The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1909-04-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. o0o0o0o0o0o0
8 WHAT COMES OF NOT 3
E TRUSTING ONES WIFE {
BY EUGENE HOLMES BURT.
Observation-Disclosures

ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
BY EUGENE HOLMES BURT.
ciation.l
Mrs. Ketchum was seated Mt her es-
crltoire in n dainty morning gown, pale
blue to suit her hair and complexion,
attending to her correspondence, when
the postman arrived and left a letter
for her husband. She took it up.
looked ut the postmark over the stamp
giving the date Of mailing, then ut the
postmark on the back giving date of
reception, examined the handwriting
carefully and unused:
II wonder Who'll mean whom-it is
FROM"
The handwriting was unfamiliar to
her, but she had not seen much Of
the writing Of any of her husbands
friends. since his letters were usually
addressed to him at his Office.
HE won't be Mt home before 6
O'clock, She continued, thinking, land
If it contains anything that requires
attention it might Be too late and
cause no end of trouble. Then would
be blamed, and justly blamed. Be
sides, don't object to Alan's opening
my letters, though for some reason or
other he never does. I'm going to do
what think right and take the con.
sequences"
However. to guard against contin-
gencies she pried open tile envelope
with hairpin and without tearing the
paper. She took out the letter and
read:
Dear Ketchum-I have no objection to
going to Chicago to close the deal, but
my wife always objects to my going away
anywhere. especially when don't take
her with me. When do have to leave
her all day in a hotel in a strange city,
which is worse for her than staying at
home. l shall keep my departure &C.
cret, telegraphing her from Chicago that
l was called away suddenly. l give you
this that you may write me about the
matter at the house, for she opens all my
and this is the only fault have to find
with her. But I believe It is common
failing with women. I congratulate you
on having a wife who respects your pri-
vate correspondence. She is an exception
to the rule.
Now, Mrs. Ketchum was no fool.
She saw In this letter a covert lecture
addressed to herself for opening her
husbands mail. Again she studied the
address. also the letter, gradually COM
ing to see an excellent disguise Of her
husbands chirography. She folded the
decoy and was about to replace it in
its envelope when there was howl
from the nursery. Dropping both let
ter and envelope OH the desk, she ran
to the nursery and picked up her dar-
ling Tommy, aged five, who in trying
TO climb on a chiffonier had fallen on
the back of his head.
When Mrs. Ketchum returned to her
escritoire she was agitated. She had
heard that children who fall on the
back Of their heads are liable to in
jure the base of the brain and thereby
be crippled for life. She hurriedly
picked up the decoy letter, placed it in
the envelope. wet what mucilage re-
manned and rubbed the flap down with
the palm Of her hand. This done, she
set the letter up on the mantel. brush
ed her OVID unfinished correspondence
into drawer and went back to coddie
her boy.
When Alan Ketchum came home to
dinner his wife was still worrying
about Tommy, who had headache
and was feverish. The father looked
at the boy, then went into his wife's
room, where he saw the letter ON the
mantel.
"Hello.' he exclaimed. That's from
Steve Britton. wonder if he's going
to Chicago. If he doesn't shall have
to 60 myself"
II WONDER" said the wife. you don't
have your letters addressed to your Of
fee. You are always complaining of
my interfering with your private af-
fairs. 1t occurred to me that there
might be something requiring atten-
ton, but you're SO particular about my
opening your letters that wouldn't
have opened it for farm. Some day
an important matter will need to be
attended to for you and you'll wish
you hadn't been So
The reason she failed to finish the
sentence was peculiar expression on
her husbands face. Her heart began
to beat like kettledrum. Something
had gone wrong. Mr.. Kstchum read
aloud:
AIadam-I am sorry that I cannot get
any stuff to match your pink silk.
have been to every store in the city and
have found nothing that will be suitable
Will you please instruct me what to do:
Respectfully yours,
ELISE CORBIER.
BY the time the husband had finished
reading his wife was looking for al
avenue Of escape. He saw her inten
ton and sauntered to the door.
"What in the world does 1t mean?'
he asked. "A letter from your dress
maker in an envelope addressed IL
Steve Britton's handwriting? Is
Steve Britton's or somebody in Nine
Corbier's shop:''
1T may be that" said the wife in
faint voice.