Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-14
The Argus Daily Short Story
Mrs. Pedrie's Secretly CIarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. by Associated Literary

encfc magazine while he smoked a
cigar, he reached for his cigar case
and looked for the magazine. His
glance fell upon handsome box which
stood on the table near Phoebe's chair
he had never seen the box before. and
his interest was aroused He went
around the table and examined it. 1t
was made of polished rosewood, with
corners and hinges of old brass. It
was tightly locked. and there was no
key. He lifted the box and found il
| heavy.
He stood looking down at 1t with
/ baffled expression on his good natured
| countenance. He wondered why
/ Phoebe should have left the box there,
and at this instant there was a rus
/ Ting on the stairs, and Phoebe came
rushing in, CARRIED in dressing gown
and slippers and with her heavy
/ braids swinging to and fro. She
/ seemed to take in the situation at
a glance-the proximity Of her hus-
! band to the rosewood box-for with
/ little frightened gasp she darted for
/ ward, took the box from his hands and
/ left the room without so much as a
word Of explanation.
Phineas Pedrie stood rooted to the
spot with CONSERVATION. Was Phoebe
! insane, or was she walking in her
sleep? What was there about the rose
wood box that he, her husband, might
| not see? What:
! Mr. Pedrie sta lied slowly up the
stairs to find Phoeoe sleeping sweetly
and the rosewood box nowhere in
sight.
What has she done with itY' he
muttered enxiously as he stepped soft
~ to and fro so as not to waken her.
Fifteen minutes later Mr.. Pedrie was
still searching for the rosewood box.
He had explored all the closets In the
house and the spare room and was
creaking downstairs in the belief that
his wife had concealed the box In the
hall before she assembled TO her room
when her voice smote on his ear.
"Phineas, where are your" she called
sleepily.
I'm coming. dear" he assured her.
making his voice as small as possible,
as If 1t might come from the library,
where she had left him.
1T must be midnight, Phin. Are you
never coming? This light keeps me
awake"
'T'll put 1t out, Phoebe" and Mr..
Pedrie creaked up the stairs again and
snapped off the bulb. i've lost my
match case. and I'm looking for 1t. I'll
Just take run downstairs once more,
he explained as he left the room
Carefully. patnstakfngiy, Mr.. Pedrfe
searched the lower floor Of the house
for the rosewood box which his wife
had 80 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
dignadon- Before ne slept that morn
ing he would wrest this secret from
his unhappy wife. He stalked into the
bedroom without any attempt at quiet
ness.
"Oh. Phin," complained Phoebe, do
stop squeaking around and go to bed!
You've walked me up three or four
times with your prowiings, and you
know want to get up early so as to
go into town on your train"
Going TO town, are you" asked
Phineas suspiciously.
"Of course am. You know, want
TO do some shopping"
Phineas was undressing sulkily be-
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
81 haven't said you couldn't go, have
I?' he asked.
"Oh. no-that wouldn't make any
difference" chofed Phoebe.
wouldn't make any differeneeT
exploded Phineas. whiriing around
''Why wouldn't 1t make any difference.
I'd like to know. madam? Am I mas
ter in my own housef"
you can answer that question best,
dear" said Phoebe meekly, hopping
her eyes with the sheet
'Well, then, am master IN my own
house" declared Phineas Pedrie grand
II. When I say you shall go TO New
York I don't go back on my word
even though I strongly disapprove OF
your going"
"Why?'
''Because-e-becaus stated Phin-
cas- sharply.
'cPhineas?' said Mrs. Pedrie In a
strangled voice.
.weu:"
AThafs q woman's reason. you
LnaEzn 1