The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1921-04-01

BY BEATRICE .. cAHILL.

&c. lszi. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicste.)
Its terrible. Simply awful" This
ejaculation from the exasperated Mrs.
Williamson as she waved her hands
around in mid-air.
Huh? What's. wrong now?" grunt-
Ell her husband as he slipped into his
dinner coat, giving the collar that little
unnecessary pat which always accom-
panies such performance
why. these hair nets" continued
his spouse as she finally untangled the
cobwebby substance between her fin
gers sufficiently 10 slip IL over her mar
celled locks; 'the quality. the color.
the siZe-they're all wrongw
The leasr Of my worries. my dear.
Why pick an accomplishing husband
10 infllct such u tale OF woe upon? My
mind is occupied with troubles far
greater than hair net. ! tell you.
Nancy. if that big deal isn't pulled off
next month my chance OF getting the
managership of the company's largest
office is I'll of"
Mrs. Williamson gave an under
standing nod. After a few moments
contemplation she turned 10 her hus-
band and said Listen. George: Mr..
Harkners is the one man who matters
in this deal, isn't heY
Yes
We'll, | earnestly believe that to-
f0h oh p
and Mrs. Harkners are going 10 be
present at the Hills dinner party Do
you understand the significance, dear?
Now let's do our best. II you once get
u chance for an uninterrupted CONVEX
sation, ii will be an easy matter"
Mr.. Williamson considered the mat
ter and smiled.
I'm glad you told me that, Nan. be-
cause 1t will be big asset. But you
know these dinner parties-not much
chance for q secluded conference"
You wait. / just know that ! can
arrange it," and slipping silken
scarf over her couture the little wife
gave her husbands arm an encOurag-
ing squeeze
While driving through the mass of
machines that thronged the avenue
at this time second thought occurred
10 her.
'Oh, George, / forgot 10 mention
that Bob Harkners is taking Betty
to the theater this evening. He seems
quite interested in our pride and JOY
don't you think SOP
For answer she received short,
dry laugh.
That's a good one" chuckled the
amused George. Bob Harkners ex-
erts all his youthful ENERGY TO fas-
cinate my daughter, while I'm about
10 exert all my will power TO interest
his dad. It's a great life!'
At dinner fortune favored the cou-
pie by seating them near the coveted
prize. Conversation ram smoothly and
fortified by an excellent dinner and a
little of the last stray of vintage. the
men were in good humor. However
interruptions were bound to happen
and no chance occurred where they
could indulge in a business arrange
ment.
Suddenly strange thing happened
Mrs. Hill came into the room after
a short absence and the look on her
face halted all conversation. Spas
medically she announced that Vera
had been sick all day and the doctor
had just pronounced her very Ill with
contagious disease. The house was
quarantined for ten days.
finement and the guests were assem-
bled about the fireplace. Fortunately
none of them had contracted the fatal
disease, and as they talked, realizing
that the next day they were to be re-
leased. they laughed over their odd
and rather. ridiculous positions. Ev.
cry day the phone had been constant
~ i'm use, either with business com
munications. or with young daughters
and some calling long enough to tease
their parents with wild tales of their
doings; although they really had flown
10 relatives on the night OF the event
full mishap.
Mr.. and Mrs. Williamson seemed
10 be the happiest OF the group. In
the preceding days the men had sick
ened of social discourse and had talked
huSinpSS most OF the time Mr. Hark
ners became well acquainted with Mr.
Williamson and the latter had taker
advantage OF his strange position tC
adroitly sketch the details OF his "bie
deal" in clever, concise way. He
never rushed the matter. knowing that
he had 10 days To get what he was
going after That morning. In the
presence OF the two wives, now great
friends. a short brief had been drawn
up by VIII and signed by "Hark.
as they affectiOnately termed each 9th
er now.
The group was just finishing an ole
melody that had been popular in theil
day when the phone rang.
IL was Betty.
"Oh, mother. I'm so excited, anC
will you please tell Mr. and Mrs. Hark
ners that Bob has been so good anI
kind and has tried TO cheer me uI
so much in your absence that I Jus
couldn't help falling in love with him
the dear. and we're engaged. Wait {