Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-07
When TimninS FORGOT.

TIMMINS had finished his soup. looked
around from behind his evening pa
| per. that he had propped up against the
sugar bowl, to see If the good wife had
prepared anything out Of the ordinary
| for the next course
| Mrs. Timmins was looking at him curl
ously. After seeing that queer look of
hers Timmins didn't need a chart to
know that something was up. His con-
science was as clear as the atmosphere
at summer resort on a bright June day,
and yet he knew that he must be about
| to get his.
You look worried about something"
he ventured. Whats didding?''
Nothing. Nothing at ALL" she declared
in a tone that confirmed his suspicious
that there was something at all.
They ate along in silence for a few
moments, Timmins with a conscience as
easy as the Pythagorian theorem. and yet
knowing that something might drop with
a sharp report like the crack of doom
at any moment.
He tried to throw switch and get the
conversation going along some line that
would brighten things up.
Il started to get tickets for the theater
| for next Wednesday night he said. by
| way Of trying to clear track, but L
| thought I'd wait until saw you"
do you know what day this is?" put
| in Mrs. Timmins sharply, also irrele-
vanity.
Still Timmins wasn't on. He thought
a moment, wondering what the catch
was Lets see'' he says. Its Mon
day, Of course. but then 1 don't s'pose
that's what you mean. Well, I'll bite
What's the answer"
Mrs Timmins shook her head detected
ly and muttered something that sounded
like, land after four years"
But her remark was enough to bring
Timmins in out of the fog.
Hail. he laughed with an attempt at
mirth, Il guess 1 pretty near made you
believe I'd forgot about it. Ell? 1 ought
not to joke with you that way" He
was laughing little grunts of laughs as
he went on. But just don't worry, old
girl" he said. about little Willie for
getting. 1t was too big day to be for
gotten in any hurry. Why. 1 thought OF
it this morning at breakfast-the fact is,
thought of it as soon as L got my eyes
open this morning.
Timmins kept right on going. NO,
Stree" he says, you needn't wear any
crepe over my memory falling short on a
proposition like this. Hum, it's been
mighty short four years, though, eh
grille? And just to think that it was
almost al this very. hour. four years ago,
that we were marching in through the big
double doors to that slow throbbing
music. Well l guess we haven't re-
GREETED it, have We. hey?''
Il don't believe you remembered 1t at
ALL" came back Mrs. Timmins, although
her tone showed that she was loosening
I'D a wee teentsy bit. I'll venture to
say that you would never have mentioned
it if 1 hadn't brought the subject up"
Il wouldn't, eh? Oh, no; 1 suppose
not. 1 haven't been talking about it
down at the office to the boys or any
thing. I've got a little print of myself
letting the day pass without saying any
thing about it. Just because / decided
to. keep quiet this evening until after
dinner was over and see if you remem-
bered. you take it for granted that the
than Arbor day.
Mrs Timmins still looked some uncon
WINGED, and Timmins added this one:
What die do with that package I sent
out this afternoon? Give it away? Huh.
Didn't get any package! Well, that's
nice deal. And [ told 'em to be prompt.
Well, I'll run up to the drug store and
call up and see what's caused the delay.
Oh, never mind what IT is. You'll find
out
He went to the door leisurely. but as
soon as he was out of the hallway up to
their fiat he broke into wild lope. Just
about a hundred seconds later he had
jeweler friend of his on the phone-at the
jewelers. Club. because the stores were
all closed. You'll have to rush out a
little circle of pearls right away. All in
the safe. Then you'll have to open the
safe No, L can't wait an hour. Huh?
How do you know what want? You IL
have to use your own judgment. You'll
send 'em out inside OF an hour, will you?
All right. Now hustle
'sThey sent that package to the wrong
address, Timmins told his wife, in an
annoyed tone, when he got back to the
fiat, but it'll be out now in a little while.
No, l won't tell you what it is. Hum?
Why, of course. / forgive you.
The next day when he went in TO pay
for the pearl pin, he found that he owed
the man So. He would have spent about
Sc, probably. if he had gone in a day or
two before and bought something. But
he didn't complain.