The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-04-14

Stebbins.' 1 said. 4 don't see why she
"That e English secretary-and
that was the first time that l had even
heard OF the creature-he said had to
have tee. They all do in London, he
said.
you've never had tea with me- /
said. I've often wanted you to drop
in my at homes" and you wouldn't
and nov for this brazen English secre-
|tary OF ears, of whom | have neve-
even heard, you start in with this rid
iculous practice. But why make a fool
OF yourself by bringing the cups home!
Why aren't they washed at the Officer"
"'That's where the joke comes In
he said laughing-men can laugh even
at the most tragic moments. ! thought
of getting Miss StebIns to wash them.
Miss Stobbins is his stenographer and
a palmer, old creature | v saw. !
wouldn't be jealous OF her II b were
the last woman in the world. we
thought of getting Miss Stebbins TO DC
1t and We said something to her about
lit. but she rebelled.
"aJust because l am a woman, l sup
pose yoI think l must do the drudgery'
never washed a dish In my life. II
YOU want a servant you should have
hired one and not a stenographer.
And said my husband, Miss Steb'
bins is a very valuable woman and
didn't want to make her mad. So the
thing TO do is to bring the tea things
home to wash
"T am sure 1 don't at all blame Miss
should have to wash up after that tea
drinking English secretary OF yours.
and | am sure l won't, and Bridge:
won't either. Hereafter you may waSS
your OWE teacup.'"
you did perfectly right" said Dicks
fancee, and then. after another pause.
81 know all about II. found Dick car
rvins moi only one. but two, cups home
ri niglt-his and the scCretary's. lie
even brought them around to wash.
and then he told mo. just as DIN ala
YOU. about the creature. Only ne
wouldn't say much and ! said less. !
didn't want him to tell you that was
jealous and IL Is not really that. Only.
Of course. If that is the kind of mar
Dick Is. II he Is the sort who stoops TO
oTTicc nirtations like that and can ar
ford TO spend n half hour or so slipping
ten with some brnZen English woman
aim quite glad | found out in inc.
"lIave you seen her." inquired
Toms wife. patting away an imagin-
arV tear through the meshes OF her
veil.
"IIcavcns. no. and I don't want to.
OF course. she is n tall. willowS:
blonde. English women so often arc,
Tho idea seemed to occur TO them
both at once of stealing Unexpectedly
into the office where Tom and Dick
held their tea orgies every afternoon.
And In less than half an hour the two
women had started downtown with all
the intense excitement OF n "a al
venture.
ut isn't ms II we were doing anything
u~nderhanded." assured Toms wife.
"For I am sure any wife has a right to
call al her husbands office. DO you
upposa they sent way to London for
hcr? I don't see why they couldn't
have got some honest, deserving Amer
lean Girl who would have been quite
satisfactory"
They had reached the office and
Toms wife went In first. Tom II
Dick were both in and showed no end
of pleasure Mt the visit. They took
them right into TOMS big, roomy Of
fec. =.
"StIck around for q half hour more"
Tom said. land You a have tea with
us. It's n great institution. isn't It,
Dick?'
Both Toms wife and Dicks f1ancee
smiled coldly. But It was part OF thcts
plot to stay. They peGred around ey.
cry curve and listened for every SOUND
expecting to @ the willowy blonde
appear. But the only petticoat they
saw were worn by the sourfaced Miss
Stobbins. who sat pounding away re-
ientlcssly at her typeTrite.
Maybe we can get the ladies to
wash up the dishes" suggested Tom.
''Tt's such a nuisance 10 have to cart
them homo with rs"
Tones wife had her cue and. while
Dicks nancee fairly tremhled at what
she felt was bound to follow, she be-
gan:
at seems to me that the English sec
rctar had better do the dishwashing.
since II was the English s~ecretary's
idca 10 have tea"
Tom and Dick began TO laugh. That
Is Il good one" said Tom. and then, at
his summons, q tall, fne.looking. mid
dle.aged, wcll-tailOrcd man appeared.
1.-THE wife says you ought 10 wash
the Dishes" Tom repeated with n
laugh, and then he introduced them
all. YOU Sc It was Mr.. Harry Harri-
son, the new London secretary OF the
company, whom Tom and Dick want
ed favorabIy to impress and not that
mythical. willowy blonde at all.