Arizona republican., 1912-06-03
His Natural
 Self

there was not a bit of doubt that Dockity would have gone home with the prize under his arm. This was an indisputable fact, for his wife said so and she should have possessed ex- pert knowledge on the subject.
 'Tf you should turn James Dockity loose in the middle of a desert" she often said, with an oasis in plain sight. that helpless man would turn and walk the other way and die of starvation. Here l am, wearing my self to a shadow remembering to re- mind him of what he ought to do or telling him where he put his pink striped shirt or getting him more towels when those in the bathroom have slipped down back of the tub! You'd think that the man never heard of the back of the bathtub the way he forgets to reach behind it! He's more trouble than a family of ten children! I declare, his helplessness doOms me to become old before my time"
 He never knew where he had put his umbrella when there was a rain- storm that he had to go out in. He was petrified with a dismal sort of horror if he had to hunt out his own apparel. It was on record that once when they were dining out and Mrs. DOckity had gone on ahead to spend the day he didn't come. When finally they telephoned him he told his ex asperated wife with tears in his voice that somehow he couldn't possibly get a white tie on that looked right.
 Where are you getting your dress ties from?" Mrs. Dockity inquired with an awful premonition.
 From the little drawer to the left in the top of the chiffonier," recited Dockity, pa.hetically.
 Those" breathed Mrs. Dockity over the phone, are my white sum- mer belts! Look in the drawer be low."
 She often said with pathos that if James would only reform she would be the happiest woman on earth.
 T. was nothing short of tragic then when DOckity had to go west on busi- ness and his return was delayed three months. Mrs. Dockity worried inces- sanity over him. If he wasn't so helpless" she said, it wouldn't be so bad. but he'll lose everything he has and will come home with his cuffs tied on with strings. He won't be able to find a thing and nobody will look out for him and he'll leave pair of pajamas hanging in the closet of every hotel room he's in! I'm afraid he won't get enough to eat, because he never knows what he wants and always insists on my pick ing out things on the bill of fare"
 When at last Dockity returned home his wife looked him over fear fully. His coat was on right side up and his right shoe was not upon his left foot. He was wearing his own hat, his linen was presentable and he was short only one pair of paja- mas.
 Do you feel well, James," Mrs. Dockity asked, anxiously.
 If I felt any better" declared her husband, I'd be sick abed from it! At breakfast Dockity put sugar and cream on his berries as nonchalantly as if he had always known how. He picked up his umbrella from behind the door and produced his gloves air fly. When he had gone Mrs. Dockity sat down and breathed hard. sShe could not understand it.
 That evening it was still worse Dockity dressed without once asking where anything was. When his wife said that she had come to put in the shirt studs Dockity looked surprised and said they were already in. He even got out his silk hat and brushed 1t, whistling cheerily, while Mrs Dockity stood around making futile efforts to help him.
 She was pale and not herself all evening and persisted in trumping her partners ace When they started home not only did her husband find his own wraps, but he got hers and helped her into them.
 She did not speak all the way home When Dockity turned out the hal lights instead of waiting for her tc do it she fled upstairs to hide hel emotion.
 
 the point where she decided that the queer feeling which possessed hel meant that she was going to die Dock ity came with hesitating steps into the room.
 Dear" he murmured, 'T can't finG the soap-it isn't in the soap dish and where are my bedroom slippers? 9
 It was then that his wife cast her self upon his bosom and dissolved 1T a flood of tears. ''It-it's p-p-probably shipped down on the f-f-foor!" sht sobbed. "They-they're in your close be-behind your g-g-golf shoes! Oh James, you haven't seemed natural til this minute! I th-thought I'd los you, I don't Hike to have you l-lool after your-yourself! It doesn't seen natural"
 Well" grinned the enlightened Dockity, 'T wouldn't worry! I gues I haven't reformed enough in thre' months so vOu'd really notice fiji Say