Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-08-14


AS leader OF the discontented. Guns
dorf ran an open house. There was
always talk and something to drink in
the front room downstairs. Here, poll
cies were hatched just as they are in
the cabinet room In Washington, and
here drinks OF the most vile rye
whisky could be had by the initiated
for the asking.
From the very first Mrs. Gunsdorf
had done her best to make Tommy
comfortable. Not a tidy woman by
nature, she put her house in order
for his benefit and kept It so. From
the looking glass in the kitchen at
which you combed your hair before
meals, she scrubbed the fly-specks.
She bought new comb with full
complement OF teeth to hang on the
chain, she washed the roller towel.
and for the first time in her life took
an interest in cooking, seeking instruc-
ton from neighbors who had reputa-
tions in that line. But she managed
for time to confine her amorous
feelings toward Tommy to deeds and
attentions. She tried to make her
manner toward him just what 1t was
TO other young men who came TO the
house. But when discussion was hot
in the front room, and the whisky
was going, and nobody was noticing
her, she feasted her eyes on his
brown face and her ears on his quiet.
resonant well-bred voice.
All the time her mind was filed with
thoughts and visions OF Tommy. Some
times she would take his coat from its
hook and strain II to her breast. Some
times when he was out OF the house
she would go to his room and sit by
the hour. feasting herself on day
dreams of him.
In her mind at least, she was al
ready faithless TO her husband But
this did not trouble her in the least.
One day there was a violent social
istic discussion going on in the front
room. Mrs. Gunsdorf had appeared
twice at the hall door to listen, and
gaze surreptitiously at Tommy and
had twice vanished upon some house
hold duty or other.
Having closed the door softly, she
turned swiftly to where Tommy's coat
hung, and pressed 1t passionately to
her cheek. a paper rustled in the
breast pocket, where she knew no pa
per had been earlier in the day, and
after a moments hesitation, and i'm
PEELED by a sudden unreasoning 1eal-
ousy, she snatched 1t out OF the pocket
and examined It:
Thomas Barclay, 5itumen, Pa.
Come home at once, must see you
on important business.
Barclay.
Mrs. Gunsdorf felt as IL she had
been struck a heavy blow between the
eyes. Was her godlike champion of
labor only hypocrite and spy? For
a moment It seemed as If her knees
had turned to water. She put the tele-
gram back in its pocket. and having
pulled herself together, once more en-
tered the front room.
It was five O'Clock when the sitting
broke up with everyone except Guns
dorf and Tommy (who drank nothing)
the worse for liquor.
Gunsdorf had business elsewhere.
and he hustled his guests out of the
house. feeling rightly that they were
sufficiently primed for the time being.
Tommy and Mrs. Gunsdorf remained
seated, side by side. Mrs. Gunsdorf
reached for the whisky bottle and
Tommy laid his hand on her arm and
said: Don't; what's the use?"
I'm sick" she said in thick voice;
her arm trembled under bis hand.
"That stuff won't help any. I'll go
for the doctor"
I'll be all right. I'm faint that's
ALL"
To Tommy she seemed TO be max.
ing an effort to pull together.
Its the air in this room," he said.
Let me take you outside"
She seemed to acquiesce, and he
helped her to her feet, and toward the
door, his left arm around her waist.
She leaned more and more heavily
against him. until IL took real strength
to keep her from falling. In the front
hall she appeared to collapse entirely.
Her head dropped backward as II her
neck had been suddenly disloeated,
and she lurched against Tommy with
all her weight.
1t was necessary, he felt, to go for
the doctor at once, but he could not
leave her lying in the front hall. So,
not without difficulty. for the stair was
very narrow. he carried her up to the
room which she shared with her hus-
band. and laid her on the bed.
Then he was for leaving her, but she
had flung her arms about his neck,
and was holding him tight. Her eyes
had opened and shone brilliantly In his
face. Her cheeks and temples were
crimson, and there was no longer any
fear OF him in her, or shame.
For q moment, so innocent was Tom
my, he thought that her sudden faint
ing sickness had eliminated in q sort
of fit, and II was not until he felt that
her lips were greedily seeking his that
he realized his position.
He shook himself free, not gently.
and without a word, turned and
marched out OF the room, and down
the stair. He took his coat from it's
hook and put It on. laid his hand on
the knob OF the front door, hesitated,
turned on his heel and went back up
the stair. He had closed the door Of