" What was your maiden name ? " he asked.
" You might call it Smith, or some such
name," said Mrs. Morgan, with an embarrassed
laugh.
This was a rebuff, but Jones did not with-
draw. He went to the verge of politeness in
trying to get further information, but his ef-
forts only resulted in a little snubbing to him-
self. Mrs. Morgan declined to gratify Yankee
curiosity, as she termed it.
The harmony which had prevailed was some-
how gone. Mr. Jones had now little to say,
and seemed to feel that he had been too free
and talkative. Was Mrs. Morgan inclined to
be disagreeable ? Or was there some mystery
casting its shadow upon that social intercourse
which had been so delightful in the early part

Digitized by VjOUQIC



54 RUBE JONES.
of the evening? The time dragged. Jones
gathered up his museum, and went to his room.
" What an awfully obstinate man ! " was
Mrs. Morgan's comment the moment he had
gone. "I was just on the point," she added,
" of letting some facts out, but I am glad I
did n't. Very likely he will find them out."

" Is he mistaken about something ? " I asked
persuasively.
" I should rather think he was," said my
landlady, with a sly, secretive smile, seeming
to imply a great deal more than the words ex-
pressed.
I waited silently.
" I will tell you some other time, — after he
has gone home," she said.
I knew from previous experience of Mrs.
Morgan's temper that urging would be use-
less, and, bidding her good-night, I withdrew.
