The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-11-12
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THE CHICKENs-AND
THE SHIRTS.

eee%eee~~~~e~~e~ - . :
Don't you want me to have chick
ens?" demanded Mrs. Ridgeway,
suddenly.
"W-well," her husband stammered
slightly disconnected. II think that II
your head Is set on keeping chickens
you can find what you want just as
we'll without sending a hundred and
fifty miles for them and paying fancy
price at that"
There! Why didn't you say that
before? knew it all the time. None
of your excuses deceived me in the
least. You don't believe l know what
I'm talking about when tell you what
exceptionally good values this offer
gives for the money and you're simply
determined to make it as hard as you
can for me to get those chickens"
Ridgway put on his patient look. He
glanced at his brother, who was quiet
ly smoking over by the window; then
he glanced at his brothers wife who
was darning stockings with an obstin-
ately impartial look on her face. Both
you think of that?"
H.
one in particular, "a woman's sense of
honor is a curious thing"
Honor has nothing to do with it."
retorted his wife. "The idea of you
telling me you can't even have a few
chickens sent up here free of charge
when you've been with the railroad
twenty years! It's ridiculous, Henry
Don't know that you brought all our
household furniture up. when we
moved last year, without paying cent
of freight? cant see how You can
have the face to speak to me about q
sense Of honor in this matter"
Eyes, very different matter" Ridg-
way exclaimed, triumphantly. THE
company transferred me to this point
and, of course, It was responsible for
moving my goods under those circum-
stances"
Hin! Well, that doesn't make any
difference about this, anyway. Such a
little thing to do for your wife,"
"Oh, the the elastic feminine con-
science!" Ridway unused. gently. ut
must be so convenient to have it! If
you want thing badly enough it can't
be wrong. That's about it, isn't it,"
THE ideal" broke in his sister.in-
law, indignantly. Then she looked i'm
partial again and went on darning.
"Or perhaps" Ridway went on, en-
couraged. perhaps the question is,
will it be found out?' II it will it's
wrong; IL not It's right"
Such talk is beneath notice." his
wife remarked, with dignity. But l
want You to understand that l know
perfectly we'll 1t would be one of the
rightful perquisites of your position to
have those chickens shipped up here
for me free of charge and that have
my opinion of you for refusing"
my dear wife," replied Ridgeway
with a grand air OF magnanimity, Il
excuse you for speaking that way, be-
cause you don't appreciate fully what
you are talking about. The shipping
Of those chickens would be a small
thing In itself. but you must consider
that those 'perquisites.' as you call
them. have been 50 overworked by dis
honest. grasping employees of the road
that the company has recently passed
rigid rule gainst them. A man is
liable to be discharged If he's caught
breaking that rule, tell you"
He Isl" calculated Ridgway's wife,
"Oh!" gasped Ridgway's sister-in-
law.
Nov. why didn't you tell us that
before?" asked Mrs. Ridgway. "Of
course didn't want you to break
the rules, Henry"
"Or lose your position" added the
sister-in-law, apologetically. I'VE
thought it was just because you hat
ed to ask for 1t or because you didn't
want her to get those chickens or
some such reason"
Il know you both thought great
many things that had nothing to do
with the case" said Ridway, making
the most of his advantage. That's a
woman's way. She jumps to conclus-
ions and usually to wrong conclusions.
If you have just given me credit for a
plan, sincere, old-fashioned sense of
honor in the matter this whole discuss
ion would have been avoided"
After delivering this crushing re-
buke he proceeded to change the SUBJ
ject and everybody helped him.
AS the evening wore on the CONVEX
sation grew so agreeable that time
was forgotten until Ridgway suddenly
pulled out his watch and jumped to
his feet
Great Scott! I've got to rush II
make that train for st. PAUL." he cried.
Look here, Mac"-to his brother
I'm going to be up north all the week.
you know, and these shirts I bought
in town today are one size too small
I'm going to need them while | am
away, too. Take them around to
Prinker & Prinker's tomorrow and
change them for the right size, will
you? You can just send 'em up marked
railroad business.
"Wha-a-at!" cried the two women
in one breath.
"Ha, ha. ha!" laughed Ridgway's
brother
"Ridgway started. "Oh. we'll
pshaw! A little thing like that is
different" he said. lamely.-Chicago
News.