Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-09-14
The Charge
Account
@0

By EVELYN LEE


Percy Bliss was not given to the use
Of forcible expletives and this ejacllla-
ton expressed all the wonderment, dis
may and anxiety. of which he was
capable. He stood dazed, almost pallid,
after vivid shock, staring blankly at
a sheet Of paper in his hand. He had
come home TO his sumptuous fiat which
housed his beloved and cherished bride
of year, to find her absent, and then,
making a startling discovery, to his
disturbed imagination Its beauty and
comfort seemed fading into desolate
ruins all about him.
Upon table beside the telephone
was number. He groaned as he rec
ognized that the last act of his wife
was to call up her dearest friend and
conf1dant, Miss Iona Walters. Crush
ing the sheet in his hand, Percy dashed
from the house, nor paused nor fall
tered until he had reached the office
Of Wallace Blight. He burst in upon
him GREATNESS and agitated, closing
the office door so they might be alone.
Wallace" he exclaimed hoarsely,
throwing himself into q chair, you've
got me into the trouble of my life"
Blight stared at his agitated visitor
blankly. 1t was unusual to see his
placid, systematic friend other than
serene and satisfied.
What has happened?" propounded
Wallace HRoon having fifT N
DOrothy?"
"We never have tiffs," dissented
Percy resentfully. ITS worse than
that, Wallace probably have broken
her hearth
'You amaze and alarm met" spoke
Blight, really aroused at the earnest
manner of Bliss.
"You remember coming to me
month ago in what you called terri
Bile fixf"
"You mean the Adrienne Ballingford
affair? certainly do. needed money
or credit for a few hundred dollars.
That was before l got my share Of my
uncle's fortune. But paid you back,
Percy"
(Which did not and does not mat
ter. l would give ten times the amount
to get out of the dilemma fn which my
slight accommodation has placed me.
You had been smitten with the stage
beauty, Adrienne Ballingford. a year
ago and written her some silly letters.
"All true. l got the letters and paid
you back the three hundred dollars you
became responsible for"
Eyes. and today, an unusual thing
for my bills usually come to my office
the one for those wretched goods came
TO my house. Dorothy read II. Just
think what she must think of an order
for two kimonos, six pairs of silk stock
ings and a lot of other fOllies OF
feminine adornment"
Blight looked startled now. "Why,
say. If she learns the truth and ii gets
TO the ears of Nellie's parents, think Of
the awful position l am in Oh my,
a terrible mess I've made of it,"
81 can't give you away" observed
Percy in a troubled tone.
"And 1 can't break up your house
hold by allowing you to take the
blame"
For some moments the worried twain
sat gloOmily silent, mutually going
over the situation.
"Ive got til" cried Wallace sudden
ly, leaping to his feet. Come with
me. Right away straight to Day &
Co.'S Wen go. Got The original blllT'
Yes"
Wen duplicate IT,"
'What do you mean-what good will
that dO?"
Wallace whispered In Percy's ear.
Instantly the face of the latter bright
ened. They dashed from the office.
One hour later the two schemers en-
tered the Bliss fiat. They carried a
variety OF bundles. The contents were
stored In a drawer in Percy's desk.
Two hours later still. with a relieved
mind and bright eyes Percy again en-
tered the fiat His wife greeted him
with a tear-stained face.
"Oh. Percy" she sobbed, II have
found you out. How cruelty you have
deceived me- Married on my birthday
and our first anniversary here only
day after tomorrow Kimonos! silk
stockingsi a mesh bag fur coat
Oh, who is this mysterious female who
has wrecked our home"
Aha" cried Percy. in an injured
tone.- II think l surmise. Did that
stupid Day & Co. send bill TO the
house instead OF to my Officer"
Eyes. they did"
Dorothy, come herer'
Percy led his wife into bis den and
up TO his desk. He drew open Its
drawer.
Its shame TO spoil a surprise" he
said, stern as judge, but. the cat
being out of the bag. l shall have TO
subdue your Mysteries. There! You
can't say am not glad TO think of you
on your birthday"
There lay all the articles Dorothy
had named and many more. Over her
face great joyous glow began TO
spread.
"Oh, you thoughtful, loyal darling -
she cried. And l have so unjustly
treated you And there isn't any mys-
terious character! And you are the
sweetest, dearest. king of husbands
So therel and there and there!"
And .serenely Percy Bliss Tailed on
each kiss awarded with a silent
chuckle I've saved poor Wallace, u
he told himself with satisfaction, blu;
never again any experimenting with