The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-06-12

The privacy of her family circle ex-
dressed some doubt as to Mrs. Wonder
mans sanity.
Encouraged by their social success
the Wondermans decided to give a DIN
ner party The furnishings OF the
dining-room had been remodeled IN ac-
cordance with Mrs. WonderWans iaea
of the prevailing fashion, aking ue
Stiffness out" she called it. and she was
snrious that her friends should have an
opportunitv of admiring her taste.
Among other improvements, the por-
trait of Mr.. Merridew, whose appear
ance, she said, always gave her me
'creeps." had been removed from IT'S
oIace Of honor and ANONYMOUSLY con-
signed to the attic.
That dinner party had most aus,
r;cions beginning. Everybody invited
ACCEPTED. and nobody arrived late.
Mrs Wonderman, radiant in new
dress felt that she was looking her pest,
and Mr.. Wonderman surprised hmseit
| nv the easy flow of his conversation
| The dinner was we'll cooked, and there
were no embarrassing waits between
courses. -.
80. IA The birds. and Mr.. Wonderman
! was secretly telgraphing his congratu,
Iations to his wife, when he was startled
to see the answering smile fade from
her Inns. her eyes dilate, and her TEA
tr,res CONCEAL in a look of horror. AT
the same time he became aware that
the united gaze of his guests was con-
centrated on a point just behlno MS
chair az .,,,ea
III This phenomenon, he found hlmsei
4 confronted by an elderly man OF mas
sive build, with a broad face heavily
charged with blood, a fringe OF graz,
whisker that fairly bristled, and snlail
ewes. cleaning with ferocity Whicn
the unhappy host attributed TO hehlAi
affection. -, t..
.,,re .0, or those ewes. Uncle Merridew
had turned up, and, worst OF ALL ne was
evidently a homicidal maniac
Mr. Wonderman's senses reeied I'M
der the shock of this apparition, but ne
instinctively rose to his feet, preterTing
70 meet an onslaught in a standing
rather than in sitting position.
e His feelings were much akin to those
~ novice in the art OF animal tram
: ING ON first entering the den OF fero-
= c;0,s beast. an illusion which was
T heightened by a movement OF Oncie
8 Nerridew's lips, suggestive OF gnashing
n of, teeth, and an overture OF raspihe
: oasos which the intruder was emitting
in a desperate endeavor to coDtroi hl'
:, voice. ,r- W..
n dernan heard behind him the rustic o
! skirt and his wife's voice at ms ear
d "Hurnor him as long as you oa ~,
she whispered. wfliie iiiis up
police station - he,
She darted from the room, and me-
: husband with a sigh of relief, heard TN
&c telephone bell ringing excitedly
{; "Non't vou-won't you sit down am
"a ;o;r rs7" he asked difidently.
u NJ Merridew. who had just succeed
10 Cd in gaining his breath, suffered a re
l. Iaoee and It was only after mar
70 struggle that he found his voice. :.
u what the devil are you dong heres
ne ne Doing SGir' bere?", echoed Mr.. Wonder
as man, bent upon getting as much time
- possible. IT, ~,
Oh that he had found his voice, seemed Ia, a.
termined to make the most OF IT, ~
- ing here in my house. Are you ava
~ that this IS my house: 1T.
"a ssvo,,r ho,,se7 Oh-yes-certainiy
aesented Mr.. Wonderman, mindful
81 his wife's admonition. u
10 Then. sir" shouted the enraged 2 '
". W. er. striking the table such a cTas mn
fe- blow that the guests pushed back the
ny chairs in unison, 81 ask you once NOR
ny what are you doing here :-.:o
j., In view of his previous admissiG
the Mr. Wonderman found some d1fhcui
~ +; in offering satisfactory explanation.
IN, We've thought you wouldi
leu mind" he said weakly.
ise. This reply. so far from. having
-rlc soo, il;r influence. produced much
IN IN same effect as throwing stick OF dyr
ne mite into burning house, go
co Mr. Nerridew flung the last rag
sn- seIf-restraint to the winds, and regal
less Of the presence of the ladies' $
leW nIoded in burst OF invective and p J.
o fa7ity which revealed an amazing
49,, tility Of expression .h-s
am His attitude also became so thre
TN ming that Mr. Wonderman discree
e. :, Continued on page 81