The Wreck of the South Pole and Other Strange Tales — page 189: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

182 That Deceptive Telegram. departed for Chicago, sent on his way with the kindly wishes of the whole parish, and accompanied by his senior warden and a churchman of wealth and piety, who also wished to attend the ecclesiastical meeting. No sooner was he gone than Mrs. Brown received the means of verifying her suspicions. Monday afternoon the carrier brought her a letter from an old school friend asking her to pass a week or so at her home in Chicago. The invitation was for herself and husband, but she knew she could give a good excuse for going alone, and ac- cepted the invitation as a godsend. Besides, her friend was the wife of an old army officer, and would enjoy hear- ing of the matrimonial troubles of a friend. So she sent a friendly note Tuesday morning accepting the invitation. The letter reached Chicago at 2.30 in the afternoon, and just as Mrs. Brown was sitting down to tea a Western Union messenger brought her the following dispatch: | Charlie is away for months. Called suddenly. Come at once. Am dull. CARRIE BROPHY. Mrs. Brown’s arrangements were soon made, as they had to be of necessity, for the convocation was to last only from Wednesday till Thursday of the next week. She packed a small valise and took the night train for Chicago, arriving there Wednesday morning. She found her old friend a woman who troubled her husband with her sanc- timonious airs. He was an easy-going Episcopalian, who believed that all he had to do was to attend church occa- sionally and talk back to the preacher according to book, (E(o) EORNIELOOOLES