Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-07-20

was dark. The dining-room in the
rear was, however, brightly lighted.
And there the lace buyer and the SILK
man saw some curious process OF In
itiation in the course of accomplish
ment. Mr.. McTavish stood beside the
table, from which he and his wife had
evidently Just risen. She was little
bit of fair-haired woman whose head
did not reach his shoulder. She was
tying a blue-checked apron around the
great girth of his Falstafflan waist.
THE idea of that girl going of with
out moments warming" They could
hear her shrill but sweet little voice
in indignant comment. Now, Alec
do be careful with those new glasses!
Those first, then the silver, then the
dishes. And don't drain the glass or
silver. Wipe them right out OF the
hot water-hot, remember! Here
stand still" She stepped on a stool
to tie another apron around his neck
Now take off your cuffs and pull up
your shirt sleeves. There-that Will
do. The last time you washed the
dishes you nicked one of the Haviland
plates. l don't want that to happen
again. You understand"
Eyes, dear!"
Was that meek reply made in the
voice Of the lordly McTavish?
Get me that low rocker out Of the
study-the one with the cushions. Yes
that. And where did you leave the
evening paper? How forgetful you are
getting to be! It's in your coat pocket
thanks. Turn out the gas range.
The water must be boiling"
Mrs. McTavish sank into the rocker
with the cushions. Mrs. McTavish put
her slippered feet on hassock and
settled herself to read. Mr.. McTavish,
with one apron secured over his swell
ling bosom and another dangling
around his black broadcloth legs, be-
gan to remove the dishes with skill
and dizziness which would have done
credit to trained Ethiopian.
Five minutes passed-f1ve minutes
during which the silk man sat with
his handkerchief crammed into. his
mouth, and the lace buyer, writing
in an ecstacy of silent mirth, gave him
mute but eloquent digs in the ribs. The
silk man gasped.
"Alec!"
The clatter of dishes was momen-
tarily suspended.
Eyes. lovey!"
81 think I hear the baby. You fix
his bottle and take 1t up. Two-thirds
milk, one-third water, and half-tea-
spoon of sugar. You know how. Take
it up to him right away" A few min
utes later the stairs creaked under the
tread Of the gallant fioor-walker. HE
wasn't awake" he said. returning.
awful hot night, isn't it?"
He paused beside his wife's chair.
He wiped his flushed forehead. She
lifted her serene little face and nodded.
Eyes. When the dishes are done &c
up to the drug store and bring me down
an orange phosphate. While you are
there you'd better telephone to dear
mother. I shall want her to take care
of the baby while go to the Rest Cure
Convention for Overtaxed Wives. o,
by the way, when you see your brother
here he must leave his cigars at home.
My curtains are almost ruined"
Just as you say, sweetness!
"And Alec-what's that?"
She had dashed up, dropping the pa
per. Both turned frightened faces to-
ward the front room.
"Burglars!" she painted
The next instant she hac dashed to
the sideboard, grabbed something out
of a drawer, thrust 1t into her hus-
bands hand, and pushed him before
her.
Shoot" she screamed, and touched
the electric button. Instantly the par
lor was flooded with light. And two
giggling, aghast. middle-aged men
stood, crimson-faced, and with frantic
arms upflung, before the host and his
wife.
"Geer! Dobson!" gasped McTavish.
There was an appalling silence.
"These are friends of yours, Alex
ander!" The voice of little Mrs Nc
lavish was crisp and cold as noun
tain torrent. rs it customary for them
to enter residences without intimation?
Perhaps it would be better if you were
to entertain them around the corner.
I am going upstairs to my innocent
child"
She went. McTavish entertained
them around the corner after he had
duly removed his aprons. They lined
up by the bar. The floorwalker drank
more than was good for him. The
silk man laughed all the way back
to the city. The lace buyer looked
solemn. He had been keeping his eye
on the blonde girl in the chiffons, and
now domestic bliss
I'll be hanged If know whether"
Whether what?" asked the silk man.
"O-nothing! Here's my corner.
Now, what the devil are you laughing
at?"
That night he dreamed of the girl
in the chiffons. She had the locks of
l.