Bisbee daily review., 1913-09-21
What Happened Then


 hopefully as she ladled out the soup, but he said nothing
 It 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 si. 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. fee?"
 "oh. about as usual" answered Jones.
 Has Brown been giving you any more trouble?"
 %ope," he grunted shortly.
 How does your new stenographer get on?"
 There was no hidden trap in this question, nc secret jealousy concealed. Jenes's new stenographer was an elderly maiden who wore spectacles ard go1oshes and Mrs. Jones's mind was perfectly serene regarding her.
 "Aw IT." responded Jones between mouthfuls.
 T believe you1I like her much bet. ter than you did that pert girl you had" said Mrs. Jones. She seems sensible and respectful-uuite differ. ert from that fiuffy-haired thing who always looked at me so critically whenever came down to the office. fairly detested her the little ninny!"
 Mr. Jones stirred uneasily, but made no reply. and after a pause Mrs. Jones said: How much does that clerk she married get?"
 Now. see here, Maria" said her husband, looking up impatiently. Cant you see I'm reading? How can ] tell whether it's Hartman or Bat. ting Nelson I'm reading about when you keep firing question into me ev. cry two seconds?"
 Seeing that 1t was useless to try to make him talk, Mrs. Jones decided 10 do the next best thing-talk her. self.
 That Mrs Bowman who's moved into the fiat overhead was down again tolay,' she began. Do you know, Henry, l hate 10 say #. and of course it's no business of mine. and for all l know sine may have taken it as medicine, but l was almost certain l caught the smell of whisky on her breath. wonder if she drinks. Oi course she acts like a lady and wears good clothes and is polite, but you can't tell what you're going to ea. counter in New York. I don't believe in spreading scandal, but when Mrs. Green dropped in here this afternoon I happened to mention my suspicious 10 her, and I asked if she didn't think it was awful for a woman to take to T>isky and drink herself 10 death ard then she said she met a woman tElt would deceive you just the same way down at Bath Beach last summer. SEe said this woman"
 "Oh. I don't care what she said or what this woman didl" exclaimed Jones angrily, showing back his chair from the table and flinging his napkin down on the table.
 Mrs. Jones's lips quiyered. She buried her face in her handkerchief.
 Now, don't start that" said Jones. You know I didn't mean to hurt your feelings"
 These were just the words needed tc start Mrs. Jones of in full cry. liter. ally. Her husband listened 10 her sobs for a moment and then as his wife begun to pour forth a torrent of reDroach. he twisted uncomfortable fo- a few minutes. and then angry both at himself and at her. jumped up and put on his hat and staIkcd out O! the fiat banging the door behind him Straightaway he went to the corner emporium, hoping to find some old cronies 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 ln the flat all day But at the thought Of the oeaseIess flow of language, he grltted his teeth and went on down to a bowling alley where he found some friends and I'm. mediately joined in the sport.
 It was midnight when the play ceased. Then his conscience began to trouble him. Suppose burglars had broken into the house during his ab. sence? Suppose there had been a fire, with him the natural protector, away? Suppose his wife. in her sex. element and resentment, should thfow herseif-oh. no. that was foolish. And yet he had heard of women doing that. He worked himself into such fever that he entered the daTkened fat with a horrible feeling of forebodIng He entered hls wife's bedroom and there lay