Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-23
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
THE BATHROOM SCREEN
By JULI1 4. ROBINSON

TN1iE bathroom screen was lost
l. strang" thing to lose. too, If it had
been a door key, pap Of gloves. or
even hat. on" would not have Won
d"red-hut SCr""n-a window screen
It was mystery.
Mrs. Weed had looked for it "just
ccvrywhere," but could not find it, All
the other screens were fitted in the Win
dows: this was needed. Flies were be-
ginning to come What was to be done?
Father, You must know where that
screen is; you put it away" Mrs Weed
Sais TO her husband. Those that hide
surely ought To he able to find"
Il don't know where it is, motner
We looked for it everywhere ! don't
SNOW thing about it. don't remem-
her putting it away"
These two good people had the old
iatsnlohmd habit Of calling each other
father and "mothcr" in a real honey
loving way :
=, wei, YOU put it away. I'm sure of
iha'' and YOU ought to know where it
IS asserted his gentle wife, with un-
HSual decision. She was generally quier
iu put no." snc was decidedly ruflod. II
haven't touched it," she went on,
. 'tisn't likely any one has stolen If
'herr ar" plenty Of things they'd take
sooner than that"
"That's 50 =" asserted her husband
win troubled look. but really cant
thlnk what can have become of II. II
Gam nave walked off; hut | don't be-
down cellar wish | knew what l did
with it. "'>
You must have put it somewher.
yourself. mother" he suggested, irving
10 clear himself and TO ward off her
displeasure.
~ didn't father You know didn't:
! haven't touched t.; | guess I know
you've. hidden it somewhere. that's ali
there Is about it, and I'd lust Ike 10
nave YOU find it. The flies are coming
IN; ana can't stand flies. They'll be
all over the house before YOU know it,
,,o, These two worthy people had lived to-
Eether as man and wife for more than
lorlN Years. and had never been known
I" quarrel Yet now they were lust on
'he verge of storm-and all for the
Shke OF window screen So little a
tnlhs It takes, sometimes. to break up
the harmony and peace of home life and
L" separate even the dearest and trust
fire kindeth,"
Mrs Weed hustled about. rather sui
ipniE. Tor she wanted her husband to
understand that she was thorOughIv
dlspleased with him, finished her work
dressed and started for downtown. She
Closed the bath room window, however
peI"rr tS1 ~ she went out, IF you can't find
the screen, you've got to have the win
dow down. and smother" she affirmed
in a decided voice.
Mr. Weed was left alone STANDING T.,
me middl" Of the kitchen floor His
face wliukled. ITS strang. Thara ,hat
screen, could have gone fo " La ,,,,,
tered Il hate to have nnfbar CO nv C,,t
out about tit must he s,,,.,,,r ~ t l'uI
lhal certain. | guess IN lust give
another look about. though / 'spose
A.
MI W. Moeo spent an hour IN his search,
NJ, nS ,noHi aitIc 10 ce!Iar but all with
@ i| nl"H i.H knew H. n" SAID to hIm-
''i' II no Use.
" last, quite wearicd with his fruitless
tom. painting and dazcd he stood still in
the front hall, scratched his head and
tried to think, for he hated to give il
up after all
He was gazing absently at the hat
tree just in front of him The hat tree
was tall, reaching nearly 10 the ceiling
In the back of it was a glass. on either
side Of the glass was a network of fla
gree work. with open spaces between,
The paper of the hall was dark about
the color of the wOOdkOrk Of the hat
tree.
Suddenly Mr. Waeo pa,a q i,,r,r .,p,.
lingo What;s that ." b o,iad d jump hy
His owe md canpL, ,R. gfoSt -
thing behind tbe riass nriI T'st,t Oh Some I
nnrtfon Of e. co,iid ,t -" 80, oitS d sinai
of Inc glass and tLrn,1gb 't ~ v,'4tTt az i sIue
work lie hastiiv m,I,ieed the i'asres
there was the iost' screa| pesIe1 II out ana
ar. ,l,
screa@ l@ has ms been m t%ITistTa' sIi th' mere that
w %