Show BERTHA CLAY BY M. M I from CHAl Tiit VII AH Tho TWO ladles had i l ju just t a as alter leisurely arraying himself In and muffler vA ws about to start for the i 4 Mrs Cab Cato ho exclaimed an api he ho taw saw the tho ono one who entered first L Yee replied Josephine with a I k met Mrs Buster in Regent street sin and we we might drop In and Hive give our husbands an surprise A surprise it would certainly be but whether an agreeable ono or not under th the circumstances well that la Is quito quite another nuttier matter I Suppose they are still In court Interrogatively observed Mrs Buster Busier who had followed close upon the heels of the Iy younger lady Oh Oh no exclaimed Josephine Cato tod me ho would be home early today I And then poor old entirely lost his he He lIe wa mis certainly not the best beat r s' s of t for he lie larked lacked th the discretion of that god who if th Ibis c are arc to be believed so often brought hip hIR masters master's love affairs to A happy termination In III handed the two letters to the tho ladles ladies there Here are arc letters for you be said I 11 was ws Just taking them to toa a messenger t w letter for me cried Josephine excitement anti and a certain open the envelope Some excuse 1 suppose to dine out as usual muttered Mrs Buster cynical y y au as she followed her companions companion's ex cx Josephine perused the epistle anti and bet uttered littered a little try cry of consternation Oh Oh dear What Is this Going away Buster said nothing but her u tightened ominously with an ex cx that foreboded ill iii to Uia tha ser roseate plans as she thought to ti herself At this thia moment who was ex cx uncomfortable ventures ventured a re to remark mark a remark which If they hid had heart bean It would not have endeared him IFie rEally illy to either rf his employers W Ve sa- sa either advisedly for or at this stage of th th the brandy hud bud removed all C to I sample and he was now a as a i Buster for the contemplated outing The gentlemen hare not started yet i said They are aro in there thee at work Mrs Duster Buster nodded her hond with sat If she once got speech will the tho sergeant as was now a foregone con elusion U It was wag far from probable that h hs I would so go to Nottingham 2 But Josephine was more mere timid and fa- fa suspecting Are Ara they very busy she asked I 11 believe began a faint ides ide entering entering- his head bend that he lie might hav laV made a mistake I I believe that they have a case In hand Dear old exclaimed lj Ho works too hard Ill I'll asi as him to take me roe down to Nottingham wit S him And then lion sho added turning to Mrs fluster Buster Shall we Interrupt In then them Mrs Buster smiled loftily She had n in hesitation as lo to what hat she should do Shi with a firm step and nun Ian open the tho door leading to the office Fortunately for the two husbands th lb noise she rho made pave gave them warning on nt Buster had time enough to sweep tl 1 S glasses into the tho waste paper basket am ant thrust the tho flask of brandy tub Into Isle his coal eoa rail pocket packet before the ladles Indies entered JosIe gapped Cato MV fy thought Buster outward more composed but Inwardly equally n os jj crt as h hii 3 partner Josephine hurried over to Cab Cato an i. i raised her face for n a kiss which Dos Dov I gave but rather less affectionately thai thrill Hor Ilon pale you oral arc exclaimed hi j viCe I p an a dome It Isn't ho hc overdoing it Mr Busier Blister to the sergeant s f of anxiety upon her pretty face Exactly retorted promptly hl his opportunity un an snatching at it That IK is Just what Iv tv h en talking to him him about He lie gle himself a holiday 4 But Josephine scarcely listening to th Us an answer to her question had turned to Cab Cato who wee was feeling decidedly U ur in Spite pite of the stimulant h Ii hail lind What Is this dreadful news shit shi t asked You are arc obliged t tKO t. t 4 KO go to Nottingham lInt But Cato at ida his wits wits' ends aHo a at Ho t. t was tas could reply Duster Buster fearing tn r young mans man's weakness broke in You SOC see how it affects him Eve since I told him that he must go he ha been like hike that Oh cried Josephine pitifully cling cling- Ing ma to her husband But Mrs Buster with a curl of heUp he Up simply sniffed She Sho was always sus ens r and It must be confessed how bow however ever much It may reflect upon Buster that nine times out of ten she nho was no far far- from right Humph he tue remarked and Thou a peculiar dilation Of the added I smell brandy strongly Buster started Brandy Impossible he be quickly Then to horror tho frightful realisation real came to him that he had to cork the bottle and that t t was over overflowing overflowing flowing In his pocket Ito Ilo knew he ho cousin not hope to persuade Mrs B. B that shi was mistaken and In an Instant ho be dc do to make the best excuse he hr could Oh Ob fue he proceeded hurriedly Dove