The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-11-02
nd he sIared when his wife questioned

ana ne SiareQ Wneu MS Wt1e questioned
him.
THAT dog" he said, "was stolen, and
II was arrested for stealing him!"
Mrs. Willoughby's eyes snapped
Who did TT"
'The S. P. CA. man started it, said
Mr.. Wiiloughby YEARLY. He recog-
| nized the dog and reported to the po-
Ice. 1t seems there was reward Of
| $50 for him. and"
Fifty dollars! For that dog?" gasped
| Mrs. WilIoughby.
"Annabel." said the husband. "you
wouldn't think II, but that miserable
little yelping brute has a family tree
that would shade our whole back yard.
and a pedigree that would reach from
here to the corner and back again."
Dear me-" said Mrs. Willoughby,
I'm sure he didn't look it."
Nor act IT. either" said her husband
grimly.
But to arrest you for stealing him."
said Mrs. Willoughby. Didn't they
know that you didn't take him."
They did and they do" said Mr..
Wiiloughby hotly. But Jameson
he's the Shorthand Haskins-hes the
Justice of the Peace-have it in for me.
You remember, Annabel. that once upon
a time when 1 must have been laboring
under temporary mental alteration
mixed In politics-the more fool l.
opposed the nominations OF Jameson
and Haskins. and. by Jove. ] pretty
nearly beat 'ein. too. They swore to
get even, and to-day / reckon they
have"
But" said Mrs. Willoughby. 81
should think that you could easily prove
that you didn't take the dog. Why
didn't you hunt up the man you bought
him off"
Mr.. WiIionghby opened his lips to say
something. Then he closed them again.
After all, Mrs. Willoughby was only
woman and his wife. Besides, whers
was the use?
"To-night," said Mr.. Wilioughby.
I'm out on bail"
"Oh," said Mrs. Willoughby commits
eratingly. She had only the vaguest
idea as to what "out on BALI might
mean. but 1t sounded rather dreadful.
| "Farraday got me out" said Mr.. Will
| lOughby. Farraday was his partner
HE thought tt" Mr.. Willough-
by choked at the remembrance. He
| thought it funny" He glared at his
wife. "Annabel," he demanded, do
you see anything funny about it?"
Mrs Willoughby cast herself on her
husbands breast and wept all over his
shirt front. Funny" she walled, "Oh,
Henry, it's tragic!"
| Mr.. Willoughby's arms closed about
| her, and he kissed the top of her head.
There had been times when he had de-
plOreQ neE lack III Il SENSE Oh
But tonight 1t was far otherwise. Mr.
Willoughby had discovered that 1T is
more comforting to be cried over than
to be laughed at.
He patted his wife's shoulder and
wiped her eyes on his own pocket hand
kerchief.
"You mustn't fret" he said, "for of
course it'll come out all right"
"Oh, Henry" said Mrs. Willoughby,
its too bad. And he was such bar
gain, too"
Mr.. WilIoughby understood, of course,
that she referred to the dog. He real
| lied, too. that now, IL ever, was his
opportunity to point moral And he
seized it, too, though in SO doing he
stood convicted of ingratitude in his own
eyes.
THAT" he said. Iashing his wife over
| his own shoulder, has cured me Of bar
gain hunting"
Mrs Willoughby said nothing.
Il bought my bargain dog" said Mr..
WilIoughby. "just as you bought your
bargain collar"
Not only would he drive the nail in,
but he would clinch it on the other side.
"And from my dog built up whole
hunting outfit just as you built up
whole costume from your collar
Mr.. Willoughby paused expectantly.
| YES DEAR" said Mrs. Willoughby
sootningly. "but don't worry over it.
| Well have dinner now, and afterward
We'll put the hunting outfit in the front
closet and forget all about it.
The front closet, be 1T explained, was
already filled to overlooking with Mrs.
Willoubhgy's own unused and unusable
| bargains"
Mr.. Willoughby sighed and meekly
| followed his wife to the dining-room.
It was then that he abandoned all
hope Of ever reforming her.
He handed his wife her plate, and
mingled sentiment with the slice Of roast
he was Offering her.
my dear" he said. do you know
I'm glad I married you y"
Mrs. Willoughby blushed rosily and
dealt him an extra spoonful Of succo-
fash.
Henry" she said, I'm convinced
that if 1 hadn't met you I would have
gone unmarried all my days"