Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-03-10
What He Needed
CunaInghams Way Of Getting a Start
BY Kennett Harris.


ing, my dear?' she asked. solicitously
Cunningham sighed YEARLY. It's
nothing" he said. I'm just little
tired. It's been rather hard day,
that's ALL"
That's What you've been saying for
the last two weeks said Mrs Gun
bingham, as she helped him off with
his coat. Il believe you are sickening
for something."
"Nonsense!" said Cunningham, with
half groan. I'm just little under
the weather, that's all"
He dragged himself into the dining
room and collapsed into an easy chair,
while his wife regarded him anxiousiy.
Don't you, feel bad in any particu-
lar place." she asked. The strange
part OF it is that you have good color
and you aren't falling off in weight at
I'll, yet it doesn't seem to me that
you've eaten enough to keep yourself
olive. Well, I'll get the dinner served.
I think you'll like what have for you
this evening-the most beautiful roast
lamb"
I'm not hungry tonight" said Gun
ningham. Il believe III go into the
library and lie down for little while
Baxter Cunningham" cried his
wife, you've just got to eat. Why,
you'll be sick if you don't eat. You're
sick now. You didn't eat bite of
breakfast this morning, ana don't be-
Iieve you've eaten any lunch"
Yes, indeed" protested Cunning
ham. II ate a good lunch
He raised himself from the chair
with an obvious effort and walked
slowly into the library, where he
stretched himself upon the couch and
lit a cigar. He was sell on his way
through the second enc when his wife
came in with the lHtIo Cunninghams
Il thought I'd just let them come in
To say goodnight, dear" she said
Kiss papa now and then 80 upstairs
very quietly. | don't want you to
make any noise. Roor papas sick"
I'm not sick" said Cunningham,
family, as he embraced his offspring
Let 'em make all the noise they want
| don't mind it,
Would you drink some eggnogg if I
made some for your"
Cunningham shook his head and
sighed.
why don't you have a doctor? I
don't see why you refuse to do that
He could give you little tonic or
something"
Well to tell you the truth saw a
doctor downtown yesterday" said
Cunningham. 81 went to a man
Dawson recommended-D Ripper, In
the Nokomis building. He's a special
list for nervous troubles and they say
he knsws his business"
"Why didn't you tell me?" said Mrs.
Cunningham, in some agitation. What
did he say?"
"Oh, he thumped me around and
asked lot of questions. | told him,
OF course, that I'd been working rather
hard lately-or, to be exact, he asked
me If | hadn't been working pretty
hard Anyway, there's nothing the
matter with me, only"
'What?'
Well, there's nothing the matter
with me. I've told you that right
along. The doctor said so, too"
Baxter" said Mrs. Cunningham,
you're keeping something back from
me. You said nothing wrong, only
Only what?"
We'll" said Cunningham. reluctant
ly, ''he said was run down and over
worked, and the best thing l could do
would be to go somewhere and relax
entirely-stay three or four weeks. l
told him 1t was impossible and he
said, AN right; then wash my hands
of you"
Why is it imposslble?" asked Mrs.
Cunningham.
I'm not going to consider it," said
Cunningham. "a nice, selfish brute
I'd be-and really wouldn't rest. I'd
be thinking of you and the Riddles all
the time and wondering if you weren't
sick or something and--no, I'm not !
going"
You certainly are going. said Mrs.
Cunningham. decidedly You will go |
at once, too Well think of some quiet
place for you to go to-" |
Il met Jim Reed the other day."
said Cunningham. languidly He was
saying something about going down
south on little trip and he wanted to
know if wouldn't so with him. He
sid It was an ideal spot-let's see!
Well, didn't pay much attention to
him at the time. forget where 1t was.
told him l couldn't go, but I guess
he's stifl In town. | might call him up
and ask him about it. 1t wouldn't hurt i,
to do that. But don't think that I'll
go. don't want to-"
Mrs Cunningham left the library a
few mr. or to respond to a call
from onc u n children, and her hus-
band grinned and lit fresh cigar.
Il guess it's going to work all right"
he said to himself IT'S been a hard
job, though. and I'll be mighty glad to
eat my meals at regular hours again.
Say. but We'll have timel"