Kawartha Lakes Public Library Digital Archive

Fenelon Falls Gazette, 29 Mar 1895, p. 6

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; avg; .i. UNDER A CLOUD EHBILLING TALE OF HUMAN LIFE. CHAPTER XLIIL riis BEV’KLATIUN. said Brettisou with an apologetic smile, “but I am only a week old man, and never weaker than in those moments. “I could not have been there a moment, and I must have glided down, or you would have heard me. I came to and for a mo- ment could not understand why I was there. Then all came back with overwhelm- ing force, and I crept back to the panel to look through. “You were returning from the door, and the next moment were standing by the body, with the pistol in your hand, ap- parently unharmed; and then,to my horror, it seemed as if you were about to use the weapon upon yourself; but to my intense re- lief I saw you thrust it into .your pocket,and then stand by the body as if raft of sense. utterly helpless as to what course to "alpursue. \Vhile sharing your misery I forâ€" get my intentions of seeking help ; and uerving myself for the encounter I was about to come round, but your looks chain- countenauce and reading its meaning, as with an eager, hunted look you went to the outer door, opened it, and stood look- ing down. Then carefully closing both, you went to the window to peerout furtively from the side of the blind. as if to make out whether by any possibility anyone could have overlooked the scene. “I knew that you had some plan in mind by your actions, and it rapidly dawned on me what it was, as, like one sullering from nightmare I stood watching, with the cold sweat gathering on my face, as I saw you go toward the other side of the dre- place, come into right again and take a chair in the same direction. “I soon divined, though, that it was to hold open the door, and now came the hor- ror of the scene.” Stratton uttered a low groan as he sat there with his face buried in his hands, and Brettison went on: ,. “I was all clear to me now. You were seeking for a way out of your terrible dilemma by concealing the body, and I looked on, speechless With horror, as I saw you stoop to seize the arms, droop forward, and fall across the chest.” "I was faint from my hurt,” said Strat' ton, almost in a whisper. “ But you rose directly, and I saw you drag the body toward the door of your bathroom, aud,as if drawn there to know the rest, I came back here and stood listen- ing by that loose panel, where the scene stood out as vividly before me as if I were in the same room.” Slratton groaned, while, excited by his narration, Brettison went on : “You were evidently faint still, and weak, for I heard you stop again and again, only to resume the dreadful task of drag- ging the body along the floor, til at last you stood Within a few feet of me, and I could hear your labored breathing fora few minutes, followed by a sound that knew to be the throwing back of the bath lid ; and then followed what you knowâ€"that horrible struggle with a weight with which you were not fit to cope. A minute later the lid was closed and you shut and locked the bath closet door, while I sat down, faint and exhausted, to try and think out what I should do. “I must have sat therefor a long time, for I was roused by the sound of voices in your room. and I heard the scene Lila: took place with the admiral. I knew that you fainted, and that Guest tried the door which you had looked ; and I shuddered as [thought of what that place contained, and how easily the discovery might follow. “ But this time I had made up my mind how to act ; and, after stealing out to get the necessary tools, I waited my time and set to work. It was along t-ask,for I had to work and not make a sound ; but the old fastening soon gave way,and Idrew the door pen and stood shiveringin the narrow plain), with yours and Guest's words com- ing plainly to me. “ At times you were angry, at 0 her times Guest spoke loudly,and twice over he had the outer door open to talk to people on the landing. “ Those were my