Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-03-21

lAC OihCS III HIS IIdli. Anu SllS SOluB
each day to the postoffice to prevent
it from falling into his hands! She
gave it quick offhand glance.
"AbOut the drive, of course, Sup
per's getting cold. Look at that ONE
lette. Don't wait to wash up. 1t will
be like leather"
When she had finished her meal, she
read her letter with a fine show of in
difference. "He sets q date for the
drive" She put the letter carelessly
into her pocket before her husband
could stretch out his hand. 1t would
never do for Jealous Tom to read that:
your letter was received two weeks
ago. Pardon me for appearing to have
forgotten your kindness"
"The nerve" growled Tom again,
his mouth full of Gerty's omelette.
ITO take you up on an invitation like
that. I call that pretty raw"
"You must remember we are such
old friends" urged his wife. ''He
Knew / meant it seriously"
"Just the same, its nerve" grum-
bled Hardin, helping himself to more
of the omelette, now a fiat ruin in the
center of the Canton platter. His re-
sentiment had taken on an edge of
hatred since the episode of the dredge
machinery. ''To write to anyone in
my house! He knows what 1 think Of
him; an Intellectual ass, that's what he
is Blundering around with his little
levees. and his fool work on the wa
ter tower
"The water tower?" demanded his
sister. whats he doing with that?'
"Oh, don't know" rejoined Tom
largely, his lips protruding. He had
been itching to ask some one what
Rickard was up to. Twice, he had
seen him go up. with MacLean and
Estrada. Once. there a large flare of
light. But he wouldn't ask! Some of
his fool tinkeringl
His sisters gaze rested on him with
concern. He had too little to do. She
guessed that his title, consulting en-
gineer. was mocking one, that his
chief, at least, did not consult him.
Was it true, what she had heard, that
he had made a fluke about the ma
chinery? He was looking seedy. He
had been letting his clothes go. He
looked like a man who has lost grip
who has been shelved.
She knew he was sleeping badly.
Every morning now she found the
couch rumpled Not much pretense of
martial congeniality. Things were go.
ing badly, there
Everybody has accepted" Gerty
was saying. "They have been waiting
for me to set the date"
"And you cater to him, let him
dangle you all. l wonder why you dc
it, unless it's to hurt me-"
Hurt you, Tom," cried his wife, her
deep blue eyes wide with dismay.
How can you say such a thing? But
if it is given for him, how can l dc
anything else than let him arrange
the day to suit himself? 1t would be
funny for the guest of honor not to
be present, wouldn't it?''
Il don't see why you want to make
him guest of honor" he retreated
covering his position.
Gently, Gerty expressed her belief
that she was d1ing the best thing fol
her husband in getting up a public af
fair for his successor. She did thinI
that Tom would see that it showed
they had no feeling.
Il think it fine idea," agreed In
mes heartily. I'm sure Tom will. too
when he thinks about it," But she die
not give him any chance to express.
himself. ''HOw are you going to man
age it. Gerty? You said it was goins
to be progressively"
"We shall draw for partners" saiC
Mrs. Hardin. "And change every hall
a mile. The first lap will be two
miles; that will give some excitement
in cutting for partners" Easy, beins
the hostess, to withhold any slip sht
pleased, easy to make it seem acci
| dental!
when is this circus coming off?
inquired her husband.
"Mr. Richard says he will be bacl
on the first; that he'll be free on tn,
second"
"For half an hour, I'll listen to Mrs
Youngberg tell me how hard it is t,
have to do without servants, as She
never done it in her life before. Fo
another half-mile, Mrs. Hatfield viii
flirt with me, and Mrs. Middleton will
tell me all about her dear little kid
dies Sounds cheerful. Why didn'
you choose cards? No one has t
talk then"
/ There was an interval when his wifi
appeared to be balancing his, sugges
ton. "No, think it will have to b
drive; for I've told every one abou
it."
"Well," remarked her husband. "
only hope something will happen t
prevent it."
"Tom!' exclaimed Gerty Hardil
"What a dreadful thing to say. Thu
sounds like a curse. You make N
blood run cold"
, "Shu!" said Hardin, picking up h
hat. '"That was no curse. Ye
wouldn't go if it rained, would you?'
! "Oh, rain" She shrugged at tn;
: possibility.
q well, you wouldn't go if the wiz
blOwsl" retorted Hardin, leaving Il
= room.