The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-06
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE.

"Tom," she called. "Wel," said Tom in
sleepy bored, husband-like tones.
do you think it would be safe for me
she inquired.
What date?' he asked.
august 3, 1905" was the reply.
women are such bally idiots,'' he
Missed like the villain in cheap show.
What is the total amount?'
'Seventy-five cents,' blandly remarked
Peggy.
And you've been giving that thing
desk room all this timer growed the
man while Peggy quietly extracted an
other bunch of things which looked like
the rejected manuscript of short story.
Another old beau and his effusions,"
she sighed as she replaced the bundle and
quietly drew from an adjacent pigeon hole
bundle of newspaper clippings, vari-
colored silk samples several photographs.
two ping-pong balls, some pink ribbon, a
card of pearl buttons and some feather
bone for collars.
After examining them and examining
most of them back in the place from
whence they came, she said:
Its the strangest thing!'
What is?' asked Tom, by this time
more interested than formerly
Just some letters I've lost" and then
pulled out of drawer two quires of let
ter paper and envelopes. 20 match, several
quires of note paper, box of pens, a
blotter or two, bridge score, a deck of
cards, thimble and four gold collar but
tons.
And to think l accused the last maid
VIC had of being guilty of the theft of
thesef' she said. as she looked the four
nnSllSnPptinU hi he
face.
Tom. Just think how methodical am"
she went on. I've got the receipts right
here in my desk for the rent of all the
houses we've lived in since we were mar
riedl
"Why do you keep them?' asked her
spouse.
Because you can never tell when land
locds VIII demand money over again." she
replied
And then she opened the holy OF holes,
the secret drawer which had been her
reason for buying this particular desk.
All it appeared to contain, however was
a crumpled note.
What is that?" asked her husband
who by this time had given up all idea
of sleeping and had become greatly inter-
ested in the disinterment of his wife,s
secrets.
Il don't know" she replied '.but II
must be something very, very importa Mt
or l shouldn't have put 1t away so care
fully Moreover, Tom, don't lean in front
of me that way, because If that letter IS
read it,
But husband-like. Tom had already
seized the letter and was carefully perus-
Ing 1t. He absolutely snorted, he laughed
so loud, as he divulged its contents:
Dear Madame-Please come to be fitted
on Wednesday afternoon at O'clock"
and was signed by Peggy's New York
tailor.
Il wonder what made me keen thatq',
said Peggy alphabetically, looking very
much displeased while her husband
laughed heartily.
Meanwhile, where is my will and the
mortgage on this house that | gave YOU
to keep as soon as we bought it, all of
which you declared to me you would pre-
serve in that secret drawer?" he said.
The real question of the hour is, Where
are your letters?'" said Peggy. "I re-
member as well as anything tying them
with blue and yellow ribbons-your class
colors, you know-and putting them care
fully away. | remember saying to nv
self:
wouldn't lose Toms letters for a
farm Matters not how we quarrel. or
fuss and fight, and even If we were to he
AaShAOhdpiS cllouSI 10 get Il divorce. I'd
always have those dear letters, as an ex
ample of epistolary art, to show to nv
children and my grandchildren, and now
behold they are goner'
Look in the bottom drawer" suggested
the husband, now thoroughly awakened
and interested
But she only found a pair of gold Hin-
pers, couple of old rusty short hatpins.
the frame of hat which had been IN,
trimmed, whiskbroom and several T.
year-old gas bills.
1T is SO queer; She unused. absent,v
reading recipe for caramels which she
picked up among the pot-pourri. then
quite by accident coming across Toms
last will and testament carefully tied I'm
In an old silk muffler, and the mortoa 90
thrust safely back in the remotest dreuer
in the desk she said:
"Cf course I know what did will,
your letters, Tom ''
"Well?" said he, having once more do
posted himself on the sofa and resun,s,,
his reading.
Il gave them to the baby to play with
one day when he was crying and he fore
them into 1000 pieces!' N.eN
Then she went on with her desk cleon-
ing, as though nothing had happened
and shortly afterward closed it and t,,rned
the key apparently very well pleased wifi,
her evenings work.
r.---
n nHF =" n