The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-27
HER OWN COMFORT
BY CECILIA HAMBURG.

Iou ulu! CIieu JOuuuy IullUlS, tu-
multuously.
Didn't" asserted George briggs,
emphatically. And then the fight was
on.
1t ragged down the sidewalk and
around the corner, and for time the
game of marbles was abandoned and
forgotten. On the cement walk the
little glass spheres reposed quietly,
twinkling and waiting. They had not
long to wait.
Down the steps Of the Philbig home
came Philbig himself, tall, immaculate
and with head carried high. His pol
ished shoe, descending on a red and
white marble, shot into the air just
as though it had been an ordinary, I'M
shined, day-laborer shoe. Philbig's
head hit the ground a whack that
echoed
There was chaos in his brain when
he rose. The disturbing of his personal
dignity was an insult that stirred Phil
big to the depths and moreover his
hat was dented, his coat was dusty
and one glove was split. This was in
addition to the physical pain that he
felt. His fall having scattered the
marbles, Philbig was unable to deter
mine the cause Of the disaster. He
limped on his way with smothered
rage within his breast.
Hello, old mani" said Billicks at
the station and slapped Philbig on the
shoulder.
In quieter condition of mind Phil
big would have let Billicks knock him
down and would have pretended to like
1t, for Philbig was angling for a huge
order from Billick's firm, and had al
ready planned what to do with the
profit. But just now his nerves we're
on edge. So he whirled away angrily
from the too.familiar hand. Good
morning, sir" he snapped and stalked
off.
Crouch" said Billicks to himself,
Indignantly. Several times on the way
to town he repeated the word. Later
in the day when the order came up
for discussion and the senior member
said he'd like to throw it to friend
Of his Billicks told him to go ahead,
because it made absolutely no differ
ence to him whether Philbig got it or
not
Shortly after her husbands disas.
trous exit from home Mrs. Philbig sal.
lied forth to attend to the days mar
keting.
Couch" moaned Mrs. Philbig
when her thin-soled pump landed upon
particularly vicious little marble that
had rolled to the edge Of the inside
walk. She hoped on one foot and
looked for the trouble maker, but it
had sped away into oblivion.
AS she hoped she CHANGED to OBJ
serve between the window curtains
across the street the face Of Mrs.
briggs, who was frankly laughing at
the funny figure Mrs. Philbig made. A
stout woman hopping on one foot with
the other foot tenderly nursed in her
hand is rather amusing. Mrs. Philbig
knew this, and it added to her confu-
sion and wrath.
"Cat!" she said in the direction Of
Mrs. briggs. Il had begun to think
she was rather decent neighbor, but
this shows what she Is actually like.
shall blackball her this afternoon when
her name is voted on at the club. 1t
Is my duty to the community"
Blackball Mrs. briggs she did, and
Mrs. briggs best friend saw her do 1t.
and told Mrs. briggs. That offended
woman said, THAT settles i'll" and i'm
mediately clinched the bargain with
the agent for the fashionable new
apartment she had heard Mrs. Philbig
say she was dying to get. And it was
the only one left in the building.
"Had frightful day." Philbig told
his wife, gloomily. when he came
home to dinner.
Don't mention it," she returned
mournfully. $50 have /! What do
you think? That hateful briggs WON.
an signed the lease today for that
apartment we have just decided we'd
take! And it has garage for the cleo.
trio and everything!"
Don't weep over that!" said her
husband, grimly. For there won't be
any electric! Billicks firm, after prac.
tically promising that order to me,
switched over and gave It to Smith!
There goes $1,000 in profits. Wen be
eating sawdust for while instead of
buying electrics, I'm thinking"
why should we have such dreadful
luck!" walled Mrs. Philbig. Its just
bad luck and not a single soul 10
blame! Is that you, Johnny? Come,
kiss mother-he's the only real com.
fort we have In all this troubled"