The Washington herald., 1921-09-25
THE SPORTING CHANCE

stated that he had not known she was older
than himself. He could see that she was
smaller. but he had absolutely no means OF
seeing that she was older. He worked It
out mathematically after hearing from his
stepdaughter. . girl Of thirteen. that her
twenty-six year old sister was manicure
lady in Chicago hotel and was always get
ting engaged to the "sweIlest fellas." HIS
wife confessed to thirty-six.
How old were you. darling. when you
were married7- he inquired. shortly after
hearing about the manicure.
Il told you was thirty-six." she replied
sharply. How many times have got to
tell youf@
Il mean the nrst time you were married"
20! Well I was twentyone-My Lord
wish you could rave seen my nrst husband
He was . man, he was II you could have
seen what sort Of . man my husband w.s
you'd curl up and die Of modification. that's
what you'd do. He was the handsomsst tel
low In"
Il know. I understand that perfectly.
They always are"
nasty. eh1 Well. let me give you bit Of ad-
vice. professor-dont you cast any aspsr>
sions on my husband. He-
Am I not your husband, my dear7"
you're my second husband. that's what
you are. Ny God. you don't think I'd ever
have picked you for my nrst. do you? Why.
when stop to think what my husband would
say he knew that I'd married . school
maiam. get the cold shivers all over me.
You-wait 4 second Where are you going?
Can't you see I'm talking to you? Here
we've been married four days and you have
the face to turn your back on me-the nerve
to try to walk out on melville I'm speak
ing to you. Come back herei Nov, you
listen to what I've got to say"
Mr.. Crumley took counsel with himself
and forbore asking any questions regarding
the twenty-zx-year-old manicure. Some
thing seemed to tell him that It wasn't any
of his business. But twenty.two-Chs allowed
her a years gracel-and twenty-six make
fortyeight. any way you 30 about It.
Now, for six years Mr.. Crunley had been
looked upon as a fixture. He pail his board
promptly. never complained about the food
or service. and represented Society In tts
smartest aspect-for while he was not what
might b classed an ornament In tho
strictest sense Of the term, he was. when
all Is said. . necessity. A shocking paucity
Of unattached young men. or even middle
aged ones. exists In virtually al towns the
size Of whiploy.
Mr.. Crunley. being q peculiarly irreproach-
able bachelor playsd-quits unconsciously-
a dual role IN Society; he was, generally
speaking. both . desirable and an "unde-
sirable-" Erudition was not precisely what
society In Whipley wanted. but It was
bound to be several men short unless Il
took In q few Of the Mr.. Crumleys.
Force Of circumstance. 1t VIII Be- seen,
made Mr.. Crumley q society man. and As
such he was quite q parsonage at Mrs.
Smiths select boarding house. For I'VE or
six years he had been looked upon a. .
social oracle-a fashion barometer, so to
speak. He was the only one Of Mrs. Smiths
rather enjoyed the distinction. He rather
liked coming down to dinner in his tuxedo,
because every one knew on the instant that
he was going out to something or other -
and while he was conscious that three or
four gentlemen In Impressed business suits
looked at him with dtsdain. he was also very
happily aware Of the fact that they would
have given their eye teeth to be In his place.
He rather liked sitting a yawn when some
one asked him at breakfast what sort Of an
before, and he liked to shrug his shoulders
Eonchalantly when some one Of the men in.
variaby remarked that he didn't see how
the dickens he could be At for a days work
after being Up till all hours of the night, like
this
And now that peaceful. pleasant feeling Of
superiority was gone-sone forever. He was
married Society wouldn't even dream Of
taking the wife Of his bosom to its bosom,
and no longer did the boarders At Mr.-
pitied him He had cooked his own GOOSE
and he would have to eat It
Two months prior to the fatal night on
which We join him in his reflections on the
bridge. Mrs. Elvira Kingsbury came to
Mrs. Smiths to board She took two rooms
on the same floor with Mr.. Crumley. Ono
Of then-next door to Mr.. Crumley and BE-
tween him and the stairway-she occupied
With her daughter Clayre: her son Harold.
aged fifteen. took up his abode in the small
room on the other side Of him. He was. so
to speak. henmed In by Knssburys.
They shared the same bathroom at the
end Of the hall-that Is to say. they shared