The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-09-21

not understand
 Sommers, catching the spirit of the scene, bowed seriously.
 Your apology is accepted, MT. Du- rant" he said. '1 thought myself it was rather strange that you should choose subject on thing neither one of us knew anything about; but, of course, as>you were host I clipped in and did the best I coul6 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 I must get to work"
 George" she pleaded. He paused for one second, his hand on the door.
 "Only a little while. You'll all ex- cuse mes''
 Sommers and Pinckney bowed, but Frances laughed out loud.
 "Dear old dad, what difference would it make whether we excuse you or not: We know you'll go anyway"
 .sWelI, I 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 I get him ! out The idea of his beginning busi- ness on the first night home! He won't stay long after come in!"
 Indeed he won't" agreed Frances. tYou know,' she went on, with a 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 to see her and just sits there staring at him reproachfully. She calls it moral suasion."
 "But does it work? ?" asked Sommers. Docs it work ?" interpolated Pinck- ney. 'If you'd ever seen it you'd un- derstand it would work.'' "Yes, 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 dietating, and at last-he 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 awhile?' And he stops.' "What a splendid systemv' laughed ! Sommers. And what do you do, Miss Durant, when yoa want to manage him ?" The girl smiled.
 "Oh, that's a secret" she said. "I have my own way of doing it, but it works, doesn't it, Edward?"
 You're right there,' agreed Pinck- ney. q won't forget in a hurry how you handled him on the wireless teleg- raphy scheme"
 Wireless telegraphy!" exclaimed the naval man. Do you mean to tell me that you understand wireless telegra phy tooY'
 '.Not very much,'' confessed the girl, ''but I do know something about it. Edward taught me the rudiments, and then I went to work myself. I got some of the men up from the shops, and they rigged up station for me at the top of the house. Father did not know thing about it until one day brought him up there and showed him. He didn't think it was very nice for a girl, but what could he do?"
 ""Oh," said Sommers, T see your system. You do what you please and then make him agree"
 Don't you think it a good one?' in- quired the girl innocently. The man smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
 Good for little things, but how would it work for a big one?" The question was lightly put, and all three were smiling. The smiles on the mems faces were just a bit set, for 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, MT. Son. mers. I do always what seems best to me-
 Pinckney turned away sharply, while the smile in the face of the naval off, cer became more natural and a little broader.
 tYou know I'd like to see this wire less room," he said. 'It must be a bully place.
 r "Oh, it's workroom," the girl in sisted-"nothing foolish about it. Pm not as good yet as Edward at sending and taking, but then I have more time to practice, and if he doesn't hustle I'll beat him.
 You fatter me-" said Pinckney. Really, MT. Sommers, she. can beat me, I think, but we do have great fun working over it.' "Yes; Edward and I are more or less partners-in this,'' agreed Frances. Partners p
 Sommers tried to keep his tone light ly unpersonal, but little hardness had to creep in. The two men were so rat urally antagonistic that probably they must have taken opposite sides on anything, and the feeling of each for