felt queer and took a nip This only increased Josephine's alarm tube he cried looking up anxiously Into and finding then something which alarmed her still more He certainly did not loot look well I cai c not let you go alone England expects that every man day shall shah do his duty quoted Impressively striking on en attitude ho he flattered himself was exceedingly ef el effective would hats and which perhaps been lucon to any eyes less keen and ti ed than those of his wile wife Certainly it had Its effect upon Joseph Jo Jo- seph Inc lint But woman lUte while of at Int her husbands husband's strength made hue him thus In spite spile of everything everything every every- thing obey the ho call to duty she hated to tobe tobe be sacrificed herself Cant I go and do U It with you dear she Implored Bit the brandy had now mounted to Cato's brain anti and made hint hold bold enough to declare Nol No we WO start immediately fluster Buster turning to his partner whoa when do we wert rt Cy Ly the f 15 express replied Bunt r with the tho most mout supreme and de de- de termination We shall probably be de- de all All night echoed In tn atoni a torn toni of which in e ot himself touched Cabs Cato's heart All night repeated Mrs fluster Buster with witha would woid a peculiarly grim smile Which thIch have warned ncr oer had he lisp ban d to notice it it- But he slid did not and on i here is no knowing knowing- v. v may arise Wo We are going coin to at attend ot- ot In tend the bedside of an invalid witness sis case our great Joseph Jo Jo- horrid scandal groaned who hated the Brighton case seph lue word of She Sho had read religiously every the reports In tIn tho papers end and far Iron from husband of the tho renown lien her being proud only for himself ho she saw va vas winning mix mil to the filth In which he ho was obliged himself up anti pitied him accordingly it'll nd herself an as well continued Her evidence in is vital Buster her turned with a start Josephine personal cheeks checks a name aflame That little pronoun had aroused nil her Jealous Instincts In Her Ilci she exclaimed with a her voice Is It a she Instantly saw the tho mistake he lie Buster ItAn It ItAn hastened to rectify and had made he tuf An aged lady declarer boldly of re Josephine Josephino drew a long breath lief he Oh two Ninety But Mrs Buster was far from be 1 U- U ing PO easily deceived She Sac had his lis to the th preceding quietly hut but all the time eying her husband narrowly and she he knew that h he was lying hying There Was an expression of about his mouth she thought to herself which it always assumed when it was va forming it lie turned again to Cato who was in anything but a. a comfortable frame of mind and raised her he soft brown eyes imploringly to his Rut heat cant can't 1 jo with you dear sho asked alted gently You wont won't find me a a. bit In the way Oh wouldn't he considering what he bal bad resolved to do ito Yes resolved for Cab Cato prompted by the brandy was beginning now nos- to bo be obstinate anti and moreover lie realized that as matters stood It was too late to do except to brazen It out oust Aly My precious ho lue said aloud en on- circling his wife with hl his arms antI and speaking as tenderly as he ho knew how with sith tenderness perhaps con con- what ho had in lew and conscious that ho was deceiving h luor r. r My precious do lo bo be reasonable Boar Bear up Dont Don't add to my difficulties How how- could you leave Inave homo home without a a a a aA A t toothbrush put In lii Buster observing ob ob- ob serving lila Ills hesitation and then lien becoming be be- coming Involved himself or a cork cork- crew or a razor n-a-razor a razor Mrs Buster herself with a sardonic smile She Sho understood the situation pretty clearly now but poor por Josephine tut not She was too much Hurried flurried and worried even to notice Busters Buster's absurd suggestions She vas thinking only of the situation in jenora and hastened to pay Fayr But I can drive homo home and rack pack my i I I i I nag bag Buster still intent upon turning Jo from her Idea sail and quite ob nh- of the effect which had hoc upon his own wife shook h his decisively Impossible he Ie declared Wo hare hav tot sot more than forty minutes to eaten he lie The tears came Into Josephine's eyes eye ind md she stamped her foot In chillis nger Oh oh she cried What shall I do all this done laflel tf ty angel exclaimed Cab Cato sooth sooth- and drawing her away to one oni orn r of the room ho began to reason her the lie best arguments h hO now new how At that moment ho would woul have te given a good KOOC deal dealt dealto t to the whole project but he 10 0 could not do that without stultify ng himself He was in for It now am slid 10 so must pursue his course to the tI-re end As soon as Mrs Buster saw that tha these two occupied with them them- elves she ro rose e to her feet and with will willi i look its of calm determination upon he her