The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-03-08

did not rattle in the lock of the front
door. He had gone TO his club and
was sitting with the evening paper be-
fore him. trying to persuade himselT
that he was reading it, but really in
mental turmoil. The question Of
the domestic supremacy had come up
for settlement, and it must be settled
his way.
He ordered his dinner at the club
and when it was served went into the
dining room and ate it alone-that is,
he ate a few mouthfuls; he couldn't
eat any more. His wife would know
where to find him, and if she wanted
him very badly she would telephone
for him. Then he would insist on an
apology and promise never to do so
any more. After that he would go
home and forgive her. 1t might be a
good lesson for her If she would be
very Ill in consequence of her stupid,
obstinate defiance of his order not to
invite pneumonia. At one moment he
almost wished this would happen; at
the next he was in terror lest it should.
Dinner over, he sauntered out into
the cafe, lit a cigar and-suffered.
Several men he knew were there, but
when he saw one of them advancing
to speak to him, pretending not to see
him, Sam turned and walked the
other way. He hoped every minute TO
be called to the telephone. Whenever
a waiter came toward him he looked
at the man anXiously, and when the
waiter passed him without the sum
mons he desired he crushed back a
moan.
But he wouldn't yield.
BY 0 o'clock he was in despair. He
concluded that If he didn't get a mes
sage from Theo before 10 he would go
home and upstairs to a room by him
self without paying any attention to
his wife. Meanwhile his actions had
made it apparent to every waiter in
the club that he was eager for a tele-
phone message. At $3.50 he went into
the coat room for his hat and coat,
and when he emerged a waiter ran
into him, shouting:
you're wanted at the telephone,
sirv'
Martindale ran to the booth. knock
ing down another waiter who was
hunting him to tell him he was wanted
there brushing by three more who
were making dives for him from diff
ferent directions to give him the same
news Inside the booth he took up the
receiver and heard in faint. husky
woman's voice:
"Is that you, dear?"
"Yes."
Il thought you must be at the club
Just called you up to say-I'm talk
! ing from the phone next the bed-that
the doctor has been here to see me
and said had a high fever That was
about o'clock. Since there was no
one here to take care of me but the
cook he telephoned for trained
nurse. l knew you must be having q
nice time at your club with all your
old friends, and l didn't like to spoil
your fun. But nurse says that I'd bet.
ter try to get some sleep now. and
preferred to tell you about it before
doing so. Don't hurry home; have a
good time"
81 told He was about to give her
the usual 81 told you So" but checked
himself, saying instead that he would
be at home as soon as he could gel
there.
you were very unreasonable this
morning." the voice continued, "but
have forgiven you, and you needn't
trouble yourself about that at ALL But
don't make a noise when you come in
I don't believe I shall get any sleep
but"-
There. was a click, followed by q
ring, and a different woman's voice
said: . um a8L
"Mr Martindale2" a.f
"Yes." F""..' a.ahHa#7f- rf'"
"I'm speaking to you from the lower
hall telephone. Your wife is very Ill
threatened with. pneumonia; tempera
ture 104 degrees"
'I'll be. there in FIVE minutes, Why
the devil didn't you"- HR atg
He dropped the receiver and bolted
for the street door
Mrs. Martindale fortunately escaped
Il long illness, but she was for severa
days in condition not warranting hel
husband bringing up any other subject
than toast. tea, temperature and time
to take medicine. During the danger
period he was in an agony of fear lest
4 he should lose the woman who would
surely dominate him through life, fol
this first episode bearing on the bal
anee of power in his family had open
ed his eyes. 1t was too late to go bacl
and choose some other, woman whC
would permit him to assume his posi-
tion as head of the family, and hC
wouldn't have done so If he could. HI
quietly made up his mind, as many
another man has done before him. tha
in the case of woman certain laws
that regulate the universe are suspend
ed. His wife had disobeyed an orde,
he had given her for her own good
/ thereby showing a perversity fol
which he as well as she had suffered
And for having brought upon then
both this suffering, including a fift!
dollar doctors bill, she had-forgivei
him!
Sam Martindale has Joined the in