Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-11-12
TAUGHT HIS WIFE A LESSON.
Hts Intentions Were Quite Gcod,
but the Ending Was Entirely I'M
expected.

hhtS huteDtiOuS WcFc Su1te sCOu
but the Ending Was Entirely Un
expected.
Mrs. Bancks was going to the city
which was distant an hours ride from
her suburban home. Mr.. Bancks, wh'
was going out for q run on his wheel
and who knows it all, was laying down
| the law to her in his usual vigorou.
style.
Whatever you do or don't do, Mary
don't carry your pocketbook in you
hand" he said.
"Where shall carry it?" asked hi
wife. "You don't expect me to carry
it in my mouth, like a Newfoundland
do your"
"Carry it in you pocket. What are
pockets for, / should like to knowY"
pockets are out of date. The
dressmakers will not put them in
dresses any more"
"Well, Mary, you'll lose your train
Be sure to get home before dark. 1,
isn't safe for women to be out in the
evening now. Some of these fine
nights you'll be held up"
"Pm not afraid" answered Mrs
Bancks. If people 60 along and at.
tend to their own affairs nothing will
happen to them"
"Don't you believe it" said Mr..
Blancks emphatically. "Not being
afraid isn't going to save you from
robbers and hOld-ups. l am not afraid
but should not like to cross that
viaduct, that you must pass on your
way hOme-nOt after dark would't." "
Having done his best to rattle Mrs.
Blancks, her husband rode off on his
wheel, intending to go in an opposite
direction from that which his wife took
on the cars, when q sudden idea de-
veloped in his fertile brain.
at will teach her a lesson, and
show her that am always right. l
won't frighten her too much; just
enough, then l will reveal my identify.
I'll do it!"
With that he road off at leisurely
gait, for he had plenty of time to catch
Mrs. Blancks on her return.
That good woman had made her
visit to friend on the south side of
the city, and was hurrying to reach
her own train by taking short cut
across the viaduct. 1t certainly did
look dark and forbidding, but she
grasped her umbrella with determina-
tion to sell her life as dearly as possible.
Besides, she had crossed there many
times and nothing had ever happened
before. She stepped in under the
route of the cars, and was picking her
way through posts of solid masonry,
when hand fell on her shoulder and
q voice Missed in her ear:
"Be silent! S-t-ts-ts-t! Your money
or your life!"
"Not if I know it," answered the
brave little woman, and there was a
scrimmage that lasted for several Sec
ords, and then she emerged from the
viaduct with a broken and battered
umbrella, sprained thnmb and with
all her valuable in her possession.
She was at home peacefully COM
posed when her husband made his ap-
pearance, looking like a prizefghter
who had been worsted, and limping
painfully.
John Bancks, what in the world
has happened to you"
"B-i-c-y.c.l-e a-c-c-i-d-e-n-t," mum.
bled Mr.. Bancks, throwing dilapi.
dated hat on the table.
"You poor, dear fellow! Why your
face is all scratched and torn, and
your clothes are ruinedW
"Never mind my clothes. l am
thankful escaped with my life,'
said her husband, as he limped to a
chair.
"Well, we've had chapter Of acci
dents," said Mr.. Bancks. "I was held
up, just as you said would be-"
"Ha! How singular! But it ap
pears that you were not hurt?"
"No, but the other fellow was.
shouldn't be surprised if he died from
the effects of the beating I gave him
Wouldn't it be dreadful. I ruined my
umbrella, but saved by pocketbook.'
"Much money in it?" asked hel
husband, trying to look as if he was
interested.
"Only my car fare, but 1 needed
that"