, 1911-01-26
Her Convenient
Excuse


It's awfulIy sweet OF you to think
Of 1t and l should love to 90 II ] were
wei," said Mrs. Buckley I've the tsle-
phone. oh. no. nothing serious. but
don't feel quite able to 60 out Oh.
yes. shall be all right in q day or
TWO. Thank o SO much for asking
me Good by"
Mrs. Buckley hung up the receiver
with q sight Of relief. I'm glad I had
the presence of mind to decline she
said to herself. Il don't are at all
for a stupid drive with Mrs. Drake.
Besides. with the Hendersons coming
to dinner tonight rye got too much to
do this afternoon to waste time going
round the park behind her old slow
coach horses"
Two hours later Mrs. Buckley was
assisting the cook in the manufacture
OF a wonderfully complicated dessert
when her husband burst into the roo
with an anxious frown on his brow.
I've been looking all through the
house for you, Man," he said, . little
impatiently. II didn't expect to ind
you In the Kitchen"
Why mott How did you happen 70
come home 20 early. Tomf"
Il heard o were ILL.,"
I'll! Why. I'm not q bit ILL.
so I see. But I met Drake at lunch
and he told me you were so sick you
couldn't go out for O drive with his
wife. naturally thought you had had
some sudden attack and Nd q had
had sense enough to call me up. 90 I
rushed home"
W You poor old DEAR" Mrs. Buckley
laughed indulgently. - She continued
to whip cream 81 had NO idea you
were 80 easily alarmed"
ANY one wc1ld nave been alarmed
BY what Drake said. How in the world
did he ever get the idea that o were
sickf"
Mrs. Drake telephonsd me this
morning. asking mt to 90 driving. and
v l didn't feel like It I said I wasn't
WE'LL
"oh. tnars IT. Why didn't you Just
say you didn't feel like 1T"
p You know you can't q such
things. Tom"
We'll, ! rather think I can. How
ever. since you're in no immediate
danger I'll console myself with . lit
tie golf the rest Of the afternoon"
Very well, but come home early.
You know the Hender-" Mrs. Buck
ley ceased speaking a. the door closed
mono too gently behind her husband.
ANY one would think" she smilingiy
unused, that Tom was disappointed
because I'm not sick"
At $3.50. after an extremely busy aft
ernoon. Mrs. Buckley was dressed and
awaiting her husband and guests.
why in the world doesn't Tom
conner she fretted Hell surely keep
dinner waiting while he's changing his
clothes"
At seven O'Clock neither he nor the
expected guests had arrived and Mrs.
Buckley. tired and nervous. walked
the floor Of her iower-bedecked rooms.
We'll. here o IRE at last" she
cried ~ Buckley appeared At 7:S0.
what detained youf I've been Al
most wild"
Il didn't suppose you'd worry. Nan.
You see. we started . foursome 20
late that"
"But you knew you had to dress
for dinner. Tomr"
Dress for dinnerf Tonight"
Yes. of course You know - well
a. I do that the Hendersons are COM
ing. I can't understand why they're
90 late. It's inexcusabls. I'll think
twice before l invite them again.
They should have been here an hour
ago"
But. Nan. they aren't coming"
Aren't comingf What makes you
think they're not comingf"
We'll. you see. after / left Drake
today I ran into Henderson and told
him ! was hurrying home because you
were Ill. He, said he'd telephone his
wife that the dinner was on. 1t was
thoughtful Of him. wasn't TT"
"Oh, vsryi" Mr.. Buckley spoke
with much sarcasm. TT would have
been very thoughtful of you TO have
mentioned to me that the Hendersons
we're not coming. Perhaps you think
like to work all day getting up q
dinner for people who aren't coming"
For q moment Buckley looked a lit
tie crestfallsn. Then. making a strong
recovery. he said boldly: But, my
deal girl. I wal so delighted L ind
you weren't really sick that the sense
Of relief drove every other thought
out Of my head"
Except the thought Of golf"
Again Buckley looked somewhat
nonplused. but in an instant he raj
lied.
Hang It all. Nan. we wouldn't have
had this muddle II you had told Mrs.
Drake the truth in the frst place"
Il can promise you N thing. Thorn
a.. dear: l won't indulge in another in
nocsnt. fabrication very soon II l think