herace ace approached her husband Sergeant dear she sid said in a cr very ow hut but very cry distinct voice Buster started He Ire had beard that one fore before and the recollections 1 it rought up wore were not agreeable It lIe mew well what it portended But summoning his most affectionate smile mlle and unconscious cherubic look ie 0 asked sweetly What Is It my darling Mrs Buster took him him by the arm I Sergeant she said quietly nit bu- one lawyer is quite enough to I ret jet tho evidence of that old party Cato Joe Dove will no go down alone He's Hes your Junior counsel I It m ni-i ni business to get up tsp the ease knew then that It was all up him and he raged t t-j t chink that after all his efforts with ato and hN Ils ultimate success the whole tiling thing was to como come to nothing ut ho made one more inore though he lie realized t would boMy bo My 13 dear tear tear-or-I or T shall bo ho wanted w I IV v a. a J I want you at home answered answerl I Its Irs Buster unflinchingly And th p J. J I IbeTh to beTh trump ir ird It j t her sine side she she- proceeded with the of ono one who knows that trl- trl tnt tnt-I mph Is assured Aunt And homo ou i lust be that Is if you ou wish me t t urn this r. r What that I The Tho conveyance of the land you arc I oilIng at That settled it Buster had been I for somo time to gut got rid of hat land and lurid had finally received a anost s advantageous otter offer lou for It But 10 could not give a title without hla I wife's signature Yet still ho he torn tem Oh true tie murmured with a sickly smile Has The line cr the attorney ent the deed Yes here it is Is replied Buser Duiser Bus Bus- er er replacing the tho paper In her bag aggravating deliberation Hamo H It amo ams- to me this to obtain 7 ny y signature Oh a mere matter of form ob Duster Buster airily not willing 1 In in in although he knew himself to toO 10 O beaten This was a poser How could ho end a telegram from Nottingham he had no intention of going there No mattei I want to be sure you 5 arc thinking of me inc and not of any one i 1 Ise iee Oh reproachfully ansI and yet remorse remorse- ully ot at the tho same time As if I could 1 You will set get the tho by lot by-by-lot by let I Ine ne see Buster when ca eai get my from Nottingham Buster cleared his throat He feltus felt us wife's eyes upon him Prom From Nottingham ho be repeated s-ith s an appearance of deep reflection Oh yes es arrive at Nottingham at 8 and give two hours bourn yes two for or transmission and delivery well about tenI ten I shall put It under my pillow cx- cx Josephine chokingly sad and cry to sleep over It ItI And then overcome she flung h her r inns about her hor Husbands Husband's neck and Into tears This was very trying to Cato Ho elt with despair that he could not tand much more of that sort of thing thine But to fluster the spectacle suggested i S chance louson Thero Irs B. B ho said in a low voice which he tried to maico maice at same jam Limo exceedingly pathetic look it lt that picture u of connubial affection Why dont don't we occasionally that itt lInt But Mrs lItre Buster was too tough tough- bogging begging her pardon to to bo be touched too with chaff old ild a bird to be caught Because she sho answered with a ft shrug of lion hor shoulders and a mocking laugh Because we should grin over each others other's shoulders Mr B. B All unconscious of this little conjugal passage at nt arms provoked by ac ac- ac tion Josephine Josephine- raised her bead and dried her eyes Since you go she sho said striving ing to make the best of It let me see seethe the tho last of you yon I can go with you to the tho station CUt cant I I Do lot let me But of course this thin was not to be bethought thought ought Ui of either It was about an as had bad hadas badas to Notting Notting- as her proposal to go ham Certainly not my ray dear responded Cato ato d decidedly going to the tho and making a a. great ado over rolling tip up it will bevery bo be bovery some papers Of course very much out of your way Wo We must take a hansom and I dont don't like you to be soon In hanson hansom cubs cabs It looks BO so fast Dont Don't It look Buster Thus rims appealed too the tho sergeant crushed and disappointed as he was responded loyally Very bad form Even coupes are going out aint they Buster They ate are called loose boxes boucas Josephine made a gesture of anger They may call them what they like she exclaimed pettishly now thoroughly thorough thorough- ly out of patience I sun un going to the crib cab cabIn station with y ou In your hansom In defiance of or all the proprieties took me to the tho In Paris Parison you on oil our wedding trip I was timid but you overruled my objections by saying cant can't defy pro pro- married woman If a of her under the what's the tHo a of the I l. l bonds ruda Qt at She obtain her freedom from prejudices hI giving up her liberty 1 got you your words by heart henrt Continued Tomorrow Morning |