The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1920-05-21
JACKS BluNDER
~ MABEL RICH.

AAASSAA6 AhAA " JAIN "
ton and hundreds Of others employed
by the Superior Shoe company. 1t
did not take Jack long to wash up, and
1t is not to be wondered at when one
knows the picture Jack had in mind
q coy little dining room with a steam
ing hot Inner on the table-prepared
by a pretty young bride Of two months.
For anyone else it was about a five
minute walk from the car line t 0
Jacks house, but he usually made it
in two. AS he was about to enter his
gate his next-door neighbor, Harry
Benson, came along. "Hello. Jack"
he said. "hOme early, aren't you?
Well, don't blame you much. BY the
way, Jack, who was hat good-looking
chap that drove up with your wife in
a roadster this afternoon? And. say.
Jack" Harry lowered his voice. Don't
think | am butting in. but l
think you ought to know when Your
wife left him she kissed him." With
that, Harry made off down the street.
Jack was astounded! Before he
came to his senses Harry was too far
away to question further. 1t didn't
seem possible. He tried to think of
some n who might be related, but
he knew well enough that there were
no brothers or cousins with autos. He
started to go into the house, then
turned back. AS he did so he caught
sight of the imprints Of auto tires in
the soft dirt beside the curbstone. SO
it was true, then! His precious little
wife had been out riding with an
other man. And she had kissed him!
The thought sent a pang like a knife
through his heart. Then he became
angry. $50. that's her game, is it,"
he muttered to himself. "Well, I'll
show her two can play at the same
game" And Sc saying, he went down
the street.
Remembering he had not had any
dinner, Jack found his way into 3
small restaurant or a side street, and
ordered all the appetizing things he
could think of, but when he tried to
eat it fairly made him sick, for he
could not forget that coy little dining
room-and Betty. Again he became
angry. Without eating a thing he
paid his check and went out. leaving
behind a bewildered waiter. Upon
reaching the street Jack lighted q
cigarette and wondered what to do
next. AS he was bordering upOn the
question he caught sight of pretty
Mary Russell coming up the street.
Now he knew what to do. He had
taken her to dances before he was
married, and he would take her to one
this very night.
As she approached, Jack spoke:
"Good evening, Mary how" but he
didn't finish. She had brushed past
him without ever noticing him. Then.
for the first time, Jack realized m
thing-he had on his shabby working
clothes. No wonder she didn't speak
why she had not even recognized him.
With a disguised shrug of his Shout
ders he went on, and presently found
himself seated In a small picture thea.
ter but, as for knowing what vas or
the picture screen, Jack might as well
have been at a ball game. At last
he could stand it no longer. His mind
was made up now. He would 60
straight home and have 1t out with
Betty at once. So, scrambling out Of
his seat. he found his way to the
street. and it was not long before he
found himself in sight of his house,
and to his amazement he could see
that the house was all lighted up.
what does it all mean?" he asked
himself, for he knew we'll enough that
they never used any more electricity
than was necessary, for they we're try
ing to keep down the Fl. c.. of L.. as
much as possible.
AS Jack entered the hall he heard
q little feminine sob, and then the
comforting words Of another feminine
voice: "There, my dear; don't cry
any more-he has probably been de-
tanned at the factory on business OF
some sort" And then he heard Bet
tvs voice say: Perhaps SO, but he
never stayed away like this BEFORE"
Jack rushed in. but stopped az quick
~, for right before him stood his wife
and another lady, the perfect image
Of Betty. In fact, Jack could hardly
tell one from the other: "Oh, Jacki"
cried Betty. rushing forward and
throwing her arms around his neck.
where have you been all this timer
I was wishing you wouid come home
early tonight, ~ sister Grace has
just come this afternoon. Her hubby
drove her here and left her, a. he
had to come through here on business.
and IL going to call for her tomorrow
or next day. You know, she lives In
New York, and I haven't seen her IN
ages" Here Betty had to stop to
catch her breath. The words struck
Jack like a thunderbolt. and he COL
lapsed into the nearest chair. Now ho
knew that he had blundered. and Oh,
what q blunder! He made up his mind
not to let Betty know what had hap