Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-09-04
The
Plate Thrower

By cENEvEvE uLMAR

Mabel" pronounced Robert Elsdon. but
his wife. and Mabel's mother, shook
her head slightly.
Il won't deny that Warren has done
well in a general sense" she observed.
"He is successful In a business way.
ne absolutely worships Mabel, he has
no bad habits, but he has a fearful
temper. Quick as a flash. when things
don't suit him. he goes all TO pieces"
"Old wives fables !" derided her hus-
band. warren was a spoiled child.
but he is no longer a boy. His inn
pulses are naturally kindly. and If he
has temper. as you say, Mabel will
cure II"
There was semblance of verify 10
the reputation Warren Joyce had
achieved as man with a temper. He
had never been taught to control him
self, and one month after he and Ma
bel were settled in their pretty home
his helpmeet had real sample of his
Irritability. But Mabel had been
watching for the outbreak and was
prepared for 1t. A stranger had called
one morning, just as Warren was at
breakfast. He brushed by Mabel,
forced his way into the dining room.
placed legal looking document before
Warren and insolently observed:
Il hope that writ will bring you to
dme."
Warren's eyes blazed. If there was
2ne sore spot in his makeup 1t had
?een caused by the contested and I'M
Just claim OF a pettifogging lawyer.
who had sent his emissary to annoy
him. Warren blazed forth In unmiti-
gated wrath. He threatened all kinds
Of things for the lawyer and his myr-
midon He ordered the writ server out
Of the house, and at some impudent re-
tort seized plate, whirled 1t after the
eetiring miscreant. and as II shattered
20 fragments Warren started after
aim. but the latter got nimbly to the
street, unscathed.
There was a fearful clatter In the
house, and Warren hurried back to the
dining room to find the table denuded
VI CIOShtiy dnu TIE hOoI illtcIcu Win
its fragments. Mabel expressed, or
assumed, sympathetic emphasis to
his rage.
"Why," she began, "the wretched
vandall to dare to insult you sol !
don't wonder you smashed things. /
had to do 1t myself to keep from ex-
ploding with Indignation" Then quiet
ly she proceeded to substitute wooden
picnic plates, meantime Warren view
ing her with a suspicious, uneasy
glance.
There came second outbreak two
weeks later. Some one called War
rem from the office and impaired news
of trouble with some business COM
plications. Warren got excited, storm
ed, worked himself into fury, and,
the house cat CHANGING to get In his
way, he seized 1t and flung 1t through
an open window. When he came home
that evening, sweet tempered enough,
he found kitty penned into coop and
his own pet collie chained within
chicken hatch.
81 simply won't have you annoyed
by those pests!" proclaimed Mabel. all
consideration and love.
After that Warren was trif1e less
impetuous when things crossed him.
but Mabel heard Of his breaking out at
the Office, discharging some old en-
ployee for a petty fault and taking
him back at advanced wages when his
fit of temper had cooled down. Then
Warren went away on a months trip,
looking after the road interests of the
business. 1t CHANGED that 500 miles
from home he was enticed into a
plunge into a cool, sparkling brook.
When he came out he found his clothes
gone and In their place trampish tat
tered attire that made him shudder.
There was no way for 1t but to get
to the nearest town. At its outskirts
Warren was seized by two constables.
He was taken before the town magis-
trate, positively identified as the tramp
who the day previous had raided the
larder of resident, besides carrying
away some silver spoons and two of
these were found on his person. His
excited disclaimer, his declaration as
to his real personality had no effect
upon the Judge.
Twenty days in the cooler" was the
sentence pronounced, and the Judge
hurried away to arrange for a cher
ished fishing trip, unheeding Warren,
who showered forth his wrath at the
injustice done him, only to be laughed
at by the constables, who proceeded to
immune him in a small. hot prison cell
with a bench for a bed and stale
bread and water for regular diet.
The tramp had taken all his money
and papers, the constables refused to
risk telegraphing to friends at their
own expense. The cell was a furnace
those hot summer days, the fare was
abominable. his. gusts of temper vain.
his pleadings equally so. Endurance
Warren Joyce learned. and patience.
When he stepped forth from prison
a free man. Warren soon rehabilitated
himself. Then he cut his trip short.
made up specious story to cover his
silence during his absence. and had
learned his lesson complete.
1t was on the anniversary of their
wedding that Warren told his secret.
"And that was how was cured" he
said proudly. And Mabel, who had
marveled at the extraordinary change
she had noted in him during the