The Dolores star., 1920-10-22
HENPECKED
By GERALDINE CAMPBELL.


yours truly
His companion smiled indulgently.
and thought of a little square white
box reposing In his inside pocket.
"Oh. l suppose II all depends on the
way you look at IT," replied he. Just
now have a mighty different point
OF view from yours
Tom Price. hardened bachelor,
gave him a quick, sharp glance.
Say. what's all this?" he demanded
"Tye heard LOT about you and that
darned Avis Dean, but i didn't be
lleve you'd go with girl like her
I hope none OF those rumors ! heard
were trueY' rather anxiously.
Frank grlnned mischievously.
''Oh. just wait few days. Some
thing may happen" thinking again of
the little box. And let me tell you
Tom, Avis may be a little of a vamp.
and she may like to order a fellow
around some but for all that she's
nice girl"
"See here. Frank Carr, we've known
each other since We were kids, haven't
we, and always been the best of
friends?' "a nod from Frank) well,
want you to take my advice. You
can't deny Avis Dean is vamp. You
can't deny she has a rather shady
reputation. You can't deny that she
Gas you say) and all the rest of her
family like to order fellow around
a little too much. And, finally, see
what a life Dick Carter leads after
marrying Avis sister. who was just
like Avis Is now. Why, the poor fel-
low can't spend cent but wife mus,
know where 1t is gone-he can't leave
the house but she knows where he is
going. Talk about henpecked hus.
bands Take my advice. Frank, as you
always have. and stay away froin Miss
Dean.
"Well I'll think about It," answered
Frank with twinkle which showed
he hadn't the least idea that his
friend was in earnest
When Frank reached Avis house, he
went up the stone steps three at
time and rang the bell furlOusly.
A maid came to the door almost
ltSp .hiSS avs "ao a.
home and expecting him.
In IS minutes Avis entered the room
and something In her eyes as she JOY
fully greeted him put all Toms eau
tons out Of his mind.
A year later Mr.. and Mrs. Carr
were settled In modern bungalow at
one of the two beaches. The Sewing
circle to which Mrs. Carr belonged
was to meet at her house that after
poon. All the ladies' were to bring
their babies, and, as Mrs. Carr said,
they would have a real home after
noon. At 2 O'Clock, however the mem
bers Of the circle unanimously decided
that they liked the movies better than
hot house and fretful babies, so long
suffering Mr.. Carr was brought In and
asked In honeyed tones by his wife
II he wouldn't take care Of the babies
while they went to the nearest the
ater.
"Of course you will, my dear" said
Mrs. Carr decidedly after a moments
pause. "you're used to things like
that, aren't your" laughingy.
He gave short. sardonic laugh as
he answered, Yes. I'm used to things
like that"
So the ladies' went of to enjoy the
latest seven-reel thriller. leaving their
some twenty babies to the care Of Mr..
Carr. AS they left the poor man look
ed hopelessly at the children. Then
he went to the plano, showed all the
bric-a-brac from the top Into the
midst of the wondering babies and
sat down to enjoy magazine.
In Is minutes. he was brought back
20 earth by the sound Of 20 voices
yelling Justify. He brought more brio.
a-brac. he gave them his watch and
all the the small clocks In the house
(having once heard that a watch
amuses a baby when nothing else
wilD. he took from the walls the pic.
lures, he danced the squalling chill,
dren by turns on his knee.
BY the time the ladies Of the Circle
returned, Mr.. Carr had given their
children everything In the house but
the heaviest OF the furniture-and the
babies were still crying. The outraged
ladies' quieted their children, put on
their coats and hats and went to their
respective homes, vowing that they
would make Mrs. Carr resign from the
Circle.
"Oh. Frank, do wake up! What is
the matter with you"
Frank Carr slowly opened his eyes
saw Avis looking even more lovely
than ever. bending over him-and
realized that he was not henpecked
husband-it was all dream.
"Oh-er-er, beg your pardon
Avis. er-I didn't mean to fall asleep
j"
She laughed lightly.
II know you didn't, poor boy, and
1t was really awful of me to take 50