The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-11-25
WAS SORRY FOR TOM
BY EUGENE LEIrcH.


hand he held the evening paper and
a magazine, and in the other a cigar.
On his feet were slippers, around his
form was a smoking jacket. A straight
line drawn to the nearest object from
him would have ended at the easy
chair comfortably turned upward to
ward the electric lamp on the table.
1t was chair that Githers had sat in
after dinner for more evenings than
be could count why" he repeated,
cant go in there and read? What
do you mean, mother?"
Mrs. Githers approached him and
picked a thread off his sleeve.
wouldn't you just as soon sit up
stairs with me?" she asked brightly.
I'm going to sew"
what Of it?" demanded her hus-
band. Don't you usually sew down.
stairs here? Don't we always sit down
stairs? why"
my goodness, Johnl" exclaimed
his wife impatiently. Wouldn't ysu
like changer"
"Elmira,' said Githers. firmly,
you're hiding something-tell me at
oncei"
Simply nothing" said his wife.
"Only Grace is going TO have a caller
this evening and wanted to let the
child have the living room-oh, its one
of the boys in her class and it's all
right, so you needn't glare. She's
seventeen and must have friends
among the boys as other girls do. Not
that she wouldn't just as soon have
us there, but we'd embarrass them!"
"What the dickensl' growled 9th
ers turning toward the stairs. "Pret-
ty state of things when can't use my
own chair! Callers at her age!
Umphi"
Mrs. Githers got him nicely ar
ranged in her room and as she reached
for the mending basket she paused,
hand in air. The front door had
slammed and a vast whistling herald
ed the entrance of the son and heir
OF the household. Mrs Githers went
and leaned over the banisters.
"Rob" she called in dulcet tones.
"Hullo!" came the inquiring an.
swer. where are you? Where is
everybody Who's sick?"
Come up" said his mother.
Wouldn't you like to sit up here with
father and me?" she wheeled as he ar
rived at the door. HERDS a nice
comfortable chair and"
whats the matter with the living
room?" he demanded in amazement.
"Why-"
Mrs. Githers sighed 81 never saw
nuch stupid men folks!" she declared
"Why can't you do things without
having them all explained I'd like
to know? Grace has caller coming
and"
'eWhoopee-e-e!" shouted Graces
brother, making dart for her door
who's your beau, sis? Who've you
got crush on"
"Motherl" came Grace's indignant
voice. Make Bob stop! | think he's
perfectly horrid / haven't got a
crush on anybody and you know It,
Bob Githers, and perfectly hate you
so there now"
"Chlidreni" cried Mrs. Githers. 'T'nl
surprised at both of you. Stop it at
oncel"
"Well, I'd like look at the chump
who's so important that I'm barred out
of my happy home" protested her son
Gee! There isn't anything to do ur
herel I'm going QUIT"
"No please don't!" urged his dis
tracted mother 'T1l read out loud tc
you and dad!"
"Motherl" called her daughter, fran
tically. Come and tell me how my
hair looks"
Left to themselves Githers and his
son stared dismally at each other.
"Some doings, eh?" queried young
Githers. "Tommyrot, call it! viii
sis be doing this every night forever'n
ever till she's married o.? I'm going
to move If she does!"
'This chair" said his father ir
ritably, "was built for boa constric
tor, not a man. And where are the
matches?"
Mrs. Githers care back and Grace
fioated downstairs. She played g
piece on the piano exactly as though
she expected no one and then shs
wolked about. The men folks tldgeted
Then the telephone rang.
Presently Grace called dolefully up
stairs 'Tom can't come. He's got
an awful cold! Isn't that hor-r-idl"
Githers and his son reached the bot
tom of the stairs simultaneously.
my but I'm sorry for Toni" said
Githers as he grabbed the easy chair