Norwich bulletin., 1915-11-10

"Of course,'' said Mrs. Byron when she had finished her recital of a friends matrimonial troubles. q know perfectly well, Jack. that you'u insist that she is in the wrong, and that her husband is a very decent chap. You men always stand by each other most cxasperatingly.
 stand by each other only when we know the man is right. You don't fancy for moment, do you, that I or any of my friends would take the part of any fellow unless We knew posi- lively that he was square? ?"
 "Yes, I do! believe that you or any of your friends would actually lie +for each other if you thought it would help one of you to get out of a scrape." Mrs Byron laughed as she spoke, but her husband detected the serious note in her voice and assumed a somewhat injured air.
 q thought that you had more con- fidence in me-" he complained DO you think ever try to deceive ycu%
 No, indeed! I feel perfectly sure that you're as open as the day with me, Jack" She rumpled his thick hair, for she was perched on the arm of his chair and he snatched her hand and gave it a forgiving kiss. But dear, I'm equally sure that you would try to deceive another mans wife if you thought it would help him."
 I'm blessed if I can see why you have such an opinion of me"
 "It isn't my opinion of you particu- larly, it's my knowledge of mankind" loyal friends, I'll admit, but they're not so carried away that they forget truth and justice. Most certainly not, my dear"
 Perhaps not,'' assented Mrs. Byron with an uneonvinced smile, and the diSC1SSiOn Can1e a an end for they each took up book
 The next night at dinner Byron caught a glow of excitement in his He inquired what she had "up her sleeve.'
 You look like a young person plot ting mischief" he said.
 "On the contrary I'm most inno- cent" she replied. I'm as easy to Jack Byron, you're the gay deceiver in this house! Ifmust ask you, sir, to tell where you were last evening"
 Where I was last evening? What's the joke? Don't you know as well as do that passed the evening in front of the living room fire in the sleepy hollow chair, which you insisted upon sharing with me though 1t wasn't built for two?''
 Well, oddly enough" said Mrs. IIlaI was IIly TSGo1lcIt4Oll, LOO. I thought I remembered quite clearly that you were home last evening. It seemed to me, as I thought it over, | that you didn't even step out on the porch to examine the weather as you often do.''
 Of course didn't. With the rain coming down in sheets I knew all l wished to know about the weather. What made you ask such a senseless question:"
 Because this morning I tried a lit- | tie experiment. I telephoned Tom l Lawrence and immediately began to think that I must have dreamed last l evening. I asked him whether he, by any chance, knew where you were last night. and he replied without hesita- l ton that you were playing billiards with him at the club" | ''He did, the old" l Then I called up Dr. Clifford, and l he told me that he had hauled you off to a scientific lecture and he beg 1 ged my pardon for taking you away
 rough night. He was really quite dear about 1t, Jack"
 l T daresay,, grumbled Byron. By that time I was growing so ] confused as to your whereabouts last night that I phoned your Cousin Jack Kaye, and he assured me that you 1 had been with him all the evening at l his office talking over the plans he l has made for his new country house. 1 He said it was a shame to have kept you out so late, but that Nell was out | of town, and he hated to go home him. | self. I think we should have him here 1 to dinner while Nell's away"
 I'll be hanged if I will,'' muttered
 Byron.
 | ed me right away whether I wasn't l aware how tremendously busy you all | are at the office just now. He said
 he stayed down night after night te work in quiet and that I musn't mind
 if the junior partner does sometimes too. I'm glad to hear that your bus mess is so rushing, Jack"
 "Gammon!" was Byron's only re- sponse.
 George Morse informed me that you played bridge until the raiI ceased"
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