The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-08-16
THE REVOLT OF THE
g7 ROBERT BARR.
ycopvrieht, 1895, by the Author.l


wanted time to think and had given or
ders that he was not to be disturbed.
All the thinking he appeared able to
do did not seem to help matters, SO at
last he pulled himself together and
paced up and dowc the room. Finally
he stopped and said to himself: stThat
seems the only thing to do. I shall con-
suit with my wife. I wish she came
home more frequently, and then we
could talk over these matters. %
He seized a telegraph blank and
( wrote:
Hrs John Madax. 90 Bullion Coart. City:
Can you run over to Old Gold alley for few
rninutesf wish to consult you on business.
MADAx.
He rang the bell for telegraph boy
and sent the message, then paced up and
down his room again, waiting for his
.Wife to appear. Instead there came a
srompt answer, which he tore open and
read feverishiy:
sorry can't come this forenoon. Too busy.
Can on me at o'clock and will take you
30 the club, where we can lunch and have
quiet talk. JOAN MADAx-
The worried man consulted his watch.
H was not yet II. It would be more
thar two hours before he could see his
wife. He sat down at his desk and de-
voted himself for those two hours to
what business there was in hand. Then
he brushed himself bit, took mis- walk
ing stick and drove in hanson to his
wife's Offices In Bullion court. After
having sent in his name neat little
girl showed hinf into a room and told
him that Mrs. Madax would be with
him presently She was very sorry to
keep him waiting, but she sent a copy
OF The Sketch for him to look over dur
ing the interval. The Sketch was pa
per started in the nineteenth century
and was at that time considered to be
rather in advance Of other slow going
weeklies Now, however, it was thought
TO be the correct paper for man to
read, although the women paid little
attention to it. In the reception room
two or three other men were waiting,
nursing their hats. Presently the Office
girl came in and told them all except
Madax that Mrs. Madax couldn't pos
sibly see them until later in the day, as
she had an appointment, and would
they be good enough to call about 4
o'clock. So the men took their depar
ture, and Madax was left alone with his
paper, although his wife entered very
soon after. She was tall woman, with
fine. clear cut, decided features. AS far
as the upper part of her was concerned,
she was dressed almost like man. She
wore somewhat glaring necktie and
stand up collar. Her brown hair was
cut short and parted at the side, while
the hair of her husband, dark and
sneaked with gray, seemed to part
naturally in the middle. The neat, tai
1or made skirt which Mrs. Madax wore
had pockets at each side. high up and
very similar in cut to mans pockets.
Her right hand was thrust into one of
these pockets, and she jingled some
coins and keys as she entered the room
where her husband was waiting.
4WeH, John, she cried. sexcuse me
for keeping you, but we have had a
very busy morning. However, if you
are ready now, am. We will go to the
Pine Ear club and have lunch. She
approached her husband as she spoke and
patted him with some affection on the
shoulder. He looked up at her and smil-
ed. Somehow her influence had sooth-
ing, protective air about it which made
the man feel he was not battling with
the world alone. One Of the numerous
girl clerks came in with a long ulster,
which Mrs. Madax put on, thrusting
one hand in the armhole and then the
other, while the girl held the garment
by the collar. When Mrs. Madax had
bnttoned up the ulster and put jaunty
round, hard hat on her head, she look
ed more like man than ever, and
Madax himself seemed almost efem-
mate beside her.
.tIs my brougham at the door:" she
asked the girl.
{ "fes, madam.
''Come along, John, We have no time
10 lose,'' said Mrs. Madax decidedly,
and leading the way she opened the car
rage door, whereupon he stepped in.
side.
''To the Pine Ear club, said the lady
10 the coachman.
She took her seat beside her husband,
and the carriage drove of toward the
west end In short time it drew up
before a palatial building standing
where the Hotel Metropole once stood.
This, as every one knows, is the Pine
Ear club, the sumptuous resort Of wo-
men engaged in business in the city. 1t
is higher priced than the Carlton or Re-
form, but is much more luxurious than
either of these old fashioned men clubs.
''Call for me at half past g., said tn
lady to her coachnan.
The stately doors Of the club were
opened by two girl porters, and the
couple entered. The lady wrote her hus-
bands name in book which was on
stand in the hall, and together they en-
xo-ol 49, loro,o roo-o u-bora fbov