The Press., 1898-04-07
CAME HOME EARLY.

COuIu tuluk UoIGcT WILL HIS Io0G up, 50 he pulled out the slide at the side of his desk and put them up on that. After that he seemed to get on.
 Suddenly the scowl became half smile.t His feet came down with 8 thump. He jumped up and went to the telephone and turned the little crank at the side energetically.
 "Ginlme double four eight-main. ''
 He stood square on his feet, threw back his shoulders and looked oontented. Then he lowered his head again and said "yeh" into the transmitter as the number was repeated back and nipped the ragged end of his cigar with his strong, white teeth as he waited.
 "Hellol Fred Gibson there?''
 "Tell i'm to come to the phone.
 Hello, GibI''
 "Say, old man. you got to come and get me out tonight
 "Yeh, that's what said.''
 "No; no bail'' stEtrfE- ..-
 He laughed into the phone and said:
 "Ah, go to the d--lp' ts*
 "Hey?" .-
 "No. Now see here; I've promised to go out with Bronson to meet some merry people tonight, and I've been get ting out to banquets and clubs and lodge meetings and business mems meetings and political meetings and-any old thing until my list is worn out. Seer"
 "Yeh."
 "Huh?'' -,ss,..
 "Yes. You've got to come over to- night and get me out .>.-.. k "Yeh.'' .-.
 "Yeh," ,.s,.. .,.-.--
 You're on to your job. g '.s'.''~Si' ?: s "Eguess so. - .~ ~~ :
 '.A board meeting?' a
 "Strawboard, cardboard, day board, clapboard?''
 "oh, meeting of the board of di- rectorsr'
 ''Oh, seel''
 "Yeh"
 "You beti'' <--
 "Well. they're a good many-neat. but not gaudy. as the monkey''-
 "Huh?"
 What's that?''
 "Oh, as near seven as you can make itl" .'-.
 ''I shan't be going out. you know, at all. You'll have to drag me-"
 "That's iti''
 "Got time to drop over and smilep''
 "Al right"
 "Yeh."
 "Yeh"
 "All right" .......
 "Goodbyl'
 Sigsby winked at his newspaper when the bell rang at o'clock.
 His wife was. putting the baby to sleep. She stopped rocking and listened to see if her latest acquisition in the servant girl line would go to the door.
 Annie must be up stairs,' she said, laying baby in big chair containing 8 pillow and going into the hall.
 She reappeared. followed by Gibson. Hello, old man Glad to see you. Sit down. said Sigsby, springing up and shaking hands as Mrs. Sigsby wheeled an easy chair forward. He had on a pair of slippers and a house jacket that had evidently seen little use.
 Mrs. Sigshy took up the baby and re- sumed her rocker. beaming contentedly upon her big, handsome husband and his visitor. 2e; "Well, it's an important meeting, IEA|A66Oys nAo WO NO all SOt tO DO guoISs resumed Gibson, after he had stated the object of his call. ."Howland tried to reach you over the phone twice, but couldn't catch you, so told him d see that you got there '" Sigsby had settled back in his big, leather covered chair and put his slip pered right foot up on his left knee with the air of man whom cables could not drag from the comforts of his home.
 He reached over and took Japanese jar containing cigars from the table and held it out toward Gibson, saying: "Now, old man, you take smoke and make yourself comfortable. You don't get me out of this house tonight. have been going to banquets and meet ings till m tired out, and the board will have to meet some other time or get along without me-. "But, man. you we got to go, !" said Gibson. Eve promised to produce you. and dead or alive I've got to do it. There's important business coming up, l and nothing can be done unless every member is present. ''The Ball coupler matter coming upP''
 "Yes, and the Goodrich business. "Gad, is that so?'' Sigsby looked thoughtful, placed his left thumb on his left cheek, curled his | fingers around his chin, stroked an im aginary beard and said, well, if that was the case he 'sposed he'd have to go. ;. a ass Now. isn't that too bad?'' said Mrs l<5fgsby, just when Ben-Mr. Sigsby and l were getting settled for pleasant evening !"
 She grew wistful in the eyes as she spoke and saw her husband start to go up stairs to change the house jacket and slippers for his coat and shoes. Gibson got acquainted with the baby, who had been awakened by the voices and sat bolt upright on her mothers . knee and was listening to the soft voice of Mrs. Sigsby, telling him what busy man her husband had got to be and how very little she saw of him nova