The Huttig news., 1912-04-13
In the Interest of Truth

His wife having been called to the telephone, Ryder heard her say: Hell To! Yes. Oh, hello. Marion. What did you say? I am awfully sorry, Mar ion. because I'd like to ever so much, evening" You know you would be per fectly welcome to it if I wasn't going to wear it myself. Good-by." "Pd like to know where you and are going this evening"" said Ryder when his wife had hung up the tele- phone receiver.
 T don't know that we are going anywhere" said his wife. but I'm just not going to lend Marion Marsh my beautiful white hat. She is so care less with everything she wears, and, besides. I think she has lot of as surance to try to borrow that hat when the weather is so threatening |"
 Well. then." growled Ryder. why didn't you tell her the truth? The way you women hand sugared false hoods to each other Is fright. Hon esty is always the best policy, and, anyway, it's ever so much simpler. You'd never find man lying or beat ing about the bush in case of that kind. He'd just give the other fellow to understand that he did as he pleased with his own things"
 Far be it from me to undermine masculine honesty" said his wife, Out that sort of treatment just wouldn't do with women. So be good enough to let me tell my taradiddles in order to keep myself popular"
 Ryder grinned. "All right" said he. But don't overdo It. Now, this Is the first Saturday afternoon I've had to myself in six weeks and I'm going down to the basement and fin ish those book shelves Remember my dear, that If anybody calls to see me I'm not at home."
 Mrs. Ryder smiled in her turn. Am I to tell your falsehoods as we'll as my own?" she asked.
 But Ryder did not hear.
 Ten minutes later she went to the head of the basement stairs and called down, You're wanted at the phone, Walter"
 Soon she was listening to this con versation: I'm awfully sorry, cid man, but the fact is that I am suffer ing from sort of grippy cold and I don't think I'd better make that trip with you today. Some other time I'll be glad to go out there with you"
 Why, Walter, had no idea that you were threatened with the grip" said Mrs. Ryder sweetly as Ryder started back to the basement.
 "Oh. I'm not, seriously" said Ryder rather sheepishly. but. you see, had promised Hughes to go out with him to look at lot which he thinks of buying. It's somewhere out in May wood and 1t would take the whole aft ernoon to make the journey and I'm going to finish those shelves today or break a leg.
 The merry sounds that rose present ly from Ryder's workshop indicated a clear conscience and good progress. However, 1t was not very long before he was called to the telephone again. This time Mrs. Ryder was regaled with the following:
 Pm sorry, George but had an ac- cident-broke the handle of my plane the other day and I haven't had time to go around to the store and get a new one. It's a shame that I cant help you out. l hope you'll be able to manage somehow"
 Why, Walter, have you broken your beautiful new plane?" asked Mrs Ryder, with exaggerated sollcitude.
 No I haven't" said Ryder shortly, but surely you wouldn't expect me to lend that fellow Burkins an expensive tool, would you? He's as clumsy as an OK. Why, he'd be as likely to plane nails with 1t as not. Still. he'd be sore If I refused him. was chump to show my plane to him the other evening when he was down there looking over my work bench"
 "Oh, that's all right" said Mrs. Ky der, demurely. but thought you men studiously refrained from prevarica. ton in all your dealings with one an other
 Well, I guess you've got me" said Ryder And as one prevaricator Is about all any well regulated family can stand I'll do the proper thing and save you from telling what isn't so. Now, if you'll manage to arrange an early dinner I'll give you chance to wear that white hat, for we'll go down town and spend the evening at the