The Washburn leader., 1916-01-28
A HUSBANDS
DISCONTINUE
Futile Attempt to Cure a Bad
Memory.

interested.
my DEAR" said Mrs. Jastrum, Il do
wish that could rely on you to attend
to such household matters as require
your attention"
"My DEAR" replied Mr.. Jastrum
sharply, lowering the paper, If you
will name any especial matter requir-
ing my attention instead Of blaming
me beforehand l shall be happy to
oblige you"
"Very well. wish you to post
letter for me on your way downtown"
"Do you call that q household mat
ter? Isupposed you referred to a leak
in the roof or some plumbing or gas re-
pairs. Indeed, you have made as much
fuss about it as If you had. If it's only
letter you want posted should sup
pose you might have dispensed with
your structures"
"That's all l wish this morning." re-
piled Mrs. Jastrum in an injured tone.
Just before Mr.. Jastrum departed his
wife slipped a letter in the right hand
pocket Of his overcoat. He kissed her
perfunctorily and went away, intend
ing when out Of sight to carry the let
ter in his hand that he might not for
get it. but he had no sooner turned the
corner than he met Hickson. Hickson
asked him If he had noticed the fall In
the price Of copper Jastrum said that
he had. whereupon Hickson said that
it was sure to go lower Jastrum hur-
ried away to his brokers' Office and
gave him an order to sell out his hold
ings in copper at once. Then he went
to his own office and hung up his over
coat. with the letter in It.
At lii the evening Mr.. Jastrum
opened the front door Of his house and
was greeted with the smell of gas.
"Phew! My dear Betsy. hello! Where
are you?"
"Up here, dearv'
Mr.. Jastrum went upstairs and found
his wife sitting in her bedroom in her
fur cloak, with the windows open.
"Good gracious!'' he exclaimed, TAX.
ing in the situation. when did the
leak occury' .....
Il noticed faint smell Of gus this
morning as soon as l got up. but 1t
was in the cellar and not very strong
in the house. kept the cellar door
shut but by noon the house was full
Of it"
"And why. may l ask, didn't you tell
me, SO that I could have notified the
plumber?"
when the leak in the water pipe
occurred asked you to stop at the
plumbers and send him right around.
You forgot 1t, and the house was flood
ed. spelling both the dining room and
parlor carpets. besides the ceilings of
both rooms
"And out Of revenge, to show your
Not at all. Finding could not
trust to your memory all the way to
the gas Office. concluded to subject it
to a much less strain. Both the post
and gas Offices are very near yours
the postOflce across the street. the gas
Office on the same block. I wrote you
note asking you to go to the gas
Office and tell them to send man here
atonce."
"And mailed the letter this morn
ing?"
"Yes. There is a mail box, as you
know, just around the corner. The
postman takes up the mail at . q. IN.
My letter was dropped In the box not
two minutes after you left the house
this morning and should have been
handed you on the II o'clock delivery.
Didn't you get it?''
Get it? No. Doubtless you thought
you put it In. but forgot 1t. You're
always grumbling about my forgetting
to post your letters. while you are the
real delinquent Nobody knows how
many times you have claimed to have
given me letters to post that you have
intended to post yourself and have for
gotten" .l
"Did you post the one gave you
this m0rning?" -@s
Jastrum looked dazed for moment,
then frightened. He thrust his hand
In his overcoat pocket and drew forth
the letter.
Il met Hickson-just after-I left
you,'' he stammered guiltily. land he
Look at the address,"
He did as she asked and saw that
the letter was addressed to himself
"Read it,
. He tore OF the cover and read:
The gas lssescaping in the cellar. Send
q man ut once. ;-e
Jastrum stood looking at the letter
long enough to have read two pages.
''Isn't 1t plain?" asked his wife.
Without replying. he rushed down
stairs and out, slamming the door be-
hind him, intending to get man to
do what he didn't know how to do
himself lf-turn OF the gas. His next
door neighbor came In with 4 monkey
wrench and did the trick. Jastrum
then went upstairs. His wife stood
laughing at him.
my dear" he said. not in reproach.
but giving the word its real meaning.
.sit's \ horse on me. Wait with din
ner q few minutes while go out and
telephone for seats at the theater. Aft
er the play well sup at the hotel"
Certainly, dear. Don't hurry. There's