The Ordway new era., 1910-11-18
FACING A
CRISIS

sdrded MIN pltylngly. "NonSense! ne
Faid. "A mans got to be the head OF
his family. hasn't he? How's he 60
ing to be that II he shirks responsible
tiles? It's up to him to discipline the
children II they're boys! II they have
to be punished it's for you to do that
instead of your wife,"
That's all right" srumbled the man
with the straggly mustache. ITS all
right to talk. but I've got tender
heart. | can't lick 'em!"
1T isn't your tender heart" said
Gunsackon. scornfully. Its because
you're trying to get out of something
unpleasant! It's case of shirking
your duty"
That's all right to talk" repeated
the man with the straggly mustache.
darkly. as he got off at his station.
In view of this conversation 1t was a
coincidence that when Gunsackon
reached home he was met by Mrs.
Gunsackon. wearing n face that spelled
a domestic crisis. Somewhere In the
dim background Of the portieres
of the house. From where Thomas
lurked came n mufiied howl now and
then.
Henry" said Mrs. Gunsackon. CIV
ing her husband one of those wireless
signals used by women to convey the
fact that crisis must be faced. Il
have been waiting for you to get
home. Thomas has been very bad
BOY. n very bad boy. indeed! He took
the telephone all to pieces again. after
the talking to that you gave him the
other, time he did it-and told him
you would punish him.
GunsaCkon put on the frown which
the occasion demanded. Come here
Thomas!" he ordered. as he took off
his hat and coat. I'm surprised at
You. I'm ashamed that son OF
mine"
Please. papa" quavered the culprit.
as he slowly emerged His face was
red and swollen from preliminary
weeping. Gunsackon turned his back
on him. hastily.
This isn't case for arbitration"
he declared. "It .sIi't as II you didn't
know what mischief you were doing.
for I'd explained it to you before.
Thomas. you deserve good whip
ping!"
Gunsackon walked into the living
room. pursued by the anticipatory
shrieks OF his son.
HE really ought to catch it!' mur.
murei Mrs. Gunsackon.
Yes. indeed!" agreed her husband.
I'm little surprIsed-that Is, why
did you wait till got home. Harriet?
Wouldn't 1t have proved more effec.
tive II you had punished him on the in,
stant?"
why. Henry" exclaimed Mrs. Gun.
sackon. "I've never whipped Tommy
since he was four and had to be
spanked! He's too big for me to han
die. Anyhow. 1t will do him more
good. coming from you"
Il suppose So acknowledged Gun.
sackon. judicially.
"Whe-when are you going to do
it," asked his wife. little tremulous.
ly. I'D rather you'd get 1t over. and
am sure that Tommy would"
Harriet" said Gunsackon, reprov.
ingly. Il thought you knew that
child should never be punished in the
heat Of anger. Wait till all Is calm
and then 1t can be done In cold. even.
handed Justice"
well. It's been several hours since
It happened" said his wife. "and I
was the one who lost my temper.
Still, you can wait till after dinner If
you like"
All through the meal an atmosphere
ipf
Gunsackon table. Tommy, with stined
sobs, made futile dabs at his plate
occasionally raising appealing and pa
thetic eyes to his fathers stern face
Whenever Gunsackon caught one of
these glances he frowned harder and
took a drink OF water. Mrs. Gun
sackon was pale and shaky.
After dinner Gunsackon sat down
with his paper while the agonized
Thomas hung around.
Henry" said Mrs. Gunsackon.
meaningly.
Her husband coughcd. "My head
aches!" he murmured. as though he
had not heard her. II don't believe I
feel very well. 1-oh Thomas. |
nearly forgot you, Don't think you
are going to escape that punishment.
II my head gets better before your
bedtime I'll attend to you-if not. the
first thing in the morning."
Gunsackon read amid strained ST.
lence. AS eight o'clock approached he
was so deeply engrossed that he did
not notice his only sons slipping up
stairs with the stealth of burglar.
What! Tommy gone to bed?" he
exclaimed. in great surprise. IS min
utes later. well. it's bad to disturb
child that's asleep! I'll attend to
him in the morning.!
Gunsackon was Just reaching for his |.
hat after a hurried breakfast when. ap-
parently, he remembered the heinous- |