Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-29


Right now" exclaimed Laura. and. !
taking the colonel by the arm. she led
the way out. She looked back mis-
chievously over her shoulder at Jack.
who had been seized on either side by
his grinning friends and was being
gently pushed along.
Come on. husband dear" she called
to him. and sent him a great big wink.
CHAPTER VI
The Grays lived in one of those at
tractive and comfortable little Ameri-
can basement houses Of which there
are so many In the upper seventies and
eighties of New York. Theirs was a
quiet street. full of quiet little homes,
where people came and went quietly,
and where no greater excitement than
an awning across the sidewalk ever ap-
peared to disturb the perfect calm of
neighbors who scarcely ever knew one
another.
1t was Sunday morning--the morning
of the day following that In which Mrs,
Gray had had her unfortunate expe-
rience in the Turkish bath-snd else
where.
She had reached home safely in a
taXicab. after her pc from the
playwrights apartment. and she was
in her own room, and quite ready for
bed, although 1t WAS barely q o'clock,
when her husband called on the tele-
phone and inquired il she would mind
II he did not come home to dinner. He
WIS dt a nOttl. he explained. win Col.
Crosby and Townsend and DIR. Sterling.
She answered him. with suppressed
eagerness. that she did not mind bit:
that she had a eadache-which was
quite true-and that she preferred TO
take a cup of tea and 40 To bed. She
urged him to remain with his friends
and have good time. SO Jack re-
manned. but whether he had good
time or not is another matter.
However. he was home long before
midnight. and when he came down to
breakfast this sunday morning. he
wore slightly worried look. which he
did his best to conceal from his little
sister-in-law. Phyllis, who poured his
coffee
"How's Gertrude he asked.
"All right. ! guess replied Phyllis.
carelessly. she had her tea in her
room. but she is nearly dressed. and
ought to be down in minute"
As a matter of fact, Mrs. Gray was
Just about to emerge from her room at
that very moment and when Jack ana
Phyllis came up 10 the library from
the dining room they found her COM
fortably installed in the sunshine by
the window.
thing to worry her. TOO, but she con-
cealed her feelings very well. She had
made up her mind that nothing should,
compel her to admit that she had gomez
to the Turkish bath establishment: shes
hoped that the rest of the days misad-
ventures would never be heard of, and,
having lively imagination and keen
sense of humor, she felt confident that.
if some explanation had to be onered
she could, as Phyllis might have said.
get away with it," As rule, Gertrude
Gray was truthful and straightfor-
ward person, but for this particular
crisis she had determined to evade. dis
simulate, conceal and even lie.
She greeted her husband and her SIS
ter with a radiant smile over the top
of the fashion page of the newspaper
We'll. gadabout," she began. feeling
a certain joy at assuming the onensive.
did you have u good time last night!
''Oh pretty good" grunted JACK. But
how about you? How about that head
ache" and he came over and stood
near his wife.
We'll, you don't look very clipper.
dear. You're trifie pale. You must
have done too much yesterday;
'Oh. no. replied Mrs. Gray. ieisureiy,
the fatal plunge into prevarication.
"Oh. no: on the contrary. ] spent a very
quiet afternoon. I went up to Roosevelt
Hospital to see Mabel Moore, and just
sat around
..How's Mabel?" inquired Phyllis.
First rate. She's almost well. she
says that an operation for appendlcitis
is much less to be dreaded than an hour
in dentists chair" :.
I'm glad to hear she's getting along:
observed Jack, as he settled himself
comfortably III his big chair. but
don't think it's a good thing for you 10
sit around hospital an entire AFTER
noon. 1t tired you out
Nonsense" interrupted MIS- Gray:
stop your growing, amiable one. ana
set a good example to Timothy, VINO
approaches stealthily."
Mr. Timothy Pitkin was the amanceo
of PHYLLIS. He was an ascetic ana =
trifle pompous young man. a student OF
theology at one of New York's big SEMI
naries. He affected the costume OF tne
clergy, and the voice ana manner Ok
the very high churchman. ,a :, n.
Timothy appeared at the head or 1ne
stairs and stood for a moment In tne
doorway He was not wholly uncon-
scious of effective posing.
Good morning, good people ne pc
gan. with a kindly and patronisfng
smile.
His greeting was returned.
This is indeed beautiful domestic
scene that l enter upon; ne s eont hnms
the peaceful morning hour, the happy
husband, the trustful wife. the pure
and bashful maiden. ] rejoice at the.
perfect in its harmony and connuoiaAJ
love-
Jack glared at the young man. who
meantime had found seat beside
Phyllis. Il
las for that harmony and connubial
business" put in Mrs. Gray. you talk
as if you had been reading trashy
novel, Timothy"
.sWhy, he wouldn't do such thing"
cried Phyllis, and then. in an endeavor
to change the drift of the conversa-
ton, she turned to her sister and add
ed: "Do tell us more about Mabel
Moore When does she expect to leave
the hospital?'
"oh, pretty soon. l guess" responded
Mrs. Gray, non-committally.
Are you talking about Mabel Moore?S
asked Timothy
Yes
she is-or was-in Roosevelt Hose
pital. wasn't she?"
She is affirmed Mrs. Gray,
We'll we'll" drawled Timothy. turns
ing to Jack: that was startling con>
dition Of affairs which developed up
there yesterday, wasn't it,
What condition Of affairs?' asked
Jack with some interest.
Have you not read the papers," res !.
turned Timothy. II mean the smallss l
pox scare" and he unfolded a yelfowee
journal which he had brought with
him.
There's nothing about il that I've
discovered in my paper-so far, exc
claimed Jack. making a great to-do OF
folding and unfolding reams of printed
paper.
Well" continued Timothy with the
air of a person who is giving out exA
elusive information. they found si13
cases of smallpox in the hospital yes{S
terday noon; scattered around in div
ferent wards, too. 1t scared the docE
tors almost out of their boards. TheEs
closed the doors of the hospital aG
once"
why. Gertrude" exclaimed JaciA
40