The Sauk Centre herald., 1911-08-24

Fr1ll continued removing his coat
Then he tossed it through the open
window from the screened porch into
the living room. Next he determined
~ shed his vest, his collar and his tie,
ana with relieved "Whew!" sank
into the hammock.
You are perfectly maddening,"
went on his wife when she had wit
messed his deed. How can you"
! Thud! Thud! Prilrs shoes hit the
porch floor as he kicked them of.
Next he sighed with content.
IF the McSloys should come now"
tearfully began his wife.
Prill raised himself in the hammock
and spoke heatedly. For four con-
secutive nights" said he, II have sat
on my own front porch in starched
and melting agony, all for fear the
McSloys would call! l have worn a
, coat that was constructed by f1end-
/ ish tailor for arctic exploration
work and a vest that originally start
ed out in life as mustard plaster.
have endured the glare of the lights
from within the house which you in
sisted on keeping lighted SO the Nc
! Sloys would know we were at home.
! I have choked to death up to late
hour because you wouldn't make any
lemonade till you finally gave up hope
of the McSloys for that evening Now
I'm through!
"Why, the dumb animals in the
parks are treated with more consider
alton by their keepers than I have
been treated in my own home!"
you might consider me a little!"
retorted his wife. "You know perfect
ly well that Mrs. McSloy doesn't in
clude every one in her calling list.
and she is on the membership commit
tee of that club l want to join, and
Mr.. McSloy runs out to the golf club
in his machine Saturdays, and it would
be splendid If he liked you and would
pick you up sometimes, and l should
think"
II know you would, Celia inter-
rupted her emancipated husband in
languid content from the hammock,
Il know just what you would think,
and 1 am going to spare you the re"
cital, because the weather is far too
hot for you to exert yourself by talk
ing when you don't have to! l know
your every little thought, darling!
And somehow at this minute it would
MT make blithering bit of difference
if King George himself in his cor
onation robes and with his crown tuck
ed under his arm should walk up those
front steps, should rely on his com.
mon sense as a man to understand
that nobody but lunatic would keep
didn't have to-"
Men," observed IIrs. Prill agitated-
ly, "are the densest, stupidest, most
selfish things! II you knew how it
would make me feel if Mrs. McSloy
should catch you looking like this
you'd put on your coat and shoes and
collar at once! Mrs. McSloy always
looks as though she had come out of
bandbox, and"
"She can go right back into a
bandbox for all of mel" persisted
Prill, airily. "Td have you understand
that I'm just as good as the McSloys!
And all their relations! This toady
own house? Why should l have to
consult McSloy about my wearing ap
parel? You'll be wanting me to tele.
phone him to ask whether l shall
wear my blue pajamas or my pink
ones! If Mrs McSloy's delicate con.
stitution can't stand the shock of see
ing a man without a collar, / don't
think I'd bother about knowing her if
1 were you!"
Their first call, too!" mourned
Prill. And first impressions count
SOL"
"Fudge!" said Prill. "You are the
slave of conventions"
john" Kissed his wife, as she
sprang to her feet. There are the
McSloys!"
An automobile was chugging slow.
ly down before the house.
Then came the sound of large
body heaving and scrambling Prill
tumbled out of the hammock He
hurtled through the open window into
the living room, in whose dark fast
nesses reposed most of his wearing
apparel AS he disappeared there was
a crash. He had overturned the
fernery.
Throw in my shoes!" he called
softly
There was bang and growl as he
bumped against rocking chair
Something tore as he struggled with
his vest. When he groped for his coat
his head encountered corner OF the
piano. Finally, gasping, hrsAthless,
with his vest upside down and his
collar twined in weird convolutions
under one ear, Prill desperately ven
tured out on the front porch to meet
the McSloys.
John" said Mrs. Prill when he ap-
peared. This is the agent for the new