The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1920-11-11
THESE HUSBANDS
BY GEORGIA HARRIS

/ scabbard,
Mine O'Clock and no Bohs," she
muttered sngrily. as she switched on
the kitchen light. This is very
strange" She stopped suddenly and
threw up her hands in dismay.
What sight greeted her! Dishes
disheS-dishes-eve to her Dresden
china filed the sink. Mrs. Bo3s
brearhed wrathful sigh as she sud
denly thought of Bobs' last letter TO
her.
Getting 10 be a regular house
keeper" he had written, stay at
home every night never so
out hope you are having Il
good time :"
Good time, indeed" shifted Mrs,
Bobs, fairly bristling with indigna-
ton, as she strutted into the dining
room. Here another sight confronted
her and she looked about the room in
CONSERVATION. Newspapers were
strewn everywhere.
So perturbcd was her state Of mind
! that Mrs. Robs forgot her reason for
coming home. After a moment of re-
tiection, however, she decided that
| things looked very serious, for the all
important fact stood out clearly: She
had returned home unexpectedly and
Bohs was not to be found. Consider
Ing that his letters stated very en-
phatically thar all his evenings were
spent at home things looked very
suspicious.
In spite of this she tried to take an
optimistic view of the situation, as she
sat gingerly on the edge Of dusty
chair After all. she unused. she had
been foolish to spoil her hard-earned
vacation Just because that horrid Mrs.
Hastings had insinuated such mean
things. Women could be so catty
when talking about other women's
husbands. Perhaps at this very min
ute Bobs was enjoying quiet evening
with mother. She darted for the tele-
phone with a confident smile.
When mothers surprised voice told
her that Bobs had not been over that
evening and in the same breath want
ed to know the reason for the uneX-
pected return to the city, Mrs. Bobs
found a ready excuse in sweetest of
voices. but she hung up the receiver
with vehemence. as suspicion began
to take root again.
Distrust came to stay as Mrs. Bobs
with anger cleaning in her eyes
turned off the lights and sat in the
shadow of the curtained window to
await the vagabond's return.
As the hall clock dolefully chimed
the hour of one, in Imagination she
arrived at the conclusion of the d.
vorce trial.
When at 1:30 there was still no
sign of the truant husband, Mrs. Bobs
finally dragged herself up the stairs
and opened the bedroom door with
heavy heart. Mechanically she turned
on the light and looked about the
room with a choking sigh, which was
followed by an outburst of unre-
strained weeping. However, when her
eyes rested upon the bed astonish-
ment oyercame her grief, and she
stared fascinated. Fully dressed, ex-
cent for collar and tie, with shoes on
white coverlet, lay Mr.. Bobs peace
fully sleeping.
With bound she was over TO the
bed. kissing the tiny bald spot on his
head again and again.
whats the row? What's the rowT'
he mumbIed drowsily. blinking his
eyes In sleepy amazement.
"Oh." she answered lightly, giving
him a little hug. II just got worried
about you, so decided to come home,
and have been watching for you for
hours. Then I got worried and thought
that something terrible had happened
an er-er-accident you know" she
finished lamely and a guilty blush suf-
fused her face.
Just like my own girl" Bobs an
swered, patting her affectionately on
the cheek, his face beaming with
pleasure.
Mrs. Bobs hung her head in shame
for a moment. then suddenly ex-
claimed:
"But, honey, you have all your
clothes on"
"Well," Bobs replied. now thorough
" awake, II was going to do little
housework, and thought I'd lie down
for a stretch before starting. Guess ]
must have fallen asleep"
"Now," she said. very sOlicitously,
81 am going to make you bit of
lunch this very minute. You just lie
down and I'll bring It up to you"
Bots gazed after her retreating fig
ure. Suddenly he sat upright and
fumbled in his pockets with a per-
picked expression upon his face, as If
trying to remember something, until
finally he found crumpled note.
With rueful smile he glanced over
the contents Of the note.
"We are counting on you" 1t read,
'for another big time tonight. Eight
thirty at the same place-and we
won't get home until morning There's
little stlll--Tra La. The Gang"
Signing heavily, he picked up an
alarm clock that should have rung at
7:30.
Cant depend upon you to wake a
fellow up when he's trying TO catch
up' on a little sleep he soliloquized,
studying the clock intently 81 missed
a good party because you weren't on
the Job that time" Bobs turned to
see Mrs. Bobs, her face wreathed in
smiles. standing In the doorway.