opportunities, and, helped by strength ldid not think I pos~ sessed, I worked on. dragging the body out inch by inch, and lowrriug it down. A dozen times over I felt that I must be heard, but yon were both too intent upon yourselves, and your words often rose to a quarrel on one side, and, as Isaid, at such times I worked, tillat last I boie the man I from one through the door and laid him there." He pointed to the heavy rug in front of the fireplace, and, as if fasc1nated,Stratton gazed at the spot. ' “ The rest of the task was lighter for the moment: 1 had but to close the lloor,and secure ltslightly. Ileft the proper fastening up till a future time, and I'll tell you that nowâ€"the fastening up took placemt ihe time when you working shudderingiy in the dark. taking in cans of spirit, and pouring them Q rgllng and echonig into the bath :and I heard all this. aud,the final sc:ewmg down of the lid and screwing up of your door. I tell you I heard it all,boy, and still worked on in your service." “ In my service 2” said Strattun blaukly. “ Yes. “'hy did Ido all this? Did I not know that in spite of all your scheming and precautions, sooner or later the discovery must be made. Wasl to let you live on with that horror waiting always at your elbow, drivxng you mad with dread, as I felt it was for 'our sake, boy, that I fought as I did, and wrought your Vlcllm out here." " Tell me at once what you did-nith it.” “ Let me tell you my own way. Old men racked my brains for hours and evoked dozens of plans, but there was always some terrible obstacle in the way, and at last I sat back here in uticr despair, seeing nothing but the plain fact before meâ€"tuat your wisdom was greater than mine, and that the only way out of the difficult was the one you had chosenâ€"to restore the body to the hiding-place in there. “ it was miserably humiliating, but I could do no more. It was madness to keep ‘him, it cleared you from what might de~ valve in a charge of murder; on the other band, if I let him die, Myra would be free, ” and some day “ No. no, impossiblel" groaned Stratton. “Go on." “I could not decide what I ought to do at first, forâ€"I confess it~â€"I was dragged both ways; but I took the right road, Stratton. "It was late, but it was a case of emergency, and the man’s face helped me to tell the tale I meant to tell. There was the swollen nose and there were the pimply blotches of the man wno drank. That was sufficient for ire; and, with a strength of which I did not believe myself capable, I dragged hlm by the shoulders into my bedroom and locked him in. Then, taking my hat, I made my way out unseen, took a cab, and had myself driven to the house “ It was the act of a woman, Stratton,’l ed me to the spot, and, utterly helpless now, I stayed there watching your wild y the poor wretcn where 1 had laid him ; of an old servant, who was a pensioner of discovery might come at any time. One}: I , mine in South London. She was just about though“ 0‘ lenf’lug him the"? and EOmg [to retire for the night, but readily made away myaelfâ€"dlsappeumm 35 1" ‘Verecfrom :preparations for the reception of an unfor- thc “'01”le I Could keep my Chflmbers l tunaie friend of mine who had met with an “DLQPClled {01' monthsâ€"perhaps Yearsâ€"by isoctdent, while I hurried back, discharged sending a cueck to the agent fiom time to rmy cab, wok a, fresh one-the man, for time. But I knew that this must end in lmnpie pay. helm, wining enough m under- d”°°"‘?"Y- A“ “morffiefm 9V9!“ mlghlgtakc my task, and soon found for me a result in the chambers being opened and latmug have“ - searched. and, in all prob-ability, the dead u 'phe N,“ was an)“ 1 “ed to them, m'fs'h“ “kc revenge P‘U‘l Wm“3 our belmyer land,‘on taking the man up with me, left “'K‘iun “35 “atumhfltv kHPW l’O‘V- ghim in my room, while I went into the , 3”“ Eh“? JP: the": like the “Mill-“d. icliamber, trembling lest I should find our in utter de~pair began to unfasten the door jeneuw was dwd. again, dyrew it open, listened, and all was: u But he was lying back as,1 had left, allu- \Ou and 511955 WPI'G. "1 3“ Pmbabl' lhllli, on a. lounge, and I returned to the l'txi‘asleep , _ lfellow I had brought up. I gave the man , 90"“! bBCk ‘0 the hearthrug: 310k and l brandy, took a glass myself, and, before 1“ disgust. 