The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1908-12-24
The LOCKED DOOR

fS n
'sMilly, my pet" announced Franz
Charters, as his wife met him In tn
hall for the Homecoming kiss which L
indispensable when one Is only 81,
months married. 1--WE just accomplish
ed an act OF pure Chrf-tiau charity"
That's just like my dear. big-heart
ed boy" responded the lady, linking 6
dainty arm affectionately in his, ant
pulling him into the dining ROOM Blu
what was it,"
I've invited Dick Medium to stay
with US for the holiday weekend" he
said Poor chap. he would have had
such beastly depressing time Of it
Good heavens. MIlly Aren't you wellT'
The little woman was indeed very
white. and gasplng badly. as IL for
breath
you've Invited Dick Medium
here< she cried. as soon as she could
articulate. 20 Frank. how could you:
ne muSln I Colit---lc TN = fC1AA-
-Mustn't-can't.-' exclaimed Mr..
Charters. in some irritation But l
tell you I've asked him, What's the
meaning OF all this fuss. SIilly2 What
have you got against him."
..Nothing. nothing - only" o,
Frank. / have asked Ethel Cheriton- 1
thought she would be 50 sad and lone
ly. and"
-weII. Of all the confounded. I'M
20 Frank. please don't swear
I wasn't swearingl' snapped the
man who had so recently sworn to
love and cherish an angel in human
guise Il hope~-with biting empha-
sis--'that am equal to expressing my
feelings in the presence OF lady with
out the aid Of bad language. But,
hang 1t all. Milly. what's TO be done
nowg Why. those two haven't spoken
TO one another for nearly three
months. How could you be so fool
ish."
Me. indeed - retorted Milly. hotly,
81 like your style, Why. asked
Ethel nearly week ago. It IS you
who have been idiotic enough to ruin
the whole thing
That's just like woman - return
ed Charters, witheringly. shifting all
the blame ON to somebody elsel But
the question is, what the deuce are we
TO dos"
Dor echoed Milly. 'Why. you must
put him OF somehow. Say we've got
whooping cough or measles or some
thing in the house anything, 50 long |
as be doesn't come
'sNo, / am hanged II I dor said her
husband. Indignantly. you must
make some excuse to Ethel. so that she
Dostpones her visit"
Il shall certainly do nothing OF the
lIndF' answered the lady warmly.
''Well. It is equally certain I shall
Tot tell Dick to say away
VERY good Then / foresee a most
Enjoyable weekend for all OF us. Ethel
Won't speak a word to him, I'm sure.
lie was entirely too blame in the mat
er; aud. from all I can gather, he be-
aved disgracefully to that poor GIRL
Nothing Of the sort, Dick told me
u about It. and Ethel was in fault
rom first to last
The dinner partook OF the nature Of
nightmare feast than a social gath
ring Of friends. Charters and his wife
tudiously avoided speaking to each
Their. while their two guests seemed
0 be utterly unaware OF each others
xistence. When Charters spoke to
,thel. she answered him In monosylla-
les; and when Medium ventured to
ddress his hostess. that lady was po-
tie to a disagreeable degree. The end
the dinner was marked by absolute I
Hence.
In the drawing room afterward It
as. II possible. worse still; and Char I
rs was scarcely surprised when bis
ife. under a pretext Of giving some (
-ders to the servants. escaped from
e room. Her disappearance gave him
hat he thought was an inspiration,
ID. watching his opportunity-when I
thel was porting over a postcard al /
IN. and Dick was assIduously exam '
ing some ancient china on the side
ard--he slipped by nolselessIy and 3
ftly turned the key in the lock-
The two occupants OF the drawing d
,m were considerably embarrassed
len they suddenly found themselves ].
me. Each. however. pretended to be c
lvlous OF the fact. After a few mo- I
nto Ethel closed the postcard album t