The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-05-09
He Never Will
Understand


mo, III have the fun of telling Dick
face to face" she said to herself.
The thought of his surprise and de-
light quickened her feet on the stairs
as she ran to her room to dress for
the street. All the way downtown she
pictured her husbands amazement and
pleasure IN the news she had for him.
She determined to make him guess a
few times before she told him.
1t was with some difficulty that she
modified the illumination of her BEAM
ing face as she entered her husbands
office. He must not suspect at first
that she was the bearer Of such good
tidings. AS it happened, he was busy
telephoning when she approached his
desk and he merely nodded as she
sank into chair by his side. She had
therefore plenty Of time to compose
her features. So it was with quite a
successfully grave face that she greet
ed him when he finally ceased his tele-
phonic conversation.
well, dear?" he began. At the same
instant the telephone bell began also,
and in another second he was deeply
engrossed in a conversation that to
Mrs. Bruce seemed to have lasted full
ly ten minutes.
"Dick; came down TO-" she said
when at last he hung up the receiver.
"Just a minute, Lucy. I've got to
call up Bentley at once and tell him OF
this matter that Hardwich was phon-
ing me about"
After Bentley had been put in pos.
session of a long hist Of facts and de-
tails that to Mrs. Bruce were about
as clear as so much Sanskrit her hus-
band again turned to her with vel
coming smile.
"This morning, Dick, received q
letter from"
"Ting-a-ling, ting-a-nng," rang the
telephone. Its insistent demand for
his attention promptly brought Bruces
ear to the receiver.
by George, is that right" he ex'
claimed after he had listened min
ute. "1t's a pretty big deal, isn't it?
Well, you'll have to go to Hardwich
for the figures. Yes, we can send over
our schedule, but Hardwich can give
you more data. Yes, certainly, I'll ask
him. Don't mention 1t. have plenty
of time. No trouble whatever" He
hung up the receiver.
THAT was a chance to do the great
Amalgamated company a little favor,
he said smilingly to Mrs. Bruce. But
before his hand had left the receiver
he changed his mind and took it down
again. Then followed long and dip
lomatic appeal to Hardwich. Mrs
Bruce sat through it patiently, buoyed
up by the thought of the perfectly de
lightful surprise she still had in store
for her husband.
Once more the receiver was hung VI
on its hook and Bruce, swinging
around in his chair, said, Going shop
ping, Lucy?"
"No, Dick, came down especially
to tell you-" Then the loud ring OF
the telephone drowned her voice.
Very glad to hear from you. Why, yes
I think So No trouble at all. have
the whole project mapped out here IN
my desk. Yes, If you wish, can read
off the main points for you"
Bruce drew a thick package Of pa
pers from a pigeon hole and began to
read slowly and carefully numerous
paragraphs and long lists of figures.
Mrs. Bruce gave his back despairine
glance, fidgeted for ten minutes and
then, rising quietly, slipped out of the
office.
Half an hour later she called up her
husband on the telephone from dry
goods store. Somewhat to her sur
prise the line was not busy and che got
the connection at once.
rs this you, Dick?"
Eyes, Lucy. Where in the world
did you disappear to? was dunn
founded when turned from the phone
a minute ago to find you gone. Why
didn't you waltz"
Because l came downtown purpose
ly to tell you something. l got let
ter from Mrs. Morse today. She says
that she and Mr.. Morse are going to
California in their private car week
after next and they want US to 60 with
them. Mr.. Morse thinks that will give
you a chance to visit the San Fran
cisco agency. He's going to write you
or call you up on the long distance,
but Mrs. Morse said she couldn't wait
to tell me of the plan."
"Fine!"- said Bruce. But, Lucy,
why In the world didn't you tell me
this when you were in the Office? 1t
takes my breath away. don't see
how you could keep it to yourself all
the time you were over here"
Don't you, really?" returned Mrs.
Bruce, laughing.
When he found that she had broken
the connection Bruce said to himself,
well, If l live to be hundred and
seven I'll never understand women"