1350095“ down ‘0 reverse “‘3' futilizing the help I had brought, purposely rePUISlve 9‘3"» “(IV-“i “3 I wUChed "‘31?le fspi‘lnkled the Wounded man with spiritâ€"a and half raised his head and shoulders from ; him. being sufficlem to direct, me helper’a the fig“, Hit"?- flum 'f’f “gh‘el‘lnga the Way ; thoughts into the channel that this person out o the difficulty came. Then,overc:;me 1 he Wm, to help to the cab was a View“ m 1‘ my emf-W0". I “Lanny reeled in“) my ldeliriuin treinens, forihe face was evidence bedroom like a drunken man, and dropped ‘enough. “P0” my knees by my Pluow i.“ “‘3 Illfink' “ My new companion was to have asov- {‘111‘953 0‘ my hm”, though It “'59 1”“geri;;n for his pains, so he found no cause to before I could utter other words than-:- iobjpcb ; and when I offered m help laugh. ‘Heaven, I thank thee ! My poor lad is ; inziy put, me “me. i I) saved- “ ‘ Oh, I can carry him,’ he said, ‘like a â€"â€" i lmhy.’ CHAPTER Xhlv. “ A bold, indifferent manner was all,_.l ! felt,that was necessary; and fortune favoieu THE REVELATION CONTINUEDâ€"~A LIGHTNING 'me, for we did not pass a soul, and the STROKE. :placlng of an apparently tipsy man in a g four-wheel cab was not novelty enough to ‘ ’Ihe moment before these last words exam the interest of paeaersby. 1w” escaped from Brettismi’s lips Strattou had ‘ ‘ ~ - . ,. I ‘ 3 o u been sitting there With his elbows on the ql no “gm' 1 u“ you ' a. bow, Lawless f " i” -' ' mule, hm face worn. haggard, and fun of _ rout cariied all be orCit, and me. very few . . = minutes I had left in chambers locked u horror and disgust; but row the interest y p’ . . ‘ ‘ the hel er was on . in his old friend’s statement returned, and p the box gem” and we he watched him eagerly. The explanation was conii g at last. The half-cynical, in- l (llIf‘ eut . . . ‘r '"uuuer’ Loo’ bud Passed “Way, “3 lshook ‘ier head at the scent of the spirits, he continued . . . . . ' . . lbut assisted Williii'tl till in char 8 was “I comeback to this very cliair,Striitton, llaid upon me ha?! yzhe cabyman aid his . , . trc 'u r ' - 3 . . . mbh 5 an“ “g'mmd as I had never been .coinpaniou dismissed, and then the doctor before, to stoop down at once and then jwfls ,elched 7: 20 upon one knee thereâ€"there on the l “’1 he doom: came, MW the patient], and rug. His head was just there, boy, and‘ . ' - . ‘ ' his face a little on one side, so that the made his exumm‘umu carefully, endmg by old servant's house. “ Here he was carried in, but old Mary glgcuotliuyg ‘xfgd file I’ll-Cbgrouu‘i 0‘ dark ,utteriu-g a low moan now and then, as if he _ ' fielt pain when touched ; otherWise he lay Brettison’e manner was now excited, his quite calmly, as if asleep. words low and hoarse, and his manner had , “And no the doctor busied himself he proved contagious ; for parted, and he leaned over toward theiinflueuced by my thoughts as I stood by speaker. “Fora few minutes Icould do no more,” . a. garbleâ€"there, a lyingâ€"version of the continued Brettison. “A ho‘rrible dread Eincident, he at last took the very VleW as I assailed incâ€"that. I had been deceivedâ€" i wished to convey it to him by words, that the door I had, in imagination, seen “ ‘A bad case, sir,’ he said at last. ‘I open before me had closed again, and that can do no more now. The bullet is evident- l was once more shut in With the terrible 1y deeply iinbedded. [will not take the difficulty. But, . nervng myself again. I risk of probing for it. Shall I get one of passed one arm beneath the shouhler’s as , our eminent specialists in consultation 2’ his thoughts were solely of and for her. The man still lived, and she was his wife --tied to an escaped convict, and at his mercy, unless Brettisou had done his duty and handed him over to the authorities. But with his