Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-09-04
GeeD|ee Su|nTSeS His Wife.
BY EDWARD r. YOUNGER.

store of expedients in trying to dis
cover the mystery. Cajolery, threats,
wheedling, expostulatlon, argument, all
the intricate wiles employed by skillfui
women to get at the inner thoughts of
her lord and master, were brought into
play without avail.
Finally she became desperate, and to
mollify her Greenlee intimated that he
was planning joyous surprise for her.
He let fall the hint that he had been
on the right side of the stocks in a
recent deal and "wifey" was going to
reap the benefit Beyond this he would
not utter word.
At last he announced with a grand
flourish that his surprise was ripe.
Without going into any details he
would simply suggest that any one
who was Interested might have his or
her curiosity satisfied by securing
position at the front windows at or
about o'clock that afternoon. Then
he fastened away, despite the almost
angry protests of 'wifey" that he GER
tainly should tell her in advance of the
others. But Greenlee was obdurate.
"The surprise Is for you, dearie," he
said, "and 1 want 1t to be complete.
shall look for you Mt the front window
up stairs about o'clock, and when you
see what 1t is you will forgive me for
not telling you and spelling it all"
As soon as he had departed all the
women In the house Immediately went
into executive session for the four
hundredth time since they had first
noticed symptoms OF Greenlee's secret
All of the old straw was vigorously
thrashed over, but they were finally
forced to give up the problem, Just as
they had done before. Then Mrs.
Greenlee went up stairs and INDUCED
In a spteful little cry all by her lone
some. After this she bathed her eyes,
put on her best clothes, eradicated the
tear stains with plentiful dabs of pow
der, and hunted up the other women
TO see IL any Of them had evolved
working idea, but they were still
cropping in the dark.
o'clock was approaching. The resi-
dents of the house lined up at the win
dows after much sparring for the best
positions. The little ormolu clock
chimed the hour of ., and five pairs of
eyes searched the avenue up and down,
but there was no trace Of Earl Green
lee and his monstrous surprise"
Occasionally some one would 20 TO the
street door and peer through the maze
of vehicles and individuals thronging
the avenue, and It was even suggested
that opera glasses might be used to ad-
vantage Then the clock struck the
hour of 3.
Dear mev' said Mrs. Grcenlee,
bouncing to her feet. 81 had an engage
ment with the church committee OF
which am chairman at 3 o'clock. 1t
will never do to miss 1t. and I'm goiEg,
surprise or no surprise. | have already
waited an hour for Mr. Greenlee, and
now he can wait an hour for me. Tie
my face veil, please; I'm in n dreadful
hurry. Dear me! | was never late In
my life before, and its all on account
of Earl Greenlee and his eXasperating
mystery"
Ten minutes later she was whirllng
down the avenue In n cab she Ind
hailed at the corner. busIly engaged in
framing a suitable excuse for her tardI-
ness, when the cab slowed up what
is the matter cabman? told you to
drive rapidly. You must not stop until
we reach the church."
Had to stop. mem; there's some
thin doin ahead of us here, and my
horse IS skeart-"
Mrs. Greenlee opened the cab door
and peered out. Then she stepped out
Just ahead of them, careenlng from
one side Of the avenue to the other,
buttng sidewalks and lampposts,
madly charging the curbing, roaring.
kissing and snorting was an automo-
bile. Finally the unruly machine gave
one triumphant lunge, vainly tried to
climb up the solid stone wall of a club
house and fell back, broken and help
less, mass of twisted steel and
pungent gasoline.
Then the wreck of man prled him
self loose from the smoking debris and
topped down on the edge of the side
walk, where he swore softly and
scraped the oil from what remained of
his garments.
"Dear me! wonder If the man is
badly hurt?" said Mrs. Greenlee as
she adjusted her heliotrope toque ana
walked over to where he was sitting.
The man looked up. Smudges of dust
and oil, streaks of gasoline, traces of
blood and shreds of clothing adorned
his countenance.
'Merclful heavens-Earl Greenleew
screamed his wife. throwing her hands
into the air and threatening to collapse.
THAT'S all right. dearie: I'm not
hurt" Then he slowly and painfully
arose and surveyed the wreckage be-
side him. II ordered this automobile
three weeks ago-meant to give 1t to
you-guess I have not had time to
learn it yet, but 1 intended to surprise
you"