Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-02-10
hen It comes to tackling the matter

At5AtiJs WHERE 10 you ma emf Al
the department stores or in the florist
shops? DO they come in a box or by
the bunch?"
There is the intelligence Office that
| usually 90 to-" said Mrs. Dobley, Civ
ing him a card. IT'S safer to see them
there, because they are more tame In
the intelligence offices than when they
get you alone somewhere"
''Eia---ha--hal" laughed Mr.. Dobley.
What a ridiculous IDEAL You speak
Of 'em as though they were, tigers and
lions. Well, I'm fond Of sport. III
stop on my way down town and lasso
one for YOU"
BY the time Dobley reached the in
6elligence office he had dropped his air
Of llghtsome gayety for one OF deep re-
solve and had assumed an especially
severe expression which he considered
would quell any of the symptoms his
wife had mentioned as being part Of
The cook character. The Office SEEM
ed to Dobley to be as full Of females
as a Broadway candy shop after a
matinee. He was the only man in
sight, and he experienced a sort OF
stage fright when he felt the numer-
Gus pairs of eyes fastened on him. But
he quickly pulled himself together
when he thought of how Mrs. Dobley
would chaff him If he failed.
''I-er--wish to engage a domestic"
he said to the trim young woman at
the desk as she looked him over with a
suspicious gray eye.
"Housekeeper, nurse, wet nurse,
kitchen maid, cook, waitress, upstairs
girl or ladies' maid?" she ratified out
Just a cook" said Dobley
1.-TWO dollars, please" she said, and
Dobley paid the money and walked as
directed into a small room papered in
blue roses and carpeted in red and or
ange. There was a chair and a settee
and he hesitated, wondering IL etiauete
demanded that he should occupy the
more important chair. Then he recol-
lected what his wife said about cooks
being all very ponderous and he aban-
doned the settee and took the chair
Then he found himself laughing at the
room, which he fancied illustrated
colored supplement and labeled as an
artistic nightmare suddenly The door
opened and Dobley stared. A most I'M
person, magniicently ietted,
entered, simpering kittenishly. AS
she sat down she dropped her gloves.
and pocketbook, which
Dobley picked up for her.
You are looking for O housekeep-
err she said, throwing her eyes CO.
at him.
"A cook" said DJbley alphabetically.
1t seemed as though he ought to be
looking for a housekeeper.
OF course l can cook" she said with
a languishing glance; but I'm always
treated as one of the family. You see,
If / hadn't lost my husband l never'd
had to work. It's hard to be thrown
on the world"
1T is, indeed" said Dobley.
Its a cruel thing to have to face a
bleak existence alone" she went on,
touching her eyes with her handker-
chief and smiling, so 1 thought the
place would suit Are you a bachelor
or widow gentleman"
Neither" said Dobley, stammer-
ng.
oh; domestic trouble, 1 suppose,
she said. We'll, it's common enough
now, goodness knowsl Some of the
women don't seem to know when they
get good man. Do you like music?"
"
at the suddenness Of the question.
Because" she SAID, Il play a little
Indeed" said Dobley admiringly.
Il don't have many callers" she
went on; although, OF course. / might
have been married many times over i'll
wanted TO-"
i've no doubt Of that" said Dob
ley Then he suddenly remembered
that time was passing. About refer"
he began.
I've two afternoon off every week,
and, Of course, want my Sundays
free" she said; "and about the wash.
don't do shirts"
Certainly not" said Dobley.
Il might try the place." she said,
and If It suits me-why-pm easy to j
get along with. What did you say the
address WASP"
Dobley gave her the number and
street on a slip Of paper. "You might !
aall and see my wife" he said.
Your what?" said the beietted per-
son. rising to her feet.
My wife," said Dobley, meelxly. |
she usually attends to these things. |
only dropped in to see"-
Why didn't you say you had a
wife?" demanded the lady, indignant |
". Here I've been wasting my time
talking to you. I'm look ng for a place /
rs q housekeeper to single gentle
mani"
I'm very sorry" said Dobley; but
I've been married for ten years. I'll
happened somehow. One Of those fool
sh impulsive matches"--
Il think you're crazy" said the lady |
stalking from the room and slammin |
he door after her, while Dobley sat
counting his fingers and talking to
himself.
Dobley mopped his brow as a stern
featured person In a shawl came in and |
sat down opposite him. ARR viz |
cooking for 2 kuk, sir?"
7 an" said Dobley; that's the idea
exactly"
I'm a dacint, respectable woman"
'he said, 'and wuz niver out NV
olaa-ce in me lie, an l wuddnt be
his blesaid moment If it wuzen't fur
? spalpeen Nv q man that thot he cud |
'u-un the house himself His poor
wife wuz a dacint lady, and she puts
Up wild him, but he's a cra-a-nk, and
Doesn't deserve To have such a vile i