The Lamar register., 1912-06-26
Starting
The Fire

nounced a. her husband sat down at
the dinner table and she placed the
steak before him.
Good" calculated Newsom. 'T'n
build . furnace fire tonight. Kitty.
We're starting 1t earlier this year
than we did last"
Later" Mrs. Newsom said. as she
seated herself opposite him. Last
year We built our first furnace IRE on
Oct. Is. remember the date per.
fectly; 1t was the day l entertained
the card club and Mrs. Warren
couldn't come. Her sister was Ill and
Mrs. Warren remained at home to
take care of the children. much to my
relief; she is a very fussy woman and
you know how a furnace fire makes
such an odor when it's started?"
Newsom nodded his head as he cut
into the steak. II don't remember all
that. OF course. but I do remember
about the 2sth. ] think"
How ridiculous of you to insist
upon that. Harry. when I've Just told
you when we did start it," Mrs. New
som retoined. her cheeks flushing. 81
say we started the furnace on Oct
49,"
I've not the slightest objection to
your saying that. my dear. because
you evidently believe 1t. provided you
grant me thep rivilege Of saying that
we started the fire on Oct 28''
You're exasperating. Harry" Mrs
Newsom exclaimed. rising to her feet
I'm get my diary and settle the mat
ter once for ALL" She rushed out OF
the room
Newsom called after her: I'll get
the coal bill; that will settle IT."
At the end Of several minutes Mrs
Newsom appeared In the library.
where her husband was searching
through a letter file.
Harry. you've hidden my diary so
can't convince you Of your mistake"
she accused him What have you
done with IT."
II haven't seen your diary. What
have you done with the coal bills?"
They're somewhere in the file You
can look for them while I'm eating nv
dinner; ] don't propose to dine on
cold steak and potatoes after I had
the trouble OF making them hot. sin
ply because you're obstinate"
Mrs Newsom swept out OF the
room. only to return the next instant
declaring with visible citation: Nov.
I'm certain we dsd start the FIRE on
the 18th because the day after that
the man put up the storm windows
and he swept the coal dust on the
walk
Wonderful memory you have"
Newsom declared. shutting the file in
disgust How do you happen to re
member that Oct 10 was the day the
man put up the storm windows and
swept OF the coal dust?"
because that was the day after
We started the furnace fire on thu
18TH" Mrs Newsom answered tri
umphantly Nov. are you convinced
And. speaking of memories. you de.
stroyed last years recipted coal bill
when we cleaned house. SO it's hardly
worth your while looking further for
them"
I'm not convinced" Newsom
shouted. springing TO his feet He
dropped the file in his furry and scat
t6Teu thc COHtShto. uiu dhu
to his amiability But there rlust be-
some way of convincing you Yes
come to think Of 1t. made a note on
the direction card that hangs beside
the furnace. Now I'll show you'
You never mentioned before that
you made a note on the card when
we started the furnace" Mrs New
some said. suspiciously.
In the dining room thye encoun-
tered Mrs Newsom's young sister
WHO exclaimed: whats the matterf
why aren't you eating your dinner
I ran over to borrow the evening pa
ner for mother; dad forgot to bring
one"
"Rhoda," Mrs. Newsom cried des-
perately do you remember what dav
we started our furnace last year,
Wasn't it the day I entertained the
card club and you helped me serve?"
mo. indeed" said her sister THE
women nearly froze that day sitting
around in their thin dresses" was the
unexpected answer. ut was the next
day remember perfectly. because
you had to keep an appointment at
the tailor's and you were afraid to
leave a fresh flre unmatched"
"I-I-well-" Mrs Newsom stopped
and a reminiscent look crept into her