Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-09-29

| Once more Mr. feulie
stairs this time in spirit OF just III
donation. Before he slept that morn
inc he would wrest this secret from
his unhappy wife. He stalked INTO the
bedroom without any attempt at quiet
ness.
ooh, Phin," complained Phoebe 90
stop suueaking around and go TO peo'
You'ye walked me up three OF Tour
times with your prowlings. and you
know I want to get up early so as TO
60 into town on your train
"Going to town. are your askea
Phineas suspiciously.
"Of course l am. You know, want
to do some shopping.
Phineas was undressing sulkily De-
fore his own chiffonier. and he saw
in the mirror the reflection Of Phoebe's
face She was either crying or laugh
ing and he decided that she was cry
ing
." haven't said you couldn't go, have
I?' he asked.
sob. 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 l mas
ter in my own house!'
"You can answer that question best,
dear" said Phoebe meekiy, hopping
her eyes with the sheet.
"WeH, then. am master in my own
house." declared Phineas Pedrie grand
". "When say you shall go to New
York I don't go back on my word
even though 1 strongly disapprove Of
your going"
"Why?"
cause-er-because." stated Phin-
cas- sharply.
.Phineas:" said Mrs. Pedrie in a
strangled voice.
"Wen?"
That's womans reason. you
know
whats a woman's reason? oh. l
see! MY dear, don't try to be funny
after midnight One doesn't feel much
in the mood for that sort Of thing"
Mr.. Pedrie wrenched his collar or and
flung 1t 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
ly and lowered his head in the vain
hope that the offending collar button
would slide out again.
= Il hat III; hD
means Of his discovering the rosewood
box.
He caught glimpse of its polished
surface and brass ornaments under his
chifonier. 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 p
asked Phoebe curiously.
Mr. Pedrie paused on the threshold
and looked with a superior smile al
his wife. I'm going downstairs tc
the library" he said.
He went downstairs again with the
rosewood box tucked under his arm
He did not stop in the library. In
stead he went to the kitchen. wher,
he found the tool chest and extracted
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 tn,
spare keys. and not one fitted the lock
= The hinges were beautifully set in thu
; box, and he was loath to wrench then
, off. yet the box must be opened. H,
; must discover what secret his wifi
j, was keeping from him.
: He inserted the chisel under the Ii,
and pried gently. The lock strained
a but held. He bore down harder, an,
4 at last, with splinter Of wood aroun,
y the inside of the lock, the cover flew
!. up and knocked his eyeglasses spinnin
: across the room. where they shattere,
q against the range.
n And bang goes $751;" calculated MI
Y Pedrie, staring hopelessly at the gil,
e tering fragments of his eyeglasses
t What is the matter PhineasT" aske
y his wife from the doorway. and the
a as her gaze fell on the open box in hi
= hand she added: What are YOU dom
d with my box, Phin? Are you out O
a your mind?"
Mr. Pedrie glared savagely at bel
e Woman" he said accusingly. "yo
70 have secret from me- must kno,
r the worst. Phoebe Pedrie. Wait. d
= not speak! You know l will be quit
It just with YOU
He held the box to the light an
e fumbled In 1t. He brought up a tar
y gied mass Of white thread, a measur
n OF lace and an ivory bobbin. What
this:' he stammered.
lie My tatting." choked Mrs. Pedrie.
t. And this?" Mr.. Pedrie covered hi
chagrin by fishing up the one other a
Is ticle In the box-a bundle of lette,
K. tied about with blue ribbon. Aha,
lie Your love letters to me, dear" sal
Is MS wife sweetly. And on examinatio
1T 10 they proved to be.
he Mr.. Pedrie sat and stared speeches