Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-03-20
LETTERS
WERE A DEAD
ISSUE
By GERTRUDE SHERIDAN


Mrs. Page. village busy
body.
"Yes, and Clara Is the kind Of q
girl the clouds can't scare when they
come" added her practical husband.
4 envy young Erwin Dodge his good
and cheerful better half"
II hope he appreciates her. / hope,
too, all that reckless past Of his Is
dead and buried"
"Oh, Erwin Is a frst-class boy" In
sisted Mr.. Page, heartily. Love Of
drink was born In the lad. for his ia
Their was a hard one. Erwin had his
swing In that line pretty, patient Clara
won him away frueA 1t, and I believe
it's permanent"
Thus, and In other ways, all Cedar
Vile discussed the wedding that made
Clara Mercer and Erwin Dodge man
and wife. As to the principal contract
ing parties, all was sunshine and roses.
They had perfect faith one In the
other Their honeymoon passed with
out Jar. They came back to their
home town at the end Of two weeks.
buoyant, hopeful and happy.
II was arranged that they should re-
main at the Mercer home until little
cottage they had rented could be re-
decorated and painted. These were
cloudless days Clara was always
waiting for her husband at the door
when he returned from work. Erwin
was always straining his glance to
catch a first view Of her charming
face as he came down the street.
One evening as Clara went out upon
the porch, she drew back a little
startled as a stranger came up the
steps. His careless attire, the faint
Of liquor on his breath, the leering
expression of his bad, bold eyes re-
PEELED Clara and she shrank back over
the threshold, timid and half fright
ened.
II want to see Mr. Erwin Dodge"
spoke the man, gruffiy.
HE is not at home" replied Clara.
what is your business, II 1 may askT'
Instinctively she feared that the
fellow might be some reckless ac-
Quaintance Of the old dead days, and
her heart sank.
"rn tell him." was the insolent re-
Spouse, with a sort Of coarse chuckle.
He'll understand-you mightn't"
There was trace Of menace in the
tones that made Clara's pulses beat
more swiftly with a nameless appre-
hension. Just then she heard the
brisk. quick steps Of her husband COM
ing down the street walk, and said, i'm
pulsively:
There Is Mr.. Dodge, now"
"Ah, gOodl" smirked the unwelcome
visitor. 'Tll head him of and trans
act my business with him. 1t won't
take very longr
Clara stood where she was, in the
shadow OF the porch. A vague pre-
sentiment Of impending trouble over
Swallowed her. She had no thought Of
eavesdropping, but an indehnable
sense Of danger to her loved one held
her practically on guard.
The low hum Of voices came to her
hearing, then the words: published
love letters make interesting reading
There was an indignant response from
her husband. Then the mocking tones
Of the other: You'd better come
and bring the money with you"
Clara quieted her emotions as Err
vim came up the walk. She was smll-
Ing, caressing as ever as her husband
reached her.
"Oh, Erwin" she said quickly, there
was man here to see you few
minutes since"
"Yes, | just met him at the gate"
replied her husband. "a matter of
business"
During the evening meal the ever
watchful Clara noted an unaccustomed
restraint in Ervin's manner When
he went up to their room, however, he
kissed her more fondly than ever, as
he told her that he wished to get a
light overcoat and would be gone on
business call for about an hour.
Restless and anxious, Clara went up
TO their apartment after he had gone.
/ She noticed a drawer in which her
husband kept his private papers half
4 open. The cover Of the box In which
she knew he usually kept some ready
cash stood carelessly open and the
box was empty.
! Again her heart sank. She went
/ back down stairs and stole to a dark
corner Of the parlor away from her
| mother and the others. Her husband
/ held a secret from her and what little
she had seen on the surface concern.
ing It bewildered and alarmed her.
~ will not ask him. neverr she
4 breathed mo cloud OF distrust shall
/ come between us. took him on faith
I will believe in him TO the end"
She heard her husband come in and
hasten up the stairs. She awaited his
appearance in the parlor for nearly
half an hour, but he did not come
Then Clara went tremblngly, fearsome
y up the stairs.
Clara opened the door softly. Her
husband sat at table. He was alb.
sorbed In reading letter. Beside
lin there were half dozen Other
letters, His face was drawn and pale
"May come in. dear?" she asked
gently.
Erwin Dodge sprang TO his feet quick
ly. lie Included the letter in his hand
and those upon the table in a quick
grasp, sliding the mass into his pocket
Then. smiling with a tender gesture
he drew her TO his knee.
Looking over some papers," he said
II ToEoc T- D.