The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-04-01
LOU AND JESSIE,
BY M. QUAD.
copyright, 1910. by Associated Literary
Press.l

kCopyrlBnt, lSIV, by Associated Literary
Press.l
Mrs. Spencer had dropped In on the
bride of four months. She had had
her eye on young Mrs. Gray for some
time and was now prepared to shatter
her idol.
After observing that there were FIVE
cases of married couples separating re-
corded in the paper this morning she
went on to add that the way husbands
were carrying on these days was some
thing perfectly awful
Il never read about those things"
replied the young wife. "Of course
there are good and bad husbands, but
my Billy is one of the very best"
Yes" said Mrs. Spencer grudging-
ly and with look of pity in her eyes.
II thought my husband was almost an
angel for several years, and then he
was arrested for having FIVE wives"
But Billy is different, you know"
Perhaps. On Monday was in the
telephone booth at Calder's drug store
to talk with my daughter It's a
double booth, you know. Just as was
ready to ring up, your husband entered
the other booth and called up young
woman and had conversation with
her."
But he didn't say anything to me
about it." replied the wife. What
name did he call the lady byf'
There were two of them before he
got through, and he called them Lou
and Jessie. He said he'd have more
money for them soon. Mrs. Gray,
don't go on deceiving yourself as l
did"
"But-but I don't think he knows
any ladies by those Names" faltered
the wife as her eyes filed with tears.
"You mean he hasn't told you that
he does. OF course not My husband
didn't tell me that he had four other
wives. Husbands are sleek, slick and
sly. You have got to be crafty to find
them out. However, If you want to
sit here and do nothing I've no objec-
tons"
But what can l do? 1 don't know
who Lou and Jessie are"
what can you do? You can be in
the telephone booth at noon today; you
can hear him talk; you can get sight
of him; you can go home and pack
your trunk; you can stand right up to
him and tell him that his perfdy is
discovered"
At noon young Mrs. Gray was in one
of the telephone booths at Calder's.
Up to the moment she started from
home she had said to herself that she
wouldn't go.
She had been waiting in the booth
only FIVE minutes when a step she
knew entered the store. Then some
one sat down in the other booth. Her
heart was throbbing as central was
rung up and voice called
"Give me 2043 Jackson"
The number went down on slip
of paper in the booth at the mans
back.
Hello! Is that you, old man? Well,
how are Lou and Jessie today? l
didn't sleep two hours last night for
thinking Of 'em. Haven't moved yet
eh? Oh, no, I'm not going to throw
up my hands. I'll send you check
by messenger at 1 o'clock. picked
Lou and Jessie, and I'm going to stand
by 'em. Goodby."
At the usual hour Of 6 o'clock Billy
Gray came home whistling. He was
happy, also hungry, also longing for
the kiss that always greeted him. He
entered the sitting room to find a wo-
man seated on trunk.
She had her hat on, and some things
she had failed to find room for in the
trunk were piled on a chair. The wo-
man was his wife, and she looked up
at him with a cold stare.
SIS it you, Ruby? Good lands, but
what does this mean? Is your moth
er dead?"
stand back, sirw she replied as she
motioned him off. II am neither Lou
nor Jessiew
But what is it? You are pale. You
have been crying. You lave packed
your trunk. Tell me what has hap
pened."
Sir" she said as she rose from the
trunk and extended a piece Of paper,
there are the proofs. l don't think
| Mt 20 ocly
tons"
mo. 2043 Jackson" he read and then
asked:
But what is it? What does this
mean|
ut means Lou and Jessie, sir!
was right there in the telephone booth
this noon when you conversed with
them. You picked Lou and Jessie
and you'll stand by them! Will you
nave the kindness to get me and my
trunk to the depot? l am going to
mother. If you think Lou and Jessie
will object | can find a cab myself"
Billy didn't rush forward and try
to throw his arms around her. He
didn't try to explain. He simply got
down on the floor and laughed and
rolled over ard kicked about until the
stern faced wife wondered If the sud
den blow had taken away his reason.
She had almost decided to send for a
doctor when he got Il hold on himself
and rose up and pulled her down on
the trunk beside him ard said:
mo 2043 Jackson is the Office Of
a stockbroker. | can bring you the
telephone book and show you Lou
and Jessie are the names Of two copper
mines am interested In. The broker
is carrying me on margin. The
stock Is dull and down, and I've lost a
bit, but I am hoping for a rise and
hanoinrr IInrn,r a nirnr1lnf. fnllln O