The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-11
Her Rival
A WIfe's Comments on Con-
Versatlon by Telephone.


office the other day on little visit as
ISOLATED with domestic finance he had
Just been called up on the phone.
"Hav said the wife, she being a
Jealous person. Some creature is
calling him up"
So she remained out Of view in the
anteroom.
"Hellol" said the husband at the
phone. Who's that you say? oh, it's
you, Ell, Jack? H'w'are you, pal? Any.
thing coming off?'
cts that horrid. dissipated, flirta-
tious Jack Hotclip talking to him" said
the wife to herself Il always did sus.
pect that man.
"Huh? Say, is that 500" said her
husband through the transmitter.
Mighty glad to hear that. Say, where
did you trap her. anyhow"
("Her!" shifted the jealous wife.
"Oh, knew there'd be some devilment
in the wind with that Hotclip man
calling him up
well. bling. ] sure am glad you've
nailed her, matey," went on the hus.
band at the phone. Say, is she a sure
enough looker?"
("Well, Just hear that" said the
wife to herself. "Looker.'0
"Honest-Injun thoroughbred, too. you
say?' continued her husband at the
phone Wei. me for her, then. J
sure want to look her over. What's
that? raging beauty, is she? Well
guess that's poor. That's the kind
I'm hunting for"
cob. such hideous deceitfulness! y
painted the wife In the anteroom.)
"Y'know I'm pretty tired Of having
these imitation NUTS flashed on me, y
the man at the phone went on conf
dentally. Il want nothing but the real
bang up thing. I'm willing to cough
up anything within reason, too, to ge'
the real thing, as told you
("The traitor!" Kissed the mans
wife, trembling with rage)
Say, you got her there with you
now, old man? What's that? oh, you
have, hey? Curled up in your lap right
now, Ell? Good! But you want TO re-
member that she's as good as mine,
old boy"
CCurled up in his lap-horrible! "
gasped the jealous wife,
Look here" went on the unsuspect-
ing husband at the phone, cant you
fetch her down here right away and let
me look her over? Let's see, it's pretty
near lunch time and I'm sort of expect
ing my wife down pretty soon and OF
course | don't want my wife to see her
see? But you just trot her down here
now and III have peek and then we
can fix 1t. What's that? You'll be over
in FIVE minutes? All right, old boy
I'll be waiting"
Whereupon he hung up the receiver
and turned to be confronted by hi:
white-faced and wrathful spouse.
Naturally he looked surprised. Just
as naturally she took his surprised lool
as a sure indication of guilt
80. sir" she opened up, you are
going to have that Jack Hotclip bring
some wretched tawdry creature here
are you?"
He hung his head. He looked like {
man nailed with the merchandise.
"Oh, | heard every single solitar!
word you said In the phone. so yol
needn't deny it." his wife went on
breathlessly How dare you carry OF
in such a manner right here in you
office? Have you no pride or self.re
spect? What do you mean by profes
sing to l-l-loye m-m-me, and t-t-then-
She was relapsing into angry tears
and of course he tried to take hold o
her to comfort her and square him
self
Don't you d-d.dare to t-t-toucl
m.m-me!" she gurgled, shaking him of
Il hate the v-v-very t-t-touch of you
h.h-hand, you scandalous, deceitfu
thing!"
But look a-here, my dear he be
gan, you're all dead wrong, you know
Lemme set you right, for heaven
, sake"
"Wrongl" she exclaimed angrlly
"D-d-didn't hear your very words I
that horrid brute on the phone? Ism
he g.g-going to fetch some m-m-miser;
T BILE baggage down here and"
Just at that instant, however, job
Hotcllp arrived at the Office with tn
, miserable baggage He was carryin
!. the miserable baggage In his arms, an
! he deposited her in the guilty hui
bands arms, where she promptly cue
, died up and looked content
Here, my dear said the husban
to his wife. lis the young female ind
vidual about whom | was talking wit
L Jack on the phone. I've had Jack o
{ the lookout for good one for a Ion
time and he has been kind enough {
h get this crackajack for me- | wante
? her for present-a surprise present
for you, you know
d He handed the dainty little Japanes
. spaniel over to his wife, and it was he
d turn to look guilty.