Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-11-30
COMEDY OF
A SICK FRIEND

He came in very defiantly, with q
set look on his face, like a man who
contemplates an unpleasant crisis In
HIS career and yet is trying TO per-
suade himself that he doesn't care q
hang anyhow. And to his surprise
his little wife ram right up and
kissed him.
Your slippers are by the side OF
the Morris chair. john" she cried;
dinner will be ready in a minutel"
And then fear frizzled him and
discontinue dished him and he
moodily regarded his slippered toes
and once more rehearsed the inge-
NOUS excuse about a sick friend
which he had framed up to deceive
his loving wife and to explain the
scandalously late hour and condi-
ton I'm which he had returned home
the night before.
Now" she cried tbringing in the
steak and onions). Now, joint"
And up John got and took his
rightful place at the head Of the table
and solemnly cut the steak and
spooned the fried onions.
John" she began. LAST night"
His fourth thought: Here 1T
comes," And then aloud: 1T was a
sick friend,' he mumbled with his
mouth full of fried onions).
John" she continued (as though
she had not heard him), Mrs. Rob
bins called last night"
chr" he asked, with sigh OF re-
lief, and he clutched with avidity at
this frail conversational straw.
Robbins, Ell? All! Mrs. Thomas
Robbins, remember Tommy when
he was a boy. I've sat up with him
In nearly all his sicknesses," he re-
marked with emotion tand not with
out inspiration) And he's sat up
with mel And so Mrs. Robbins
called, Ell? Well Well"
Yes" she said. And she had her
new silk petticoat on"
"Huhl" said he. Il do hate to see
woman showing off"
"Oh, she wasn't showing off,
joint" she cried. II couldn't help
but notice them, you know"
But she must have shown you
the petticoat!" grumbled John.
NO" she replied i heard 1t rus
tie, and when she sat down
looked"
And suddenly she became listless.
II see," said John, that the Rus
slams haven't met the japanese fleet
yet"
obi" she remarked--very list
lessly.
Whereupon John applied himself
to his food stolidly. silently, biting
his bread with deliberate precision,
formally pointing each little finger
into the air as he handled his knli 2
and fork. blinking his eyes as he
drank his water and trying to make
himself believe that his dear httis
wife was not looking at him accue-
ingly.
did she look well in it," he in
CURED tquite husky)
"Who, John dear?" she asked, AMI
perhaps she sighed the least fart
echo of a sigh.
Mrs. Robbins" he replied twitn
additional huskiness)
"oh, finel" she exclaimed (speak-
Ing now with animatlon.) 5na
had on her gold watch and chain,
too! Not half such nice one rs
mine, thought"
.'And you shall have a new silk
dress tool" cried John-the guilt
stricken John--the proud John.
And you won't stay out late to.
night. will you. john" she coaxed
him. II was so worried last night"
"A sick friend" began John, mum
bling.
Mrs. Stafford was in to-day" she
interrupted him.
His fifth thought:
'I'll bet that woman made Stat.
ford tell her everything! That's the
last time I'll ever go out with hen.
peehed mani
And then aloud:
Ibid she tell your" hesitated
John.
She smilingly nodded and placed
the lobster salad on the table.
And did she tell you about th5
policeman too?" insisted John. nov
determined upon making clear
breast of it. Yes? And about tht
cabman? And how he upset his han
som because he smashed Reddy':
new plug hat? Yes? And after al
this you go ahead and get nice din
ner ready for me-fried onions ant
lobster salad--and never nag me
and-and"-And once again join
banged his fist upon the table
while you're about it" he cried
you just buy yourself hat and ;
silk petticoat tool