Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-02-17
What He Needed
Cunnlngham's Way Of Getting q Start
BY kennett Harris.
BY ksnnett Harris.

Cunningham sighed YEARLY. tits
nothing" he said. I'm just little
tired. It's been rather a 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. 81 believe you are sickenins
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 anxiously.
Don't you feel bad in any particu-
lar placer" she asked. "The strange
part OF it is that you have good color
and you aren't falling off in weight at
ALL. yet 1t doesn't seem to me that
you've eaten enough to keep yourself
alive. Well, I'll get the dinner served.
think you'll like what ! have for you
this eveping-the most beautiful roast
lamb"
I'm not hungry tonight" said Gun
bingham. 81 believe I'll 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 a bite of
breakfast this morning, and | don't be-
lieve you've eaten any lunch"
Yes indeed protested Cunning
ham. II ate 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 well on his way
through the second one when his wife
came in with the little Cunninghams.
Il thought I'd just let them come in
to say goodnight, dear" she said.
Kiss papa now and then go upstairs
very quietly. l don't want you to
make any noise. Poor papa's sick"
I'm not sick" said Cunningham,
family, as he embraced his offspring.
Let 'em make all the noise they want
l don't mind it,
Would you drink some eggnogg If
made some for your"
Cunningham shook his head and
sighed.
why don't you have a doctor?
don't see why you refuse to do that
He could give you little tonic or
something"
well, to tell you the truth l saw
doctor downtown yesterday" said
Cunningham. Il went to a man
Dawson recommended-Dr. Ripper, in
the Nokomis building. He's special
ist for nervous troubles and they say
he knows 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 a lot of questions / told him,
of course. that I'd been working rather
hard lately-or, to be exact, he asked
me II l hadn't been working pretty
hard. Anyway. there's nothing the
matter with me, only"
"What?"
We'll, 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?"
Well" said Cunningham, reluctant
ly, he said I was run down and over
worked. and the best thing / could do |
would be to 60 somewhere and relax |
entirely-stay three or four weeks. | |
told him 1t was impossible and he |
said, All right; then l wash my hands
of you"
Why is It lmpossibleT asked Mrs.
I'm not going to consider it," said
"A nice, selfish brute
Id 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.
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."
aid Cunningham. languidly He was
saying something about going down
south on little trip and he wanted to
NOW if | wouldn't. go with him. He
said it was an ideal spot-let's see!
Well, J. didn't pay much attention to
him at the time. / forget where It was.
told him / couldn't go. bat guess
hes still In town. might call him up
and ask him about It. 1t wouldn't hur,
10 do that. But don't think that I'll
co. ! don't want to-"
Mrs. Cunningham left the library n
lew minutes later to respond to cali
rom one Of the children. and her hus.
band grinned and lit fresh cigar.
Il guess it's going to work all right.
he said to himself. ITS been a hard
lob. though, and I'll be mighty glad to
sat my meals at regular hours again.
Say, but well have timel"
Electric Flatlrons Loaned.
Ten thousand fiatirons are to be
emit to reliable customers Of the Chi