Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-12-31
.Dnrant winked at MN.


said. with assumed seriousness. Il
thought | owed you an apology for
my conversation at dinner discussing
the truck gun work and steel and gun
making generally-those subjects In
which you have no interest n could
not understand"
Sommers. catching the spirit OF the
scene. bowed seriously.
"Your apology Is accepted. Mr. Du-
rant" he said. II thought myself ii
was rather strange that you should
choose a subject on a thing neither
n of us knew anything about; but,
of course, as you were host Clipped
In and did the best ! could. hope
my remarks Oh the subject weren't
altogether foolish"
Durant turned TO his wife.
.There. MY dear. You see I've done
everything you asked. I've apologized.
But really we only talked on that sub
iect because we both thought It was
the one thing you were interested In.
so we'll have forgiveness all the way
round. And now | must get to work
George she pleaded.
He paused for one second. bis hand
on the door.
only a little while. You'll all ex-
cuse meY'
Sommers and Pinckney bowed. but
Frances laughed out loud.
Dear old dad. what difference would
1t make whether we excuse you OF
not? We know you'll go any way
"well. | won't be long" he protest
ed: really | won't"
When the door had closed behind
him Mrs. purant drew a long breath
then she brought her foot down with
emphasis that was almost a sta mp
I'm going into that study" she de
clared. land stay there until ! get him
out. The idea Of his beginning bust
ness on tie first night home! He
won't stay long after | come in"
Indeed he won't" agreed Frances
You know" she went on, with a
laughing explanation to Sommers,
''whenpver mother decides that father
simply shall not work she goes int
the room. takes q seat where he Is
bound to see her and just sits there
staring ut him reproachfully. She calls
1t moral suasion."
"But does 1t work? 2" asked Sommers.
"Does 1t work ?" interpolated Pinck-
ney. IF you'd ever seen it you'd un
derstand 1t would work."
Eyes, indeed" exclaimed Frances.
"Father will struggle along for five or
ten or even fifteen minutes. but at last
that steady stare gets too much for his
nerves. He'll begin to make mistakes
In his debating, and at last he'll jump
out of his chair and stare. and then
mother will heave u long sigh and say:
George. dear, | know you are tired.
Don't you think you'd better stop
awhile?' And he stops"
what a splendid systemr' laughed
Durant, when you want to manage
him?"
The girl smiled.
"Oh. that's a secret she said u
hav my own weyAssn19N8At@eati
works. doesn't it. Edward?"
you're right there" agreed Pinck'
ney. II won't forget in a hurry how
you handled him on the wireless teleg'
raphy scheme"
"Wireless telegraphyl" exclaimed the
naval do you mean to tell me
that you understand wireless telegra-
ply tooY'
mot very much" confessed the girl,
"but | do know something about it
Edward taught me the rudiments, and
then went to work myself. | got
some of the men up from the shops
and they rugged up a station for me al
the top OF the house. Father did moi
know a thing about 1t until one day
brought him up there and showed him
He didn't think it was very nice for q
girl, but what could he do?"
oh" said Sommers. II see your
system. You do what you please and
then make him agree"
Don't you think it a good oneY" In
quired the girl innocently.
The man smiled and shrugged hi:
shoulders.
Good for little things, but how
would 1t work for a big one?"
The question was lightly put. and al
three were smiling. The smiles on the
mems faces were just a bit set. fol
behind that question both knew there
was a great deal left unsaid.
Frances tossed her head lightly. but
the tone of her answer was vital with
disfavor.
"And on the big ones. too. Mr.. Som
mers. l do always what seems bes1
to me-"
Pinckney turned away sharply. while
the smile In the face of the naval Off
Ger became more natural and a little
broader.
"You know I'd like to see this wire
less ROOM" he said. "lt must be
bully place."
"Oh. it's a workroom," the girl in
a. 49, IA r.