Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-07

well. very s00n [ expect to be able
to do So" she replied; but, like you
l have a great deal on my mind a
present and the market requires yer!
close watching"
Cant you come home with me to
night:" he asked. The children
would be so pleased 70 see you"
NO" she answered. Il have to take
Sir Caesar Camp out to dinner to
night"
Tomorrow night, them" he sug
gested deprecatingly.
No said the lady, shaking hel
head. Its worse still tomorrow night
l have a lot of stock brokers dining
with me at the Holborn."
1T must cost you a lot of money
these dinners on every night?"
Yes, it Does said Mrs. MadaX
but my experience is if you want tC
make a good business deal with a maj
yuo must first feed him Well. | al
ways see that the wines are IRE
proachable. l will say n thing foI
the men-that they always know good
wine when they taste it."
"Well," said Madax, Il will tell the
children that you send your. love to
them, but l think, you know, that a
woman shouldn't lose sight of her
children. even though business is alb
sorbing."
She urged him to take his share of
the champagne, but MadaX declined,
saying, "a nan must keep his head
clear for business nowadays"
Yes" said his wife. 4 suppose a
man must"
There was a slight tinge of sarcasm
in her voice, and she put unnecessary
emphasis on the noun. Madax looked
grieved. but said nothing. How often
do women in their thoughtless rude
ness cause pain to the tender hearts
Of those who love them.
After lunch was over Mrs. MadaX
led the way upstairs to the private
smoking-room which she had reserved
for their use. 1t was in a rne of
the club building. overlooking d bit Of
the river and commanding a view of
Charing Gross railway bridge.
I'VE will be quite undisturbed here"
she said, and can talk business"
Ringing a bell to give an order, she
asked her husband:
what Will you drink
"-NoUhing, thank you he replied.
but added afterward, Il will have a
glass of milk and soda if you can
get it."
You will smoke, of course" said
his wife,
"a ~cigarette.' answered Madaz,.
When the waiter appeared Mrs.
Madax said: Bring a glass of milk
and soda, some of the best Egyptian
cigarettes. two Havana cigars and a
glass of special Scotch with seltzer."
When these materials were brought
and the waiter had disappeared Mrs.
MadaX walked to the door and turned
the key in it. Her husband lit his
cigarette from the match she held out
to him. and then. biting the end from
her own cigar, she began to smoke.
She thrust her two hands deep down
in her pockets and began to pace up
and down the room.
"Now, john she cried. "what's the
trouble?"
Mr.. MadaX'S name was Billy. but
everybody called him John because
his Wife's name was Joan. John
MadaX was the name he was
known by.
"Some months ago" began Nj.
Madax, Il went into a wheat deal, and
[ don't quite see my way out"
Mrs. Madax stopped in her pacing
and faced her husband in surprise.
"a wheat deal!.' she cried. (Which
side of the market IRE you on?'
ooh, I'm on for a rise"
His wife made a gesture of despair
and began walking up and down the
room again.
"What in heavens name did you
buy for a rise for?"
WELL said Madax very humbly,
you see the American wheat crop had
practically failed, and I thought l was
pretty sure of a rise"
why didn't you speak to me about
it," she cried.
Her husband flushed ~uneasiIy.
Il wanted to do something off my
own bat" he said. "Of course 1 had
no idea at that time there would be
a orne in wheat"
'Corner!' she cried contemptuously.
There's always a corner; there's
bound to be a corner. Don't you
know enough not to look to the United
States any more for indications of the
wheat market? India and the Baltic
hold the key to the situation"
Eyes, l know, at least I know now"
he said, but there is no use in up
braiding me for what 1 have done. l
am up to the neck in wheat. and the
signs today are that it is going lower
than EVER. Now, what would you ad-
wise me to do. JOan?"
ooh. advise you'll" she cried. whats
the use of coming to me when it is
too late? l advise you to get out of
it as cheaply as you can"
Her husband groaned.
ST am afraid" he said, chat will
mean practical ruin now"
"Well, my opinion is that wheat is
going lower still"
"Then it is utter ruin for me-" said
Madax d~ejectedly.
Mrs. Madax stopped once more in
her pacing the room and confronted
her husband. John" she said, "why
don't you give up your office in the