Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-04-06
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
ALFRED CROSBY WIFE

I'm sure it'll be perfectly splendid,
Hatred, and 'ow genteel to ave your
private telephone. to be sure"
Mr.. Crosby was little, meek, inof.
fensive man, owning sundry drapery
establishments. He was dominated by
his wife and his brother.in.law, vii
liam Robinson, who lived with them.
When Amelia Robinson had captured
Alfred Crosby it had been agreed that,
as each OF them had an only brother
and no parents. the brothers should
board with them. However, William
and Amelia had driven Spencer Crosby
out of the house before many years
had elapsed. They were constantly
having "dust-ups." as Spencer put it..
and once or twice he had threatened
to use his fists upon the said William
It would have gone hard with william
II he had.
Mrs. Crosby, backed by William,
had long worried her spouse to have q
telephone fixed up, and heshad event
ually acceded to her request.
Eyes, Hatred" she went on, 81 al
ways did say we ought to be a cut
above that Mrs. 'Arris, an this'll do IL.
Won't 1t, Bill7"
ut will, 'Melia," replied william
Just then the maid entered with a
letter which she gave to Mrs. Crosby,
who opened 1t and began to read the
contents. Presently she looked up and
said: "Ho! She will syill she? Dear
me, 'ow Ugh we're gettin'. Mrs. ,Arris
will be at 'ome on Friday. the Ito
inst, at s o'clock. Ho! Indeed! Well.
she amt got telephone, ave she,
Bll?'
"She ave not, 'Melia," replied vii
liam.
"Oh, wot upstartpess! Look ere,
Bill. She's gone an put 2ia.d stamp
! on her letter. HIM! Penny ones amt
good enough for 'er ladyship, aren't
they?" snorred Mrs. Crosby.
, Bill, you take that there letter an
write an say as 'ow I'll be there. Now,
make 1t polite an ladylike. Then.
when you ave written it, I'll sign 1t,
an you put 6-penny stamp on 1t. I'll
show 'em 'oo's 'ighest."
With that William retired to his sec.
retarial work, while Mrs. Crosby turn
ed to her husband, who had been meek
iy waiting all the time the converse
ton between his wife and >brother.in
law had been going on.
Now, Hatred, when will that tele.
phone be ready7"
| aNoxt L,rilo,, 49,, Jno,. tho tS.h
"Ho! The same day as Mrs. 'Arris
hat 'ome?"
"Yes, my dear"
| "Well, then, Hatred Crosby, about
4 o'clock you ring me up so as when
| I'm at Mrs. 'Arris' l can say In a lofty
sort of voice as 'ow my husband rang
me up on our private telephone just
before I came out"
On the morning OF Friday the 18th,
as Mr.. Crosby was leaving bis house
for town. he casually remarked to his
wife that he would not be home very
early that night.
| "Ho! You won't, won't you? An
may ! ask why not?'
Certainly, my dear. am going to
call on Spencer at Hlghgate."
Good for.nothlng young scamp. Yes,
go an EFT the fashpans with i'm, an
forget yer lawful wife"
Mrs. Crosby probably meant flesh.
pots. but still We must pass that over.
my dear Amelia, Spencer is getting
on very nicely, and, besides, today is
his birthday, his goth, so I'm going to
pay him surprise visit"
"Ho! Very well. Now, don't you
forget to ring me hup, whatever yGu
do. Now mind, O'Clock. 2S4 Finch.
ley"
Eyes, my dear"
"Oh, don't keep on sayin' Yes, my
dear; you'll miss yer train; go on"
And Mr.. Crosby did as he was told,
as was his custom.
During the day Mrs. Crosby shone,
and 1t was the telephone girls funer.
al. For Mrs. Crosby rang up every
person she knew who was connected
on the telephone.
Now, then. Bill. 'urry up, or we
shall be late for Mrs. 'Arris'," she call.
ed up the stairs.
"Yes, Melia," replied William.
But Mrs. Harris was doomed to be
without the society of Mrs. Crosby and
her brother, for Just as they were go.
ing out of the door the telephone bell
rang again.
Mrs. Crosby made wild dash and
grabbed the receiver.
"'Alloa!" she screamed.
"Halloa!" came the answer, in fem.
inine voice. SIS that 2si Finchley?'
at is" replied Mrs. Crosby.
as Mr.. Crosby INF"
Then Mrs. Crosby thought, "Ho!
| 'Ere's a girl wantin my Hatred" and
and she beckoned william, and in an
undertone said, Pass yourself hoff as
| Hatred"
Are you there?" came in an impa.
tient voice from the other end.
- urillia,,