Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-03-22

play and get US a real good one"
"Oh-well, now-it's little out OF
my department, don't you think so?"
asked Dobley, weakening visibly.
That's just like man" said Mrs.
Dobley. you tell us how simple it
is to manage domestic affairs and give
us systems and all that, but you back
out when it comes to tackling the
matter actually"
"Oh, III get you cook, II that's the
way you feel about II" protested Dob
ley lightly. Where do you find EN-?
At the department stores or in the
florists shops? DO they come in a
box or by the bunch?"
There is the intelligence office that
| usually go to-" said Mrs. Dobley,
giving 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"
Ha-ha-ha!" laughed Mr. Dobley.
What a ridiculous idea! You speak of
EN- 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
teIliSence office he had dropped his air
Of lightsome 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. rhe office seemed
10 Dobley to be as full of females as
a Broadway candy shop after mat
inee. He was the only man in sight,
and he experienced a sort Of stage
| fright when he felt the numerous 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 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 mad?" she ratified out.
Just cook" said Dobley.
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
orange. There was a chat and a set
tee and he hestated wondering if
etiquette demanded that he should oc-
Cupy the more important chair. Then
he recollected what Mrs Dobley had
said about cooks being all very pom
| derOus and he abandoned the s2ttee
and took the chair. Then he found
| himself laughing at the room which
he fanced illustrated in a coored sup
plement and labeled as an artistic
nightmare. Suddenly the door opened
and Dobley stared. A most uncook-
like person, magnifcently jetted, en-
tered, smpering kittenishly. AS she
sat down, she dropped her gloves,
handkerchief and pocketbook, which
| Dobley picked up for her
You are looking for a housekeep-
err she said, throwing her eyes CO.
lGuettishly at him
"A cook" said DobIey apologetical-
| ~. 1t seemed as though he ought to
be looking for a housekeeper
"Of course | can cook" she said
with languishng glance; but I'm
always treated as one of the family
You see, if hadn't lost my husband !
ncver'd had to work It's hard to be
thrown on the world"
1T is, indeed" said Dobley.
It's n cruel thing to have to face
bleak existence alone" she went on,
touching her eyes with her handker-
chief and shifting, 80 l thought the
place would suit Are you a bachelor
or a widow gentleman"
Neither" said Dobley, stammerng
oh. domestic trouble, | suppose, "
she said. well, it's common enough
now, goodness knows Some of the
women don't seem to know when they
get a good man. Do you like music?"
"EXreaely," said Dobley surprised
at the suddenness of the question.
Because" she said II play lit
tie"
Indeed" said Dobley, admiringly.
Il don't have many callers" she
went on: although, Of course, might
ilelNt btN II IlldI IlFu lIduN tiilltS tNet IL
| wanted to-
I've no doubt Of that, said Dobley
Then he suddenly remembered that
time was passing about refer" he
began
I've two afternoons 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 il it suits newly easy to
get along with What did you say the
address waS?'
Dobey gave her the number and
street on a Slip of paper. You might
rall and see my wife he said.
Your WHAT" said the bejetted
person rising to her feet.
My wife" said Dobley meekly,
She usually attends to these things
only dropped in to see"
why didn't you say you had a