The Washington times., 1913-10-28
DOMESTIC
DIALOGUE
On Second Thought

| OH OGCOH0 fHO0&WI
INA $ ss i. ,''''. ...a,,.. :, :. ''.'..' 's.,'
| What's the matter? Some one
sick?
Mrs. J. (cautiously)-No, there's no
enc SICK. but the house Is fun of rules.
Mr.. ]. (regarding her with suspicion)
MARY, have you been to a bridge this
afternoon?
Mrs. j. tindignantly)-oh I'm not
toppy, II that's what you mean. Pm
just mad. Blue. blazing mad clear
through!
Mr.. J. dn dismay)-what made you
mad,
Mrs. j. (disresarding commas. IKE
wise periods)-You don't know IL but
TINS house Is run OH the plans of
young ladies' model seminary they've
got golden rule for every minute OF
the day and time clock to keep tabs
on delinquent tenants and they've got
threats OF fines pasted on the fire es-
capes and dumbwaiters and gas meters
and an all-prcsiding genius usually
known as janitor Of all the impudence
I've had to put up with today
Mr.. j. tplunging into the avalanche OF
wordsl-Whst did he say?
Mrs j. dripping over herself In her
fluency)-The first thing he called up
and said I'd have to take my Boston
fern or the fire escape right away or
I'D be fined SO.
Mr. J. dnterrupting)-Thats right.
Ten dollars fine for any incumbrance
or the fire escape.
Mrs. J. (wide-eyed)-Yes, know. But
didn't put II there to be an incunn-
brance purposely. II was raining
nicely ! thought it'd get a fine bath
frr.r ur.< - mi h..f
ties. He said We had no business 10
I'LL I'd the dumbwaiter with empty milk
bottles until he called for the garbage
Mr.. j. MISUNDERSTANDING very ter
rible in that What else?
Mrs j. trying to prove her point)-I
asked him to come up and fix the cleo
trio table bell and he said he was awful
ly busy with all the new tenants want
ing things done and that the bell was
SO blamed easy te fix he thought even
you could do It,
Mr.. ]. growing red above the collarl
Are you positive he said EVEN 1
could do It?
Mrs. ]. (scornfully)-Fm positive, all
right. I thought that'd bring you. He
could say anything he pleased to Me.
but the minute he says anything about
Mr.. J. lsternly)-He didn't say any
thing deroeatory to your character, did
he? What is this man? A Swede
Mrs. J. (ccnfidently)-No. ! know he
isn't Swede, because he doesn't say
Swedes do. j think he's just plain
Mr.. ]. (squaring his shoulders and,
walking toward the kitchen)-oh. he is.
Is he?
(Mr. Joy enters the kitchen. Nora
eyes him with compassion She realizes
that it's hard to have people get your
number and tell you SOL
Mr.. ]. dngratiatinglyb-Nora were
you present when Mrs. Joy had this
dumb waiter conversation with the jani-
tor?
Nora (meekly)-Yis. sor.
Mr.. ]. (scientifcally)-Do you think
you could repeat 1t to me. word for
word?
Nora (evening up her own little scorel
Il could. He sez the bell is 50 blamed
easy to fix thot even yourselfd be hav-
in tn ability to do tn job.
Mrs. ]. (triumphantlyl-See? What
did tell you? Word for word
Mr.. j. approaching the dumbwaiter
door)-Do YOU know what nationality
this Janitor Is. Nora. or what he looks
like?
Nora (conservatiyely)-Im not shure
about tn nationality NV him. but tn
other day whin he had slight discus
sion wild tn iceman they thought tn
Ice cart'd de doin' doubly dooty az a
nedIse, tney uiu. In SlTt upstairs WuL
tellin' me he got his trainin' as a
bouncer in a longshoreman's saloon.
He's a good twelve-stone an has fists
like
(Mr. Joy takes a second and mere dis
Greet look at the dumbwaiter door, then
interrupts.)
Mr.. J. 0aking deep breath)-It's al
ways more sensible 10 go to headquar-
ters with complaints What's the use
Of soiling ones hands with that stratum
Of society? I'll inform the agent. (He
,xits.)
CMrs. Joy and Nora exchange signif-
,ant glances and pianissimo gigglea)