sympathetic feeling for her, there came over him a sense of overwlielm‘ ing despair at his own helpless position. He passed his hand across his eyes,threw up his head, and seemed more like the old Malcolm Stratton, as he held out his hand to his friend, took that which was eagerly extended to him, and the two men sat, hand grasped in hand, silently for the space of some minutes. Brettison was first to speak. “Then you think, in spite of all, I did wisely 2" “ I think you saved that man's life," said Stratton with a faint, sad smile upon his lip. "But for you I must have gone to the grave with that kno .\ ledge always on my brain. You have spared me that. I can sleep wiihout waking to think of that man‘s blood being on my hands." “ And there is hope for you yet,” whispered Biettisou earnestly. “ Where '3” said Siratton mournfully. “In the othei world 1’" “ Bah ! Despairing at your age ? \Vhy, man, this life is full of change and surprise. Nothing comes to’pass so often as the unexpected." ‘ Stratlon shook his head. “ What! Doubting, in the face of all I have told you just now? Why, man, my news must have come upon you like a miracle. ComeLI shall see you and M yra happy yet.” “Silence l” cried Strattou sternly. “Im~ possible! All that is past. Brettison, I accept my fate in all thankfuluess for what 1 know. If Myra and I ever meet again, lcan take her hand and look her calmly in the eyes. I know my position now, MB. AND MRS BOWSBR. "Mrs. Bowser," began Mr. Bowaer the other evening as he laid aside his paper. “have you missed anything in particqu to-night 2" “You haven't smoked since dinner and I was wondering if you didn’t feel well," sha replied. . “No, I have not smoked since dinner, and I shall never smoke another cigar. I have been figuring. Mrs. Bowserâ€"I have not only been figuring, but I have been to a doctor and had a long talk and learned something new. ” “You are not going to give up smoking again? You know how it always affects you when you try to stop." “I know nothing about it l " he stifily re- plied. “I have never tried to give up smoking. If I had determined to abandon the habit I should have done so." “But on twenty dilierent occasigns you _. nu"â€" {Never mind what I have tried to do on twenty different occasions, Mrs. Bowser l" he interrupted, witha wave of his hand. ” As I said before, 1 have been figuring. My cigar bill will average 33 per week.” “But you enjoy smoking." “ That has nothing to do with the mat- ter. Three dollars per week is $156 per year. In the course of ten years I throw away about $1,600. If I smoke for forty years, which is quite probable, I have burned up the sum of $7,000. Not only that, but I have meanwhile paid the doc- tor's at least $3,000 to cure the ills arising from the habit. There you have it, Mrs. Bowserâ€"10,000 big dollars gone up in and, thank God, 1 am once more a manâ€"l smoke 1" free from the great horror of my life. New. | tell me. wound ‘2" “ Yes,” said Brettison. looking at Strat- ton curiously, “he is quite recovered from that; only much changed.” “You have seen him lately, then?” cried Strattou eagerly. “Yes; not many hours since.” “ Brettison l” “Yes? Why do you start like that 2” “Then you have not handed him over to the authorities ‘2” “No. Why should I?" “Man, you ask me that? You leave him free to go yonder and make her life a bur- , den?” were rolled over Blackfriars Bridge to my ‘ “I did not say so,” replied Brettisou calmly. “ Suppose I had handed the man over to the authorities, what then 2 The news would have been in every paper of the convict’s emarvclous escape from death. Pleasant reading for the Bourne Square breakfast table. Surely that poor girl has i suffered enough?” “Tell me where is the man. He has . 