Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-11-14
By Booth
Harrington

auTIplly Stenceu, leaVlng her sur
prised mouth open. "Mrs. johnson, /
have come TO ask you few questions
which I would like you to answer if
you please"
She became grave at once. Ger
tainiy. Mr., Mlnafer. Anything / can"
He. interrupted sternly, vet his
voice shook in spite of its sternness.
"You We're talking with my Aunt Fam
ny about my mother this afternoon"
At tIiis Mrs. johnson uttered an In
voluntary gasp, but she recovered
herself. 'sTheE I'm sure our CONVEX
sation was very pleasant one, IL we
were talking of your mother, be-
cause"
Again he interrupted. "My aunt
has told me what the conversation vir-
tually was. and / don't mean TO waste
any time, Mrs. Johnson. You were
talking about a. Georges shoulders
suddenly heayed uncontrolIablS but
he went fie.cely on: "You were discuss
ing scandal that involved my moth
ers name"
Mr. Minafer!''
"Isn't that the truthf''
Il don't feel cSlied upon TO answer,
Mr.. Minaferp she said with visible
agitation. Il do not consider that ycu
have any right
my aunt told me you repeated this
scaalal to her"
Il don't think your aunt can have
said that" Mrs. Johnson returned
sharply. y did not repeat scandal
Of any kind to your aunt and | think
you are mistaken In saying she told
you did. We may have discussed
some matters that have been a topic
OF comment about town.
"Yesw George cried. 81 think you
may havel That's what I'm here
about. and what Intend to-"
Don't ten me what you intend.
please" Mrs. Johnson interrupted
crisply. "And should prefer that you
would not make your voice quite so
loud In this house, which / happen to
own. Your aunt may have todd you
though think 1t would have been very
unwise in her IL she did, and not very
cOnsiderate Of me--she may have told
1 You that we discussed some topic as
| have mentioned, and possibly that
! would have been true. II / talked it
over with her, you may be sure spoke
In the most charitable spirit, and
without sharing In other peoples dis
position TO put an evil Interpretation
on what may be nothing more than
unfortunate appearances and--"
my GodJ" said George. Il can't
stand thisl"
"You have the option Of dropping
the subject" Mrs. johnson suggested
tartly. and she added "Or of leaving
the house,
'Ill do that soon enough. but 1rst
l mean to know"
Il am perfectly willing to tell you
anything you wish IL you viii remem-
Der TO ask it quietly. I'll also take
the liberty Of reminding you that /
had perfect right to discuss the sub
ject with your aunt. Other people"
"other peopIel" the unhappy George
repested yiclousIy. "That's what /
/ want to know about--these other peo-
pleI You say you know of other peo-
pie who talk about this
Il presume they do"
''How many?"
ssWhatT"
81 want to know how many other
people talk about it?'
Dear, dearr she protested. "How
/ shoui5 I know thaf7"
Haven't you beard anybody mem
| ton TT"
II presume So"
"Well, how maay have you heard"
Mrs. Johnson was becoming more
annoyed than apprehensive. and she
showed II. s1leally. this isn't court
ROOM" she said. "And I'm not a de-
PENDANT In a libel suit, eitheri"
The unfortunate young man lost
what Remained OF his balance. "You
may beln lie cried. Il intend to know
just who's dared to say these things,
IL have t. fv.ce my way into every
house IN town, and I'm going to make
them take every word Of 1t backl I
mean TO know the name OF every SLAM
derer that's spoken Of this matter to
you and Of every tattler you've passed
it on to yourself. mean to know"
You'll know something pretty
qulckl" she said, rising with difficult
ty; and her voice was thick with the
sense Of insult. you'll know that
you're out in the street. Please to
leave my house"
George stiffened sharply. Then he
bowed, and strobe out of the door.
Three minutes later, disheveled and
perspIring. but cold all over. he burst
into his Uncle Georges room at the
Majors without knocking. Anderson
was dressing.
sGood gracious. Georgiew he ex-
claimed, whats upT
'rye just come from Mrs. John
son's-across the street" George pant
ed.
''You have your own tastesT was