The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-05-11
t. Dicky was a darling when not

whini, to subject my will always to his,
per when household affairs annoyed,
and would have peace.
But my self-respect would not allow
| me to take that course. Katie's phil
osophy came back to my mind.
IF you do all times vat dey want, no
times, vat you want, den dey tink you
one carpet, dey wipe feet on you."
| No, for Dicky's good and my own
could not blot out my individuality
The problem looked unsolyable from
any agile.
Katies voice startled me.
'Missis Graham, you not hear tele-
phone bell? 1t ring, ring tree times.
answer it for your"
| At any other time Katie's costume
would have provoked a smile from me-
Her hair was deliberately twisted up
in crimping pins, and she wore a ger-
geous pink flannelette negligee of the
quality which the cheaper stores sell at
81. But l was in no mood for smiling.
! II will answer it, Katie" I replied.
Thank you for reminding me-"
| That's all right" Katie still stood by
my chair. Evidently she intended to
stay while I talked.
THAT will be all, Katie" said gent
ly, as I took down the receiver and
Katie disconselately went into the
kitchen and shut the door.
Lillian Gales voice answered my
hesitating Hello"
| rs that you, Mrs. Graham? Good
husband has just told us how bully you
were, to insist upon his coming alone
what on earth had Dicky been say
! ing?-"and I told him I was going to
call you up and see if we couldn't
persuade you to come over for just
little while. I'll send Harry or Dicky
with a taxi for you. Harry says he
is coming-and we'll make Dick come
home early, regularly shoe him out If
you feel you can't stay. Won't you
please Gomez"
| Her voice was eager, cordial, but
fancied I detected beneath it's apparent
friendliness feminine triumph that
Dicky had come without me, and fe-
line curiosity to know how I was taxi
ing his detection. Almost any bride of
three weeks standing, faneied, would
show some resentment If her husband
left her alone and went to the home
OF another woman, even if the cause
of the going were bitter quarrel.
| A cold determination took possession
of me. This woman should learn moth
ing from me of my real feelings. Dicky
was evidently playing the game. I cer-
tainly would not lay down my cards.
My voice was as cordial as her own as
I answered her:
Dear Mrs. Underwood, if I only
dared would be with you now. But
have things on hand this week that alb
icn fol ,,cf he Of cd 70 do
not rest after one of these headaches
of mine I am apt to have a real fit of
illness. 1 am going to bed now, and
please tell Dicky that there is no rea-
son why he shouldn't stay as late as
he likes. am so glad he could go. and
you may be sure if you'll forgive me
this time and invite me again 1 will
surely come to YOU"
There was a note of admiration in
her voice. when she spoke again. Real
or feigned, it gratified my vanity.
| You're dead game little sport, any
way" she said, "and ! appreciate your
letting Dicky come. 1t wouldn't seem
like one of my parties without Dicky
here. You can wager anything you
like I'll invite you again, and make
sure you come, too. Good night"
She did not offer to have Dick come
to the telephone, for which I was de-
voutly grateful. I was not so dense
either that I did not grasp her Par
THAN shot concerning Dickys constant
attendance, upon her whims. Unless
was greatly mistaken. Lillian Gale
would never give up my husbands
friendship unless Dicky himself BAN
Iished her from his life.
/ I felt suddenly old and desperately
weary. I knew there would be no
sleep for me for hours, but longed for
the darkness of my bedroom. At least,
I could rest if could not sleep.
I turned out the gas CRATE, pushed
back my chair, took from the table the
money which had been one cause OF our
Iguarrel-how hated the very touch Of
lit-went to my bedroom and put it
away.
Every nerve in my body was throb-
bling. 1 decided to take warm bath
in the hope that the effects OF it would
enable me to sleep after awhile. went
to the bathroom and turned on the hot
water, then went back to my room. un-
dressed and put on my bathrobe and
Islippers. In the bathroom again. tenn
Ipered the nearly boiling water with
lcold water and when it was at the
grateful warmth.
I thought that it would quiet me, but
latter drying the moisture from my
body and getting into my nightgown,
found myself shivering with nervous
lchill. threw on heavy bathrobe and,
without waiting to plat my hair, my
mighty custom, l hurried into bed.
drawing the covers tightly around me.
After awhile I grew warmer physi-
lcally, but 1 felt as if my heart were
frozen. I did not expect that Dicky
would come home before the early
morning hours, and 1 lay with eyes
wide open, wondering what should do
when he did come.
i I heard the clock strike 10! IL! II! A
few moments after the stroke OF mid
might 1 heard a queer fumonng at tne
Idoor of our living room, muffled, sin
Itster sound. / sat upright in bed list
tening. What could it be?
i CONTINUED tomorrow