The Yale expositor., 1911-12-07
Starting ;
The Fire

nounced as her husband sat down at
the dinner table and she placed the
steak before him.
Good" calculated Newsom. 'Ill
build a furnace fire tonight, Kitty.
We're starting It earlier this year
than we did last"
Later" Mrs. Newsom said, as she
seated herself opposite him. Last
year we built our first furnace fire on
Oct. Is. l remember the date per-
fectly; it was the day l entertained
the card club and Mrs. Warren
couldn't come. Her sister was Ill and
Mrs. Warren remained at home to \
take care of the children, much to my
relief; she is very fussy woman and
you know how furnace fire makes
such an odor when it's started?"
Newsom nodded his head as he cut
into the steak. 81 don't remember all
that, of course. but l do remember
that we started the furnace later,
about the 2Sth think"
How ridiculous of you to insist
upon that, Harry, when I've just told
you when we did start it," Mrs. New
som rejoined. her cheeks flushing. IL
say we started the furnace on Oct.
49,"
1--WE not the slightest objection to
your saying that, my dear, because
you evidently believe it, provided you
grant me thep rivilege of saying that
we started the fire on Oct. g."
You're exasperating, Harry" Mrs.
Newsom exclaimed, rising to her feet.
''I'll get my diary and settle the mat
ter once for ALL" She rushed out of
the room.
Newsom called after her: "Ill get
the coal bill; that will settle it,"
At the end of several minutes Mrs.
Newsom appeared in the library,
where her husband was searching
through letter file.
Harry, you've hidden my diary so
I can't convince you of your mistake"
she accused him. what have you
done with it?"
81 haven't seen your diary. What
have you done with the coal bills?"
They're somewhere in the file. You
can look for them while I'm eating my
dinner; l don't propose to dine on
cold steak and potatoes after l had
the trouble Of making them hot, sim
ply because you're obstinate"
Mrs. Newsom swept out of the
room, only to return the next instant.
declaring with visible elation: Now,
I'm certain we did start the fire on
the 18th, because the day after that
fhn hn xuipd
and he swept the coal dust off the
walk"
Wonderful memory you have"
Newsom declared, shutting the file in
disgust. How do you happen to re-
member that Oct. 10 was the day the
man put up the storm windows and
swept off the coal dust?"
Because that was the day after
we started the furnace fire on the
18TH" Mrs. Newsom answered, tri-
umphantly. Now, are you convinced?
And, speaking of memories, you de-
stroyed last years recipted coal bills
when we cleaned house. so it's hardly
worth your while looking further for
them"
I'm not convinced" Newsom
shouted, springing to his feet. He
dropped the file in his furry and scat
tered the contents, which did not add
to his amiability. But there must be
some way of convincing you. Yes,
come to think of it, 7 made note on
the direction card that hangs beside
the furnace. Now, I'll show you"
"You never mentioned before that
you made a note on the card when
we started the furnace" Mrs. New
some said, suspiciously.
In the dining room thye encoun-
tered Mrs. Newsom's young sister.
who exclaimed: Whats the matter?
Why aren't you eating your dinner?
l ran over to borrow the evening pa
per for mother; dad forgot to bring
one"
"Rhoda" Mrs. Newsom cried, des-
perately, do you remember what day
we started our furnace last year?
Wasn't it the day l entertained the
card club and you helped me server"
mo, indeed" said her sister THE
women nearly froZe that day sitting
around in their thin dresses" was the
unexpected answer. at was the next
day. 7 remember perfectly, because
you had to keep an appointment at
the tailor's and you were afraid to
leave fresh fire unmatched"
T-I-well-" Mrs. Newsom stopped
and a reminiscent look crept into her
eyes "But that vas the day the man
put on the storm windows, and can't
recall that | went to the tailor's.
Still--wait minute. I'll telephone
mother. She always remembers ev-
erything."
Mrs. Newsom rushed to the tele-
phone and Newsom made his escape
downstairs The next mumaniN Mrs