The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1920-05-13
JACKS BLUNDER
BY MABEL RICH.

ton and hundreds OF others employed
by the Superior Shoe company. IL
did not take Jack long to wash up, and
1t is not to be wondered at when one
knows the picture Jack had in mind
a coy little dining room with a steam
ing hot dinner on the table-prepared
by pretty young bride of two months.
For anyone else il was about a five
minute walk from the car line to
Jacks house. but he usually made II
in two. As he was about to enter his
gate his next-dOOr neighbOr, Harry
Benson, came along. Hello, Jack"
he said, home early, aren't you?
Well, don't blame you much. BY the
way, Jack, who was that gOOd-loOking
chap that drove up with your wife in
roadster this afternoon? And, say,
Jack" Harry lowered his voice. Don't
think am butting in, but
think you ought to know when your
wife left him she kissed him." With
| that, Harry made of down the street.
Jack was astoundedi Before he
| came TO his senses Harry was too far
away to question further. 1t didn't
seem possible. He tried TO think OF
some one who might be related, but
he knew we'll enough that there were
no brothers or cousins with autos. He
started to go into the house, then
turned back. AS he did so he caught
sight Of the imprintS Of auto tires in
the soft dirt beside the curbstOne. So
II was true, then! His precious little
wife had been out riding with an
other man. And she had kissed him
The thought sent a pang like knife
through his heart. Then he became
angry. 80, that's her game, is il!
he muttered to himself. well, III
show her two can play at the same
game" And so saying. he went dowr
the street.
Remembering he had not had AM
dinner. Jack found his way into {
small restaurant on q side street, ant
ordered all the appetizing things n
could think Of, but when he tried Il
eat II fairly made him sick, for h
: could not forget that coy little dinini
room-and Betty. Again he becam
angry. Without eating 4 thing h
paid his check and went out, leavin
behind bewildered walter. Upo
reaching the street Jack lighted
] cigarette and wondered what TO d
next. AS he was bordering upon tn
] question he caught sight of prett
i Mary Russell coming up the stree
s Now he knew what to do. He ha
2 taken her TO dances before he wa
!, married, and he would take her to on
e this very night
II As she approached, Jack spoke
Good evening, Mary; how" but !
didn't finish. She had brushed pa
him without even noticing him. The
for the first time, Jack realized som
a thing-he had on his shabby workir
clothes. No wonder she didn't speak
why she had not even recognized hir
With disguised shrug of his shot
r. ders he went on, and presently four
IS himself seated In a small picture the
l. ter but, as for knowing what was
l. the picture screen, Jack might as W.
o. have been at a ball game. At la
Of he could stand II no longer. His mil
IL was made ND now. He would
" straight home and have 1t out wi
!" Betty at once. So. scrambling out
in his seat. he found his way TO I
". street, and it was not long before
r. found himself In sight Of his hou
DIV and to his amazement he could
s. that the house was all lighted
"What does il all mean| he ask
Ip- himself, for he knew well enough II
en- they never used any more electric
hit than was necessary, for they were t
I'd ing to keep down the II. c. OF l..
he much as possible.
to As Jack entered the hall he hes
,le n little feminine sob, and then
comforting words Of another femin
Of voice: "There, my dear; don't
,g- apy more-he has probably been
he tanned at the factory on business
he some sort" And then he heard L
is tvs voice say: perhaps so, but
he never stayed away like this befoI
lie; Jack rushed in. but stopped as qui
an ", for right before him stood his "
Did and another lady, the perfect im
Of Betty. In fact, Jack could har
tell one from the other: "Oh, JAG
cried Betty, rushing forward
throwing her arms around his M
''Where have you been all this til
I was wishing you would come NJ
early tonight, as sister Grace
VI iust come this afternoon. Her hu
drove her here and left her, as
"iS had to come through here on busin
, ~ and is going to call for her tomor
nn or next day. You know, she live:
'es' New York, and l haven't seen he
-ion ages" Here Betty had to stop
In catch her breath. The words str
lack like a thunderbolt, and he
. lapsed into the nearest chair. Nov
knew that he had blundered, and
what a blunderi He made up his
not TO let Betty know what had
pened. OF course, he remembered
Y he had heard Betty speak OF q
MANY times, but he never happene
meet her. He remembered that
o ple had said Betty and Grace lo'
like twins, although there was
SQ years difference in their ages.
. fool he had been! After a nj