Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1921-02-24

8 snow, Tom" admonIshed Madg
0 italIcizing each word with an emphati
. forefinger poke into her husband
are coming to dinner tonight Don
forget to bring home some flowers an
? cigars-especIally the cigars"
With last pat and wifely kiss. sh
, pushed him into the vestibule close
! the door on his Sure thing, honey
good-by," and hurried back to tn
} kitchen to begin preparations for tn
evening.
Tom and Madge Pritchard wer'
newcomers in the Lakewood colony
and this was to be their very first at
tempt at regular entertaining. Mr.
Bronson was some sort OF partner In
large firm of architects, and a man
that Tom as an expert craftsman
fought to know" according to Madge
Mrs. Bronson, portly. exquisitely
dressed, as regularly massaged as
Madge was shsmpooed, sifted and or
ganized whatever OF society Lakewood
boosted. II Tom was not TO fall short
in Mr.. Bronson's eyes, neither did
Madge intend to be found wanting in
| the estimation Of his wife.
And to that end. she had planned
this dinner with care.
She hoped Tom would remember the
cigars. Time was In his bachelor
days, and. she hoped. time would be
in the future, when his pockets con-
tanned plenty Of nice. brightly banded
smokes as matter Of course.
Promptly at 6 rs the Bronson sedan
drew up at the Pritchard curb. Madge.
pretty and slim, and softly gowned in
crepe de chine, was waiting to greet
her guests.
my husband is late, as usual" she
apologized gracefully. Committing is
so unreliable"
But Tom came in just then with a
tale Of open bridges and delayed traf-
f1c. and Madge slipped away.
Dinner was half over. SO far every
thing had been perfect Salad course
was next, then dessert, then coffee and
cigars in the living room by the open
fire. Horrors Had Tom remembered
Catching, his eye. she managed to
by a lift Of the eyebrows and |
an inconspicuous two-fingered gesture |
as Of one who removes a cigar from
his mouth, the query. They had been
married long enough for Tom to be
fairly well trained In this delicate do
nestle art OF signal and interpreta-
ion. Once. he would have laid down
IFS napkin, half risen, and said,
Something the matter, dear?" But
darkness swept his
succeeded by an express
ion of infinite disrnay. .
While shifting plates for the salad,
IN idea occurred to her. Only a block
elow was a small part grocery, part
tationery store, an unbeautiful spot
n Lakewood's residential street, but :
ute frequently a godsend to an I'M
xpectedly visited housekeeper She {
'ould start the salad, then, under pre- I
ext Of delay in the kitchen, run down !
} the store, get the best cigars they I
arried, place them In the humidor in I
he living room, and reappear from {
lie kitchen.
In the brightly lighted dining room. !
bout the table sparkling with shining h
liver and spotless linen, Madge's I
tests, toying with their cherry-topped s
lad, awaited her return to their Il
idst-and waited-and waited Il
'Madgew Tom raised his voice b
lightly. "
There was no reply.
Meanwhile. Madge had accom- r
ished her errand and was nearly IN
me. Suddenly, rlcocheting across in
2 street, skidded loaded automo-
e, humping with q grinding OF pc
axes and startled cries from the In w
ties, into another car drawn up at su
: curb. CT
Wildly hoping her absence had not
IN noticed, Madge arrived breath
sly In front of her yeranda-a =" 81;
'anda which seemed filed with peo- f;f
. although in reality there were as
v three. The light. streaming from
door behind, revealed Mr.. and Mrs. Di
'nson. bareheaded. and Tom with a Dbl
kin dangling in his hand. fol-
iadge, In an agony Of shame at be- 70 Re,
caught In the act of returning Nol
n running away from her own din
party. little realized what pretty
ure she made as she stood below.
cheeks becomingly flushed, her Y
Ith coming a bit quickly between F
ed lips Ida
ow explain herself? Plausible 39-t
les sprang to her lips. explanations
ne, but surely permissible under NO
zen. suddenly. with half smile. III
Re they are. Tom" she said. hold =.
,ut a slim hand filed with cigars. IT.
me hours later, Tom. forgiven and T,
emily committed 10 drowning him zee f
II, by Jupiter. he ever forgot any no,
, again. explained how he had -
to the kitchen in search OF her. Vi
had come n crash and walt-sha sale