The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-01-25
WHO'S AHEAp7
sy MARION Z. LEIGHTON

lssi. ~ Mcclure Newspaper sysdissas.
Radiatins the perfect JOY Of .
happily married young woman, An
nette stepped noiselessly through the
open doorway and into the dark ball
with the ecstasy OF a successful shop
ping tour still animating her immacu-
late little person. Then she stopped
short. Howard, her adoring husband,
was talking unguardedly into the tele-
phone, blissfully unconscious Of her
presence.
"AI right" he said. you take Hester
and ri take Nollie. Same place Of
course-where we left 'em Tuesday
night. But It's absolutely the last
time, Fred---I don't want Ann to get
wise-think she's suspicious now. That
paint l got OF of Mollie's nose nearly
gave me away.
Annette was stunned for moment,
then righteous Indignation stiffened
her spine and drew her pretty mouth
into q straight, hard line.
1.-THE brutel The abominable hypo-
critic And with a woman like this
Mollie person who painted her nose
thought Annette.
After the dishes were washed
Howard advanced lame excuse-it
-apunded very lame, indeed, to Annette
land departed to keep his appoint
ment with Fred.
Two minutes later she burst into
Mrs. Fred's kitchen with her tragic
tale of broken faith.
"Oh, Beth. what do you think? How
rd-Fred-o-o-o-h !"-
Her voice broke-ended IN wall of
misery.
Beth turned to Annette a white face
from which the glow of happiness had
all departed. .~------a ---
81 know" she said with icy compos-
ure.
II stepped into Fred's Office this af-
ternoon." Beth told her; "he was talk
ing with Howard over the phone about
two girls-t0night ! heard Fred
acknowledgements fed"
Annette seized Beth's arm in
frantic grip.
"Come on, get your coat and hat and
we'll follow them and have 1t out, to-
night" Beth gasped Historically.
."where-where do you suppose they
went?" asked Annette, when they were
In the street.
II know" Beth replied tersely. "The
xver."
Behind clump Of bushes they
stopped at the sound Of voices and
gripped each other with warning
clasp.
Two glistening motor boats were
drawn up to the bank. Bending over
the engine Of one was Fred, while
Howard was fussing with the tiller
ropes Of the other.
Just then Howard stood up straight
and addressed his fellow culprit.
"Gracious, Fred-aren't they two
beauties?" he enthused.
"You bet they are" agreed Fred.
"Won't the girls be surprised?"
Beth gasped and clutched Annette's
arm in vise-like grip.
"Oh-the hypocrites !" she Kissed.
A puzzled look crept into Annette's
eyes.
"Why-I believe--they're talking
about us-and the boats" she whis-
pered.
Beth gasped again-this time with
Hnazement
N"Look! There on the side of Fred's
boat! Isn't that name"
"Why-its-Hester"
"And the other one"-both craning
their necks-"it's Mollie!"
u 81 think we owe them one for that"
Annette said. after time.
"All right-let's pay It," agreed Beth.
When Howard and Fred parted that
evening In front OF the latter's bunga-
low, il was all arranged for the sur
prise to be staged the following eve
ning-two brand new motor boats for
''the girls"
Howard ran whistling into his cozy
porch. stepped into the hall and
switched on the light. II struck him
that the house was strangely dark and
SILENT
He called loudly for Annette. No
answer.
A letter placed conspicuously on the
newell post caught his eye and he
picked 1t up.
With a sense of fOreboding. he tore
1t open and read:
"Your cruel faithlessness is break
ing my heart. ! have gone home to
mother. It is useless to follow me-
my lawyer will arrange Immediately
for divorce. ANNETTE"
Stunned, he leaned against the stair
case for support. unable to grasp the
meaning Of It.
Just then Fred burst into the hall
with like missive, waving II wildly In
front OF him.
Howard looked at his friends face
and passed hand YEARLY across a
troubled brow.
my heavens, yours tooY he
groaned.