'been in our cl r ’ ' . applying proper bandages to the wound, lery. y m ge ever smce his recov profile of the Vile scoundrcl stood out,clear- , whilebarmn lay pen-ecu), msenaible, onlyl I) “From the wound 2 Yes.” “And he submits to your dictationâ€"to your rule?” “ Yes.” “ Because he fears that you will give him Strattou's lips .asked no questions; but. as if he were u '3” “ No ; he does not fear that. But listen lhim, wu Clllnn min and waiting to give him to me , you aha” not Judge too hastily- lVait till you know all my reasons." “ Tell me them.” “ Not. now.” “ \Vhen then 2” “ After you have seen James Barron.” “ Seen him? Meet that man again 2 ” cried Stratton, with a look of horror. "Yes." The man recovered from his she before, raised him a little, there was a low mean.” “What?” cried Stratton wildly, as he startled from his seat. “Walt patiently. and you Shall hear." sis of no use to talk of hope to a man when 'one feels that there can be none. said Brettison; then, drawing a panting breath, as if the effort of recalling the terrible scene, with its excitement, was almost more than he could hear, he went on : “I lowered him again, not daring to and once morel ,brandy, or whatever it is, ceases to have , hi 1 its effect. 1 knew one poor fellow who used l “I shook my head. “ ‘ Fatal?’ 1 said at last. “NV - l - , i o ; it is my Wishâ€"m ra er. Come 2 (He “mu-“de hm ghoul‘lerf' . , ‘ with me and see him. Tli’efi) ygu'sliall de- M““‘ “Peak Pmmlyi 3"! he “‘d' I“ E cidc what shall be done ; and I will give P 3 you my word that I will follow out your . . . 00" : wishes to the letter." fellow, his face tells the tale plainly enough. “you promise that 9!, Drink. Stimulus aft-er stimulus till the Bremison gmve him his hand in token of s promise, and Stratton stood thinking I for a moment or two C. . . , . to heat brandy over aspirit lamp to make its v “Yes,” he said the“, «I have no cause to “Impossible !” think that lie was alive, knowing that the sound might have been caused by the es-‘ cape of a little air from the cavity of the chest. For a few minutes I was sure that effect more rapid. Yes, ceases to have its l - effect, and more is used. Then the digestive ‘ fear. It is cowardly to refuse. When shall ' 7’ powers break down, the over-goaded brain ' thft’i‘niirizigoh‘: 2: . leaps from its bounds, and we have the ' this was sir, and my hopes were all dashed delirium that ends in men feeling that life again. People have called me a lParDed , is not worth living, and makes them suiciâ€" num, Malcolm; but, before a ditficultyfdlil like this.’ " like that, l was a poor, helpless, ignorant; ” You remember the very words ‘2” child{1 t . If l l l I j said Stratton, looking at his friend wonder- “ . as ering myse , tiougi, at est, {in 1v. ‘ l ' thrust my hand into his breast ; but I ' g‘lVord for word,"said Brettison slowly, . outbu? iindrmncméo thaw may be a?“ could feel nothing. [fancied there wasaluiinll always shall. I remember, too, the “FY “3 a? a may gum 0? a any pulsation, but could not tell but that it thrill of horror that ran through my nerves . b1510le scurrylng along ‘he roadways 0‘ might. be caused by my own throbbing ' as he stood for a few moments with hisl the park of that city. This is little Laurine arteries. I tried the Wrists. and then. 1 back to me, between me and the bed,bend- ‘ tearing open the collar of his shirt, thrust" lug first, over his patient,und then straight. (r0 Be CONTINUED.) "m...â€" A Baby Blcyclist. act." ‘ “Not deadâ€"not dead l" my hsiid in there, and the pulsation was plain now. More, I distincrly felt a throii, as a low moan once more escaped the man’s lips.” “Not dead '9" gasped Stratton. “Her husband ! Liv ng? Great Heavens !" He sank back into his chair, staring widly ; and then, in a hoarse whisper : “Go on !” he pauted, "go nn l” “The way of escape was open widely now,” cried Bretiison, reaching over to clutch his companion’s wrist, “and 1 could see my way clearly. It was madness to attempt to moye the body ofadead men through the streets, boyâ€"detection was Certain ; but to take. a sick or injured man place to another was simplicity itself, and I breathed freely. I could muttered Strat~ ton, who looked as if_he had received some terrible men al blow, which had confused his faculties and made the ellort of fol owing his old