Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-10-28

home nights more than one-tenth of the time"
 Edward Pinckney entered from the library, where he had been to arrange some business matters for his chief.
 "Your stenographer is ready. sir. whenever you want her" he said
 Mrs Durant threw up her hands in borror.
 Good gracious. George, you are not going to work on your first night home?''
 He looked at her in an apoiogetic. guilty fashion.
 Well, my dear. you see." he hesi- tated. "the work has to be done some way. and Just wanted to get start. have to go over some matters with Edward about this Rhinestrom gun and also about this gun invented by Sommers which we are casting for the government. 1t won't be much work. and l have my stenographer and sec retary all ready"
 Before the wife could protest fur ther Frances and Sommers entered the drawing room. The old steel man did not give his wife chance to argue.
 "Ah, Sommers." he exclaimed gen. ially, "I was just hoping you'd come in! l owe you an apology. my wife says, and l wanted to deliver it."
 "Apologyl For whatw exclaimed the lieutenant, mystitied
 Durant winked at him.
 'Why, Lieutenant Sommers." he said, with assumed seriousness. "l 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 and could not understand"
 Sommers. catching the spirit of the scene. bowed seriously.
 Your apology is accepted, NIT. Du- rant" he said Il thought myself 1t was rather strange that you should choose a subject on a thing neither one of us knew anything about; but, of course, as you were host chipped in and did the best could. hope my remarks on 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 ject 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. his hand on the door.
 "only little while. You'll all ex- cuse me:'
 Sommers and Pinckney bowed, but Frances laughed out loud.
 Dear old dad. what difference would 1t make whether we excuse you or not? We know you'll go anyway"
 ''Well, l won't be long," he protest ed; really won't"
 When the door had closed behind him Mrs. Durant drew long breath; then she brought her foot down with emphasis that was almost a stamp.
 I'm going into that study" she de clared, "and stay there until get him out. The idea of his beginning busl- ness on the first night home! He won't stay long after come inl"
 Indeed be won't" agreed Frances. You know she went on, with laughing explanation to Sommers, whenever mother decides that father simply shall not work she goes into the room. takes a seat where he Is bound 10 see her and just sits there staring at him reproachfully. She calls it moral suasion."
 But does 1t worki" asked Sommers.
 Docs it workT' interpolated Plnck- ney. If you'd ever seen 1t you'd un- derstand Il would work
 Yes, indeed" exclaimed Frances. Father win struggle along for five or ten or even fifteen minutes, but at last that steady stare gets too much for his nerves Hell begin to make mistakes in his dictating, and at last he'll jump out of his chair and stare, and then mother will heave long sigh and say: George, dear. I know you are tired. Don't you think you'd better stop awhileY And he stops"
 What splendid systemg' laughed Sommers. And what do you do, Miss Durant when you want to manage him?"
 The girl smiled.
 "Ob, that's secret" she said: q have my own way of doing it. but it works. doesn't if, EdwarG!"
 You're right there," agreed Pinck- ney. q won't forget in a hurry how you handled him on the wireless teleg- raphy scheme"