Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-09
MY MARRIED LIFE
How Madge Welcomes Dickv-Her Plan
BY ADELE GARRISON

AWokE unusually early upon the morn
Il ing after Dieky's all.nght revei 60 an
overwhelming sense % trouble somewhere.
FOR a moment or two I could not under
stand what had happened Then I realized
that Dicky had not yet come home aud that
until had gone to sleep, about o'clock in
the morning. ! had had a most anxious and
exciting time
] arose dressed hastily although the
throbbings In my temples warned me that
l probably would have 20 undress again
atter while. I recognized the first symp-
toms OF another OF my nervous headaches
Ihen i went 70 Dioky's room turned down
the cover OF his bed and laid his pajamas
across the foot Of the bed. As | took the
night latch from the lock of the living room
door thought Of the preparations for coffee
which Katie had made In the kitchen Very
softly, 30 as not 10 awaken her I made the
conee, took cup myself 20 steady my
ungling nerves. put the pot back upon the
small warming burner, came back TO the
living room, lighted the gas CRATE and sat
down before II, again TO wait, as had done
so many times In the last twelve hours.
did not sit there long, however, for in
few minutes the door opened and Dicky
came In.
ARE YOU IIL7"
But such n different Dcky from the
registering blade who had charged about
tho apartment the night before. His face
was gray and haggard in the early morning
light; his eyes were dun and bloodshot: he
looked ten years older than he did when he
dashed out OF the room in rage the eve
ming before. lie came slowly into the room.
leaning on his stick instead Of swinging II,
and, dropping into the nearest chair, leaned
his head back against the wall and closed
his eyes lie evidently had not seen me at
all.
went over to him and shook him gently
"Dicky, are you ill?" My voice was sharp
tHgfNh a
the evening before that they come home so
seeck"
lie opened his eyes and looked at me
vacantly.
That you. Madge?" he SAID. and closed
his eyes again.
'Dicky," I repeated more sharply. Listen
TO me. Are You IN? have some hot coffee
ready for you"
He opened his eyes again This time there
was anger In them No I'm not ill.," he
snarled lie seemed to have great difficulty
in getting his words out
Let me alone. I'm going 10 sleep"
lie settled himself lower in the chair, and
saw that he intended sleeping right there
II was Just an ordinary chair, and I was
afraid that he would fall from II II he went
to sleep on It's slippery surface l hurried
TO the kitchen, poured the cup Of black
coffee, and, coming back. slipped my arm
under Dicky's neck and held the hot. fra
grant stun beneath his nostTils.
''Dicky!" l commanded, sternly, using the
same tone as | would to a naughty child
Drink this at once, and then go to bed
and sleep there"
The ruse succeeded, although was afraid
II would not He opened his eyes seized
the cup and drank its contents. As 7 took
the empty cup from his hand to set It on
the table he put his arm around me
MADGE HELPS DICKY
you're a good little scout to beast
like me-" he said feebly. 'Ill tell you all
about IT when I get up I've got to go TO
sleep now"
He arose, still leaning on me, and walked
unsteadiy to his room. He made a futile
effort to remove his overcoat. Helplessly
he turned to me. and I slipped II off for
him. He sat down upon the side of the