friend’s narrative almost beyond his powers. “I closed that door at once, in dread now lost the means should have heard; and, able to grasp the position, I could work cooly enough. Going down on my kne s wxih sponge and basin, I soon found that there Was a small orifice behind me right ear. This had bled freely, but it had ceased : and, grasping at once that the bullet had gone upward, I examined next to find its place of out, “There was none. The bullet was, in all probability, still in the head. “ He moaned a little as I bathed away all iraces of ihe injury: and when I had done, save that tiny orifice just behind the ear, there was nothing to show that he was not sleeping, for the face was qui'e com- posed. “ “'hat to do next? Not a moment, I felt. must be lost, if I wished to save his are tedious, Siratton, and I am. I suppose, , Iiie : and. With a feeling of grim cynicism, no exception to the rule. However, l “‘1” l I ask: ll myself whether I did. Iiin a dilemma. On one hand, if I saved. be brief, for I am torturing you, I fear. For I w:.s {oning himself up and raising one armâ€"his frightâ€"with the list clenched. all but the gindex finger, which he passed over his ishoulder to touch, with the point of the lfinger, the spot behind his own car where l the bullet had entered. ; “For a few moments Idid not understand [his gesture :then I grasped the fact, and {followed his thoughts. He was, in imagin- zation, holding a pistol to his head as he 'j thought his patient must have held it when ; the trigger was drawn. He had completely ’ taken my view that I wished to impart,and he was thinking of the inquest and the ;evidence he would have to give." 3 Strnttou looked at him for a few mements 3 with dilated eyes. i At last he spoke, for Brettisou had be- icome wrapped in thought, and sat gazing ; before him, as if seeing the whole horror ' once again. ” And did he," said Stratton, in broken ; words, " attend himâ€"to the end ; did he sayâ€"at the inquest â€"that it was suicide 2” ’ “ No,“ said Brettison, looking up with a istart from his musings, and watching the felfect of his words on his companion ; . tended him, but James Dale, or Barron, did not die. He is living new.” CHAPTER. XLV. sii'srssioos. "James Barron living now!" cried Strat- ltou excitedl . l “Thank raven !" f But as the words left his lips his whole manner changed. His face had lighted up at Brettison’s announcement, for the knowledge that ho was not answerable for " the convict’s deathâ€"that- be had not slain the husband of the woman he lovedâ€"was a tremendous height, which had crushed him down, suddenly removed; but, like a BKH‘I‘I‘ISON IS a sudden, scathing flash, came the horror 3 p l The doctors are not quite certain wheth- ' er it was cigarettes or unrequited love. of LI yra’s po<iiion once more. There was no selfishness in the feeling; l l I it weighs only twelve pounds. The picture 1 of her which is giVen here shows what a. “ he‘roguish little face she has, and what a l chubby little sprite she is in her blouse and ‘bloomers. Those who have seen her ride LITTLE “URINE DEVANY, The smallest cyclist in the world. Devanv, who is the smallest bicyclist in the world. She is only three years old, a (in r little girl, with fluffy yellow hair and . igblue eyes. She rides a wheel that had to be made especially for her, of course,and say it is something to remember, as those twinkling legs churn the pedals and the bright curls toss back from beneath the Tam 0’ Shutter as she races before the wind. Quite a Surprise. Great Scott! what’s the matter with this pudding? She-Mercy l how does it taste! Why, good. Conflictlng Symptoms. Poor Cholly ! What did he die of 2 “But you take such comfort in smoking," persisted. “ What if I do 2” he replied. ” No man has a moral right to throw away $10,000. Smoking is a viceâ€"a habit. No man who is a man should let a habit make an idiot of him. I had a. long talk with a doctor and he told me that smoking beget about forty difierent ailments of the human sys- tem. It also shortens human life by from five to ten years. My mind is fully made u ." p“ And you will quit smoking 2” “ I will quit." " But can you ‘2" “Mrs. Bowser," he said as he arose and stood before her, With his thumbs in the armholes of his vast, “ I am a determined man. There is no such word as ‘ oan’t’ in my vocabulary. 