El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-06
BY w. Harold Thomson.

~ and now they had quarreled.
This young man, who had on many
occasions vowed by high heaven that
any angry word would never pass be-
tween him and his dear, had that
morning at breakfast gone through
tornado of matrimonial dispute over
so simple a matter as a windowseat in
his study. He had said that he want
ed a windowseat put in, and Rhoda,
at first playfully. then tearfully, and
finally with much spirit. had told him
that no windowseat would go in any
such place If she had her way.
No doubt it was a very ridiculous
thing to quarrel about. but, unfortu-
nately that had been the start of the
trouble They had drifted to more Sc
rious matters. Nicol had gone so far
as to say that Rhoda didn't love him
at all, but was nursing an affection
for some mysterious other man"
whom he-Nicol-did not know, but
would have hearty joy in shooting.
For her part, Rhoda, her cheeks very
hot had attempted no denial Of this
fearful charge. but had hurried UP TO
her room and locked herself in.
But all that had been in the morn
ing. and with the afternoon, sanity and
self-reproach had come to one Of the
parties, at least. Yes, he would ring
her up and say how sorry he was.
Nico1 smiled, and. lifting the receiv-
er. placed it to his ear. He asked for
his number in Hampstead, and waited
impatiently. Then, so suddenly that it
startled him, and he was in the mood
to be easily startled, a voice said.
s'Halloi"
But If Nicol was startled by the sud-
den "Halloi" he was infinitely more
startled by the voice that spoke the
word. For it was not the voice of his
wife, nor the voice Of one Of the maids
land he remembered sickly that both
the maids were going out that after
noon to some sports or other), but
the voice Of a man, He had rung UP
his own number with the object Of
speaking to his wife. and he had been
answered by a mani
Quaveringly he answered "Halloi"
and then hoping fervently that ne was
on the wrong number. asked confirma-
ton on the point. The answer crum-
pied him up. The number was the one
for which he had asked.
The voice at the other end Of the
telephone asked:
who are you. please? Whom do
you want?''
Who am I? Oh. I'm nobodyi I'm
nothingi 1 beg your pardon Halo"
"Yes?"
IT wish to speak to Mr.. Hammond,
please. Do you know if he's in?"
''Mr. Hammond? No. he's not here
But one moment. I'll get Mrs. Ham
mond
After that there was silence for a lit
tie. and Nicol wondered whether he
should hang UP the receiver but grim
~ decided to have word or two first.
Another "Hallo!' sounded in his ear,
but this one was distinctly more
tuneful.
-Hallo!' he called. and followed it
up Immediately with: Can you tell
me, please. If Mr.. Hammond is at
homer
He was careful to alter his voice
but the trouble he took was unneces-
sary. for Rhoda could not have recog-
nized it in any case; it was so differ
ent from his usual steady tone
NO" the answer came to him soft
1y. "he is in the City. Who are you,
please? I'll give him any message
when he comes home"
Grimly Nicol smiled.
ooh, Pm-oh, 1 won't give my
nameI" he said. He knows me quite
well, but I want to surprise him Do
you expect him home this afternoon"
Quickly, and it seemed to her nearer
"No-oh. no, He never leaves the
city until about six. I'm quite sure he
won't be back here until han-past six
or So"
AIR said Nicol in a sort of groan-
Thank you, then. I'll perhaps ring
him up again tomorrow evening.
Thank you'll od-byer And without
waiting to hear any more he replaced
the receiver on it's hook
Then he sat back and stared at his
hands lying before him on the table
clenching and unclenching tensely A
clerk came in with some letters to be
signed, but Nicol neither saw him nor
heard him until, attempting discreet
and dream dispelling cough, the clerk
produced one so harsh and loud that it
must have hurt his throat.
When the clerk had retired TO awe
his fellows with the news that the
junior partner was either going mad.
or had been drinking strong spirits
in secret.
Tortured and impatient though he
was, he recognized that if he was to
play successfully the part of an unsus-
pecting husband, which he intended to
do in the faint hope that his wife
swould see fit to confide in him, then
it would be ridiculous to arrive at the
house before his usual time.
He found it desperately hard to sit
there in the office until six o'clock,
particularly as it CHANGED that there
was little or nothing for him to do
but somehow or other he managed it.
Putting a very great strain upon him
self he contrived, too, that his face
when he entered his house should wear
a species of smile, and that his man
ner should be both frank and friendly.
Yet though, as he met his wife in
the hall there was a smile upon his
lips, there was also-if one may use
a figurative phrase frown in his
heart Fro Rhoda was smiling at him.
Nicol delivered himself of another
groan, and Rhoda, hearing it, put her
hands upon his arm AMI looked up at
him fearfully
Whats wrong?" she asked. Il little
timidly. for the memory Of the quarrel
not yet patched up was strong upon
her
'Nothing's wrong" he answered.
''What-that is. what made you Think
that there WASP"
Il thought you sort of tren.bled,