Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-10-21
Abigail's Express
Package
BY r BLAIR
(@. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.)

Mrs. James Searles, her finger on her
lip, her free hand pointed down the
road.
He's coming, Jane" she whispered
mysteriously.
Mrs. Searles looked up YEARLY from
her delivery book. "Whof" she asked
tersely.
THAT worthless husband of yours"
responded the other tartly. rHe's
been gone three days now on one of
his regular sprees with that Joe Tur-
ner and their worthless friends. Jane,
promise me you'll not take him back.
Show your dignity"
Abigail Smale stood up. Jane"
she said firmly, last time he came
home you told him If ever another
drop Of liquor passed his lips you'd
cast him off for good"
Il guess you're right, Abigail" re-
sponded Jane Searles meekly.
Good! Goodl" exclaimed the other
heartily.
"My dear" said a thick voice be-
hind her. Jane Searles turned. Her
husband stood on the threshold.
Jane Searles went up to him.
"Jim," she said, II have been a good
wife to you for nearly ten years, and
I've worked and shaved for you, and
I've stood for a good deal, but it's over
now"
"JaneI" Dear Jane" murmured Mr..
Searles uncertainty. But he withdrew
hastily as the slammed door grazed
his nose, and, looking back ruefully
at this unexpected phenomenon, he de-
cided that 1t was not\a propitious mo-
ment to renew the attack, and limped
back down the road in the direction
Of his crony's, Joe Turner.
what, back againf" shouted the
latter, looking up from his forge.
"Wife won't have me-" murmured
Jim Searles disconsolately, taking a
seat beside the fire.
81 guess NOT" shouted Joe. II
warned We, JIM"
"But it's breaking my heart, joe"
muttered the other. "Help me-"
Joe Turner pushed his friend into
the little room at the back Of the
forge.
"You lie down there and take a
nap" he said. "Tn see what can be
done for you"
Jim Searles awoke that evening to
find Joe Turner toasting bacon over
the fire.
"How d'you feel, Jim?'' asked the
blacksmith, coming back with the
bacon. pretty bad, hey? Have some
beer?"
"Not for me, Joe," said jim >Searles,
and the other gave him a violent clap
on the back.
"Good for you, JIM" he shouted.
Nov / can go ahead with a good con-
science. Well, I've been up to your
wife's, jim; there's nothing doing
there. She won't take you.''
The sound of hammering awakened
him the next morning. Slipping on
his clothes, he went into the smithy,
to find Joe Turner putting the last
nails into a huge packing case which
stood on his cart, the horse being al
ready h%arnessed. On n corner was
a label bearing the words:
ABIGAIL SMALE Express ONCE,
Norbury. To be kept till called for"
"What's that for, JoeT" inquired Jim
in amazement.
"That's for you, my boy" answered
the blacksmith. "Hop in"
package for Miss Smale, Mrs. Scar
les" called Joe.
"All right; take it into the ONCE
Mr.. Turner answered the lady.
As soon as Joe vas gone Mrs. Scar
les went over to the case and looked
at the label.
"That looks like Joe Turner's writ
ing" he heard his wife say.
Jim heard her SOB as she turned
away. He heard her go into the par
lor, and, quietly forcing up two Stats
Of the lid, thrust out his head Next
moment he withdrew it hurriedly, for
he heard his wife and Abigail Smale
entering the office,
"Well," shifted the latter, ut GER
tainly is a relief to be able to come
around without seeing that filthy
drunkard."
Jim heard his wife crying quietly.
81 was going to say that there's a
package come for you, Abigail" she
said
"For meY' exclaimed Miss Smale in
surprise.
Tim Searles' head emerging gro
tesouely, like that Of a jackin-the-box'
for once completely discomposed Miss
Smale.
"Good morning, ma'am." shouted
lin briskly. I'm the filthy drunkard
that's been sent to you. hope you
have good accommodations for me-
ma'am."
"Oh. this is too much !" gasped Abb
gail. How dare you! Jane, you
knew he was here. You set him on
to do this"
.Indeed, Abigail"
.sv,,, - ooroo hprp again. cried