1 shall quit smoking. I have quit. The 33 which I have heretofore wasted, and worse than wasted, will here- after be handed to you every Saturday. It will buy your hats, hosiery and gloves. For the last fifteen years I have been an idiot. I am an idiot no longer.“ “I wouldn’t try to break off all at once,” she replied, as he promenaded around the room. “ That’s where my strength of character will come in Mrs. Bowser. No man can break olfa habit by degrees. I have put my foot down, and there it will stay. I will conquer or die, and I don't expect to die. As I had neglected to state, the doctor gave me something to take three times a day to remove the desire to smoke. I will now take the first dose. Have the girl bring me up a little water in a glass." “Youâ€"you won’t blame me ‘2” queried Mrs. Bowser as she pressed the button. “Blame fiddlesticks ! That’s a nice way to encouage a husband to preserve his health and save money l How can I blame you 2 I contract the habit of smoking ten cigars a day. 1 am a fool. I make up my mind to smoke no more. I get over being a fool. What is there to blame you about!" “But every time you have tried it before you haveâ€"” “Never tried it before- never! I am now trying for the first and last time. Here goes for the dose. A-h-h 1 That instantly quiets the craving for the Weed l Ten thousand dollars saved and ten years added to my life i" M rs. Bowser had no word of encourag- ment. She had been through the mill about 20 times, and the result had always been the same. Mr. Bowser sat down again and tried to read, got up and wandered around the house, was moody and taciturn for the next two hours and when ready for bed complained of cramps and dizziness. He dropped to sleep soon after tumbling into bed, however, and it was midnight before his doleful sighs and groans aroused Mrs. Bowser. She lay quiet and let him go on and was not a bit surprised when he finally crept carefully out of bed, fumbled around in a drawer of his dresser for a cigar, and having lighted the weed sat down by the open window and. puffed and grunted in his enjoyment. “Mr. Bowser," she suddenly broke in on him, “you are a desperate man 1" He gave a sudden start, but sank back in hopes she was talking in her sleep. “You will conquer or die ! For 15 years you have been an idiot 1” He was fairly caught, and for a minute he made no reply. Then he sud‘lenly re- membered that there was a loophole for escape, and he walked ovor to the bed and towered above her and said : “Woman, were you silly enough to be- lieve I didn't see through your perfidious scheme 2" "What perfidious scheme 2" “ Never you mind l It was as clear tt me as daylight, and I would have been air. idiot to fall into the trap l This is the last hair that breaks the camel’s bsck, Mrs. Bowserl To-morrow your lawyer can call upon my lawyer l” “ But what for 2" “To see about the divorce and alimony! I have reached the limit l That's all ! Any further discussion can be confined to our respective attorneys l” And having silenced and crushed Mrs. Bowser after the usual fashion he smoked three cigars in succession and tumbled back into bed with his good nature fully restored and a wish that it Were morning, so he could keep right on smoking allday. _._.â€"._+â€" Useless. Wattsâ€"l see th it some one has invented an automatic cradle for rocking the baby. I wonder if it would be an infringement if a fellow were to get up an automatic spanking machine 3 Potisâ€" It wouldn't be an infringement, but neither would it sell. What satisfaction could no outraged parent get out of a men machine 2 . as .v...».. ...- M.mâ€"â€"_â€"-â€"wnwm mm mm..â€" .â€".â€"...._-... -...

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