Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-07-16
Boss Of the Establishment

"Hellol" said the Boss Of the Establish
ment with an airy lightness he was far
from feeling.
He was late--legitimately late, of course,
but as he never could tell how a woman
Is going to take such things. he had found
upon similar occasions that a debonair
oblivlousness TO the time OF day was the
best way OF meeting the situation.
The Boss wife gave one long. sharp look
at her lords countenance.
Hes tired, isn't her" she asked in her
most cooling accents. And he wants his
dinner. 1t will be ready in half a minute
Luckily" she added, dropping into the
tone of ordinary conversation, when you
telephoned you would not be home till
late, Mary hadn't started the dinner so
everything is just right now. It's shame
you have to work for all those men at
the office when they get sick. ] suppose,
though, there Isn't anybody else with abil-
ity to do the work." she concluded, with
conjugal complacency.
The Boss grinned fatuous acknowledge
ment OK this tribute to his intellectual
powers and sank into a chair as his wife
took his hat and carried it away.
The Boss was tired-very tired--not so
much from extra exertion at the Office as
from his journey uptown by easy stages,
which had followed the completion of his
toll.
He had feared that his wife after the
way OF women. might reproach him with
having fingered by the waySide and that
with her usual keen sense--or sense OF
smell--she would detect the reason.
He had really forgotten the number OF
reasons.
One may imagine the Boss establishment.
therefore, when he saw her returning to
his weary presence with large brown
bottle in one hand and an empty glass and
siphon in the other
Dear" she said, II really think you
need little stimulant. You look dreadfully
fatigued. and I'm sure an appetizer before
good"
AS she uttered the fateful words the
Boss shivered. Even the sight of the brown
bottle disguised him. while the prospect OF
Having TO take another drink In the midst
Of the most unpleasant realization that hi
had already taken plenty was scarcely &c
be borne
Yet what else could he do? To decline
might arouse suspicion, and suspicion wou!t
prompt a wifely inquiry compared with
which that OF the most subtle lawyer
would be clumsy and Ineffective.
The Boss mind painfully concentrated
, upon the slngularly elusive syllables neces
sary 10 answer his wifes remarks. wal
! not, he knew, In a condition to Withstand
such a searching examination Hesitating
= therefore. between drink and exposure, I
must be said he made the towards choice
That's good idea" he exclaimed. sum
monlng as much enthusiasm as he coult
muster TO his tones Just a little one"
But the Boss wife was a generous littl
soul and liberal minded. Intent upon tn
delectation OF her spouse. she poured on
a drink the size OF 'Iongshoresman's tou
fingers and thumb.
Here dear she said and. steeled TO til
ordeal the Boss gulped Il down.
MY. what an awful facet" protested tn
lady. 'one would think It was medicine
y II didn't know you better ia believe 20
didn't want IT," she added. half reproaeh
fully.
. The Boss started! Was there an under
: tone OF irony in his wlfe's volce7 or wa
It merely the prompunss OF = guilty col