Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-09-28
just take a run downstairs once more"
he explained as he left the room.

had so artfully concealed from him.
What did it contain? Did his wife
possess a secret which he did not
share?
Once more Mr.. Pedrie mounted the
stairs. this time in a spirit of just in
dignation. Before he slept that morn.
ing he would wrest this secret from
his unhappy wife. He stalked into the
bedroom without any attempt at quiet
ness.
ooh, Phin," complained Phoebe. dc
stop s%queaking around and go to bed!
You've walked me up three or four
times with your p%rowlings. and you
know I want to get up early so as to
go into town on your train"
"Going to town. are you?" asked
Phineas suspiciously.
"Of course 1 am! You know. 1 want
to do some shopping"
Phineas was undressing sullzily be-
fore his own c%hiffonier, and he saw
in the mirror the reflection of Phoebe's
face. She vas either crying or laugh
ing. and he decided that she was cry
ing.
81 haven't said you couldn't go, have
~ he asked.
ooh. no-that wouldn't make any
difference choked Phoebe.
wouldn't make any difference!!"
exploded Phineas. whirling around.
"Why wouldn't it make any difference.
I'd like to know. madam? Am I mas
ter in my own house?
"You can answer that question best,
DEAR" said Phoebe meekly, hopping
her eyes with the sheet.
"Well then. I am master in my own
house," declared Phineas Pedrie grand
~. 'When I say you shall go to New
York l don't go back on my word
ever though I strongly disapprove of
your going"
"Why?"
Observation-Disclosures" stated Phin-
cas- sharply.
"Phineas?" said Mrs. Pedrie in a
strangled voice.
"Well?"
"That's a woman's reason. you
know"
whats a woman's reason? Oh. 1
see! My dear, don't try to be funny
after midnight. One doesn't feel much
in the mood for that sort of thing
MI. Pedrie wrenched his collar off and
flung it across the ROOM. He sent his
| vest after the collar and then realized
that the icy feeling down his spine
was caused by the slipping Of a collar
button down his neck. He swore soft
~ and lowered his head in the vain
hope that the offending collar button
would slide out again.
1t did not, but his position was the
means Of his discovering the rosewood
box.
He caught a glimpse of it's polished
surface and brass ornaments under his
chiffonier. He was sure he had search
ed there before, but apparently he had
failed to locate it. He pulled. it out
and tucked it under his arm, throw
ing his bathrobe over it to conceal it.
Where are you going now. Phin?"
asked Phoebe c%uriously.
Mr.. Pedrie paused on the threshold
and looked with a superior smile at
his wife. I'm going downstairs to
the library" he said.
He went downstairs again with the
rosewood box tucked under his arm.
BE did not stop in the library. In
stead he went to the kitchen. where
he found the tool chest and extracted
a hammer and chisel and a bunch OF
old keys of all shapes and sizes.
In the glare Of the electrics he studied
the rosewood box. There was the key
hole. but no key. He tried all the
spare keys. and not one fitted the lock.
The hinges were beautifully set in the
box, and he was loath to wrench them
off. yet the box must be opened. He
must discover what secret his wife
was keeping from him.
He inserted the chisel under the lid
and pried gently. The lock strained,
but held. He bore down harder, and
at last, with a splinter Of wood around
the inside Of the lock. the cover flew
up and knocked his eyeglasses spinning
across the room. where they shattered
against the range.
And bang goes $751;" calculated Mr.
Pedrie, staring hopelessly at the gilt.
tering fragments of his eyeglasses.
What is the matter. Phineasy" asked
his wife from the doorway. and ther
as her gaze fell on the open box in his
hand she added: What are you doing
with my box. Phin? Are you out OF
your mind?'
Mr.. Pedrie glared savagely at, her
woman" he said accusingly, ''yor
have a secret from me. | must know
the worst. Phoebe Pedrie. Wait! d.
not speak. You know l will be quit.
just with you"
He held the box to the light ane
fumbled in it. He brought up a tan
gled mass of white thread, a measurt
of lace and IN ivory bobbin. "Wha i
this?' he stammered.
my tatting," choked Mrs. Pedrie.
And this?" Mr.. Pedrie covered hi
chagrin by fishing up the one other ar
ticle in the boX-a bundle of letter,
tied about with q blue ribbon. Aha!
"VOTr 1.-Two 1nttorc To ~ 1oor,y ec;<