The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-27
What
Happened
Then

Jones picked up his paper at about
the third call from Mrs Jones. rose
rather reluctantly from his easy chair,
and going into the dining room sat
down at the table where dinner was
already waiting. Mrs. Jones eyed him
hopefully as she ladled out the soup.
but he said nothing.
1t had been rather a stressful day
down at the Office and he felt like
nothing SO much as simply being
quiet. saying nothing to any one and
having no one to say anything to him.
Consequently he silently propped the
evening paper against the sugar bowl
and continued reading the column OF
Wall street gossip about Hartman
gobbling another railroad.
Mrs. Jones stood the strain Of ST.
lence as long as she could and then
burst forth desperately: well, what's
new down town."
Nothing much" said Jones auto.
matically.
Have a good day down at the OF.
fice?"
"Oh. about as usual" answered
Jones.
Has Brown been giving you any
more trouble?"
Nope" he grunted shortly.
How does your new stenos-ap..er
get on?'
There was no hidden trap In this
question, no secret jealousy concealed.
Jones's new stenographer was m
elderly maiden who wore spectacle
and goloshes and Mrs. Jones's mind
was perfectly serene regarding her.
Jaw RI" responded Jones between
mouthfuls.
Il believe you'll like her nuch bet.
ter than you did that pert girl you
had" said Mrs. Jones. "She seems
sensible and respectful--quite differ.
ent from that fluffy-haired thing who
always looked at me so critically
whenever came down to the office.
fairly detested her. the little nlnny."
Mr.. Jones stirred uneasily. but made
no reply. and after a pause Mrs Jones
said: "How much does that clerk she
married get?"
Nov. see here, Maria" said her
husband. looking up impariently.
Cant you see I'm reading? Flow can
I tell whether it's Hartman or Bat.
Ting Nelson I'm reading about when
you keep firing a question into me CIV.
cry two seconds?"
Seeing that It was useless to try
to make him talk. Mrs. Jones decided !
to do the next best thing-talk her.
self.
THAT Mrs Bowman who's moved |
into the fiat overhead was down again |
today" she began. do you know.
Henry, l hate to say 1t. and OF course
it's no business Of mine. and for all
l know she may have taken It as
medicine. but was almost certain
caught the smell Of whisky on her
breath. wonder II she drinks. OF
course she acts like a lady and wears
good clothes and Is polite. but you
can't tell what you're going to en-.
counter In New York. | don't believe
in spreading scandal. but when Mrs.
Green dropped In here this afternoon
! happened to mention my suspicious
to her. and asked II she didn't think
It was awful for IA woman to take 10
whisky and drink herself to death.
and then she said she met woman
that would deceive you just the samo
way down at bath Beach last summer.
She said this woman
"Oh. | don't care what she said or
what this woman did" exclaimed
Jones angrily. showing back his chair |
from tho table and finging his napkin
down on the table.
Mrs. loness lips quivcrcd Sac
buried her face in her handkerchief
Now, don't start that" said Jones. |
"You know didn't mean to hurt yoa.
feelings"
| These were just the words needed 10
start Mrs. Jones off In full cry. liter.
ally. Her husband listened TO he.
sobs for moment and then as his
wife begun TO pour forth a torrent OF
reproach. he twisted uncomfortably
for few minutes. and then angry
both AT himself and at her. jumped up.
and put on his hat and stalked ont OF
tho fiat. banging the door behind him.
i Straightaway he went to th, cornar
emporium. hoping TO find some old
cronics there with whom he could
laugh away his disgust with things in
general. But he found none present
and after a solitary drink. went out
and slowly walked down the street.
Accusing thoughts assailed him
He reproached himself as he thought
Of her cooped up in the fiat all day.