New Britain herald., 1916-11-02
Why Dicky's Mother Said DO You
 Know That Man?"

Know That Man. =
 You must have had a long ses- sion," my mother -in-law commented, acidly, when I finally arrived at the room which we had taken for her Ill the Sydenham hotel.
 hat and suit I am going to wear on the boat tomorrow" I returned quiet ly. "You remember I had this hat sent to Lillian's from the shop, and went over there to get it before 1 went to the club meeting today"
 "I'H bet you made those old frumps over there look like a collec- ton of hand-me-down Dicky put in from the chair in which he was tilted la ok comfortably. That skypiece is certainly winner"
 Whether because of his natural love for teasing, or because my work with the Lotus Study club really annoys him as much as he pretends 1t does, Dicky loses no opportunity to belittle the woman of the club before whom I talk each Wednesday. But I never need to answer his strictures when they are made in the presence of his mother. It is the one subject on which sheis invariably sure to side with me against Dicky. "It's Becoming Enough" She turned upon him angrily as he spoke:
 Richard" she said testify, Eff you cannot speak with respect of the in- ,, telligent, progressive women whom your wife addresses each week, I wish you would not discuss them at all''
 "Just as you say, mother" Dicky re- turned with exaggerated meekness. He winked at me as he spoke, a wink which his mother fortunately did not see, and which I did not dare to re- turn, for she was looking directly at me.
 I'm to infer then, that the new hat meets with your approval?'' 1 said to him. with grandiose little flourish
 "You bet," Dicky returned enthus- iastically, most becoming thing , ever saw on you.'
 My mother-in-law sniffed. i "It's becoming enough, and pretty
 enough,' she admitted grudgingly
 "but it looks to me like a very ex- travagant piece of headgear." i I flushed and turned away sharply It was absurd to care for such a ! thoroughly feminine pin prick, but could not help resenting it. "I hope it is'' Dicky struck in sharply. 'It looks like a $50 lid to me; that's what I wanted you to get, and if you paid anything less for it I shall be disappointed Fifty dollars!' gasped his mother, ! in horror.
 ''Don't Consider Me-" ] It was foolish, I know, but I could rot help tantalizing her. 1 Well it wasn't over s50." smiled at Dicky as I spoke, remembering the 1 S35 I had paid for the hat. "Good!" he said heartily. But 1 wouldn't have cared if it was.'' l '"That isn't extravaganza, that's criminal folly,' the elder Mrs. Gra- 1 ham snapped. I hope the day will come when you will go hungry for 1 food which the price of this hat will 1 buy.''
 Like most pious wishes, her tone implied that she would really enjoy witnessing our hunger-driven repen- tance some time in the future. You don't need to wait to see me hungry mother" Dick returned good humoredly, I'm like a ravenous wolf now. If you'll just postpone your worrying over the price of Madge's hat till some other time I'll be much obliged. Let's go down to dinner
 i've been ready for dinner for an hour" my mother-in-law rejoined, tartly.
 The look which accompanied the words told me that she was in one of the cautious disagreeable moods in which she indulges herself occasional ly. knew that it behooved me to steer my way warily through the even rg's conversational breakers.
 flashed a whimsical look at Dicky, a look which he returned with a ten der smile that did much to hearten mo for the evening.
 'I'll be with you in one minute" I promised, hurrying into the room ad- joining my mother-in-law's which Dicky and I were to share for the night.
 had nothing to do save take off my hat and coat, brush up my hair a bit, and bathe my hands, and l was back in the other room again al- most in the minute I had promised.
 Dinner with Dicky in a public din- ing room is almo ost always a delight to me. He has the rare art of knowing how to order a perfect dinner, and when he is in a good humor he is most entertaining. He knows by sight or by personal acquaintance al- most every celebrity of the city, and his comments on them have an un- common fascination for me because of the monotony of my life before I met D1cky.
 But the very expression of my mother-in-1aw's back as I followed her through the glittering grill room of the Sydenham told me that our chances for having a pleasant even- ing were slender indeed.
 Well, mother, what do you want +o cot o1 n;cL3v horap oaria1ly when