The evening world., 1920-12-08

i
would add ballast to our wildly toss-
! ing domestic craft Needless TO say,
my own lack of self-coutrol during
the afternoon had been as unexpected
as II was Disappointing, but when It
comes to anything that concerns JtWN
I'm not responsible.
l rang the bell and Mary, herself,
came to the door, looking radiant as
usual.
"Mary. I'm in trouble" 1 an
nounced
what is It, Bupps?"
Helen ran off with Frank Woods
to-day"
Heavens, Bupps! Where did they
go2'
explained briefly the state Of at-
fairs and she Immediately accom-
panied me to Jim's house.
sent Mary upstairs to see Helen,
while l went into the drawing-room
in search Of Jim, but there was no
one there except Wicks, the butler.
who was lighting a fire, for, though
II was only the last Of September,
the nights were chilly. ] snatched
up the evening paper to see II by
any chance a hint Of the scandal had
tcrept into print. l felt sure that, as
matters stood, they would not dare
to put in anything definite. but The
Sun has a nasty way of writing all
around scandal, so that while the
persons involved are readily recog-
nized, they are quite helpless as fac
as redress is concerned,
! noticed that Wicks had taken an
Internally long time to start the
, fire. Although il was burning mer-
rily, he still puttQred about brush
, ing UP the chips and rearrangtng
the blower and tongs. When he fin
ally stepped back of my chair, hu-
man nature could stand his putter-
ing no longer, so l laid down The
Sun, and turned to him.
well, Wicks, what do you want2"l
| l snapped. -.
Wicl1s looked at me with the ex-
Eression Of a small boy caught sticky
: handed in the jam closet
Nothing, sir!-bhat is-er-noth-
ing" He turned and started from the
room.
. Come here, wicks!" 1 called. II
. know when you hang around b room
4 unnecessarily, as you have been do
t ing for the last ten minutes, that you
have something on your mind. Now.
out With it,"
l. 81 was merely going to arsk. sir. hlf
g 'ad better begin lookin' arfter an
< other place, sir7''
}, That vas an extraordinary ques-
ton. Nyicks had been with the Fell
! d6rsons ever since they were married.
5 what put that idea into your head,
g Wicks7"
: He was far more confused than l
had ever seen him.
''Neanin' no disrespect sir. and '
! don't mean to be hinquisitive about
what doesn't concern me, but I could
not 'elp 'earin' a bit OF what took
. place this AFTERNOON, sir"
Good lord! I'd forgotten there
might have been other witnesses to
d the scene Of the afternoon besides
' myself.
o 'Do the other servants know about
Z this. Wioks?"
"Hl think they do, sir, seein' as 'ow
= | Mrs. Felderson as been actin and
! talkin' 80 queer"
!, what do you meant" demanded
Wicks struggled for composure.
: The subject was evidently most dis
tasteful to his conservative and con
=! ventional British nature
Hit was Annie. Mrs. Feiderson's
:, maid, sir, that hupset the servants
u wen she came down from hupstajS
y she said as 'ow Mrs. Felderson wa
! a ragln' and a rampagin' around 'el
{ room, sayin' that II Mr.. Feldersor
didn't give 'er a divorce she would
y dc violence TO i'm, sir
- ibid Annie hear her say that?"
Is questioned #f
Le "She says so, sir"
W The whole thing was so TnonStTouI
l. that gasped. For this awful dime
novel muck to be tumbled into tbC
"a middle of my family was too sicken'
ie ing. MY sister, running away from
20 her husband with another man anc
II now threatening, in the hearing n
the servants, TO kill him unless ht
" gave her a divorce disgusted me with
'i its cheap yulgarity. + hid, as best
h, could, tho tempest that was brewln.
no inside me.
IIy "Wicks, Mrs Fclderson Is not we'll
~ Tell the servants that she IL grea tll
40 depressed over an accident that hap
pened to a friend. A. the presen
~ time, she is so upset over that, shr
~ doesn't know what she Is saying
-, Quiet them in some way, Wicfs! AnC
~ tell Annie to stay with Mrs. Fielder
a son!"
G is VERY good, sir" He started Il
leave.
L1 And, wicks-" IN as,l.E
Eyes, sir"
There Is no need OF your LOOKING
for another place"
is Yes, sir. Thank you, sir!"
to At this point, Jim came in. II
ad had a bath and a shave and ha,
put on dinner-coat, looking a 10
at more fit to grapple with his trouble
as than he had the last time | had see
he him. Only in his eyes did he shoy
I, the shock he'd received that day.
~ "Communing with yourself in tn
at dark, Bupps T'-his voice was nat
all ural and easy
ng yes" / sighed, "Tve been tryin
a 20 see a way out OF this mess" Z
nd Jim lit a cigarette and threw hAm
he self into a chair, For a few mo
n'e ments he puffed in silence, takin
deep inhalations and blowing IN
TO smoke against the lighted tin. s
las that 1t showed all the ruRxe
RS strength OF his superb head. =
no ''What would you say Bupps, n
,re told you everything would come ou
ISIS all right?"
"And Helen stay with you?n
he asked incredulOusly.
hin "And Helen stay with me-" he re
ed peated calmly.
ie- "Of her own free will?"
Lry "Of her own free will" he an
me swered.
ler "I should say that the events {
on, the day had added your brain an
80 | fbat ygpat ara TnnnH