Twisting II anyhow about his
wrist and arm 10 she could not slip
from him. he turned for the bank
again. guided by the strap which
stiii held.
There were several figures there
now. and a lantern flashed . bright
light into his face as willing hands
dragged him ashore with his burden.
Someone came 10 his help. but he
waved him away.
I'm all rixht---there's another out
therc---a man. I think"
Presently he struggled 10 his feet
Tho mist seemed to have risen q ut.
tie. and above II . pale moon cleaned
family down on the silen, river.
A group Of men were bending over
the figure OF girl lying on the bank
the girl he had pulled from the
water. Chris supposed. Then he gave
great cry OF agony and fell on his
knees beside her. ciutching her limp
body with desperate hands. for the
girl was his, own wife---Marie Celeste.