The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-06-20
Professors Wife

"AE cook guess I am holy hor-
ror!" exclaimed Jim F1emming as he
looked ruefully at frying pan full of
bacon and potatoes that smoked like
a bonfire and smelled like a holocause.
We'll, wonder who this on els, any
vay?" He looked at a woman who
had entered the doorway. He didn't
even try to think out who she could
be. He was hungry; she was a
woman; he must know now to cook
Help me out" he said, pointing at
his smoldering, smoking culinary at
tempt.
"Phew!" snorted the woman, hold
ing her nose. What fearful truck!
Get some lard and more bacon and
potatoes; one can't cook cinders."
Gee" said Jim to himself, this is
a. commanding one," but he made no
protest to the lady's style, and meekly
produced the articles demanded She
fixed up the meal in great shape and
they sat to it. Where do you hail
FROM" asked Jim.
I'm looking for Mrs Flemming,
your wife," she replied. tarshly. Il
met her at Robertson's. I left because
I didn't think much of them. They
wanted to run the house. If you want
any further information ny name is
Geraldine Baldwin"
isn't there a learned professor In
the mountains hereabouts named Bald.
VIM" asked Jim.
"Yes," she replied savagely. Hes
hereabouts, and he's my husband.
quit him for while, because he
makes me tired, always hunting for
fossils; and he doesn't seem to know
he's married at ALL"
Jim la lghed. That's funny; you
ran away from the professor because
be is not domestically energetic
enough-is a dreamer; I ran away
from my wife ON identically the same
grounds. She wants to hide under
mamma's skirts, and be petted, and
hear ma tell her what bad man her
husband is.'
mo men are any good. anyway"
said the professors wife.
It made Jim mad. What do you
propose doing?" he asked sternly.
"Stay here and be your housekeep-
er."
"I'll pay your fare back home"
"No sneaking back for me- said
she.
Call right, said Jim, and he thought:
"A few weeks with me as an employer
and she'll be willing to go back home" "
But not her. She just lorded it all
over Jim. He tried to give her holt-
day; she refused. Whatever she did
he found fault with, but all he got
for his pains was torrent OF sarcasm
fro mher stinging tongue
81 guess III have to vamoose my
sels." thought Jim, "and leave her the
shack" And into his mind came the
picture of his meek little Blanche.
Thus engaged in thought he had
not noticed a spare, dignifed figure
approach. until hanf was placed on
mis- SnOuiQ0r anu IlUllu NOlCC SPono
out
Jim looked up. Prof. Baldwin he
exclaimed, Eyes, she, your wife,
is here. I have kept her for her
housekeeper just because she was safe
with me- But, professor, she is
81 know what you were going to re-
mark" interrupted the professor, ge-
1ially. "You don't know to manage
wife. James 1 knew your good
reputation, and thought it would be
very we'll for her to stay with you
while 1 completed the resurrection OF
my great megatherium. Now if you
don't mind, will go and get Geral'
dine"
And to Jim's amazement Geraldine
fell heartily into the professors arms
Next day Mrs. Flemming was noti-
fed by wire that just as soon as Jim
could pack things together he would
start for home, and for her to meet
him at the depot.