The Washington herald., 1920-08-13

in his stockinged feet reading a
newspaper. Thus Labor Day pre-
saged to speed.
jealousy surged high in Mrs.
Fink's heart, and higher still
surged an audacious resolve. II
her man would not strike her-If
he would not so far prove his
manhood, his prerogative and his
interest in conjugal affairs, he
must be prompted to his duty.
Mr.. Fink lit his pipe and peace
fully rubbed an ankle with a
stockinged toe. He reposed in the
state of matrimony like a lump
of unblended suet in a pudding.
This was his level BIysium-to
sit at ease vicariously girdling
the world in print amid the wife
ly splashinC OF suds and the
agreeable smells of breakfast
to come. Many ideas were far
from his mind: but the furthest
one was the thought of beating
his wife. .
Mrs. Fink turned on the hot
water and set the washboards in
the suds. Up from the fiat below
came the gay laugh Of Mrs. Cas-
sidy. 1t sounded like a taunt, a
Haunting of her own happiness in
the face Of the unslugged bride
above. Now was Mrs. Fink's
time.
Suddenly she turned like a fury
upon the man reading.
You lazy loaferw she cried,
must I work my arms off wash
ing and toiling for the ugly likes
Of you? Are you a man or are
you a kitchen hound?"
Mr.. Fink dropped his paper, mo-
tionless from surprise. She fear
ed that he would not strike-that
the provocation had been INSULT
cient. She leaped at him ana
struck him fiercely in the face
with her clenched hand. In that
instant she felt a thrill of love
for him such as she had not felt
for many a day. Rise up, Martin
Fink, and come into your king
dom. Oh. she must feel the
weight Of his hand now-just to
show that he Cared-just to show
that he cared,
Mr.. Fink sprang to his feet
Maggie caught him again on the
jaw with a wide swing Of her
other hand. She closed her eyes
in that fearful, blissful moment
before his blow should come-she
whispered his name to herself
she leaned to the expected shock,
hungry for it.
In the fat below Mr.. Cassidy,
with a shamed and contrite face
was powdering Names eye in
preparation for their junket.
From the nat above came the
sound Of a woman's voice, high
and shuffling, a chair overturn-
mestic conflict.
Mart and Mag scrappingr
postulated Mr.. Cassidy. Didn't
know they ever indulged. Shall
trot up and see if they need a
sponge holder"
One OF Mrs. Cassidys eyes
sparkled like a diamond. The
other twinkled at least like paste.
"oh, Oh" she said, softly and
without apparent meaning, in the
feminine ejaculatory manner. 'T
wonder if-wonder IL! Wait, Jack,
till I go up and see."
Up the stairs she sped. As her
foot struck the hallway above out
from the kitchen door of her fat
wildly flounced Mrs. Fink.
"oh, Maggie" cried Mrs. Cassi-
dy, in a delighted whisper; did
he? Oh. did he?"
Mrs. Fink ran and laid ner face
upon her chum's shoulder and
sobbed hopelessly.
Mrs. Cassidy took Maggie's face
between her hands and lifted 1t
gently. Tear-stained it was,
flushing and paling. but its vel
vety, pink-and-white, becomingIy
freckled surface was unscratched.
unbruised, unmarried by the re-
creant fist of Mr.. Fink.
Tell me, Maggie" pleaded
Name, -or I'll go in there and
find out. What was tt7 Did he
hurt you-what did he DOR i
Mrs. Ffnk's face went down
again despairingly on the bosom
Of her friend.
For Gods sake don't open that
door. Name" she sobbed. And
don't ever tell nobody-keep 1t
under your hat. He-he never
touched me, and-he's-oh, Gawd
he's washing the clothes-he's
washin' the clothes!-
ls2o. b. Wheeler syndicats, Incl