The Topeka state journal., 1922-03-18
Helen Hunters
Husband
WHERE THERE'S A WILL
THERE'S A WAY.
BY JANE PHELPS


GnapleI 80
His face set. Jack turned to the
.Dinner's on, it will be ready soon"
Helen called. I'm glad you got home
early. Set the table. please, while
change my shoes and stockings.
without a word Jack laid the ia
BILE. quietly and neatly. He looked at
the VEGETABLES cooking on the stove.
and then in the ice box. There he
found a steak which he put on the
broiler.
Helen was going to that party
Barnes was giving in spite OF all he
had said. Those white satin Shippers
told the tale. She thought she could
keep on disregarding his wishes JUST
as she always had. She must not go
but how to prevent her. Perhaps
if he worked on her sympathies ut
tie, pretended to be feeling i'll, she
would give it UP, and anythlhg was
better than have her go. Even il lie
to keep her home, he thought grimly:
Doesn't that steak smell good
she exclaimed tripping lightly INTO
the kitchen. IT only had piece OF
bread and jelly for luncheon. 1 was
too busy getting my dress pressed TO
eat
Jack made no reply. but cut the
steak while she served the vegetables
Then he hurried into the bathroom to
wash his hands. Coming back thru
their room he saw the white dress on
the bed. Tt angered him fearfully-
He slammed the door, and the key
fell upon the floor. He picked it up
and thrust it into his pocket. Helen
was calling impatiently.
She chatted all thru dinner. but
meeting only with silence, finally
said:
''What an old crouch you are. Jacki
You'd sour pickles just to loos- at
you,'
Even then he made no reply, so
they ate in silence, surcharged with
60 1,F- afI
hers with inward amusement; also 4
lot of disappointment tnat he would
not go with her.
Dinner over she looked at the clock.
Il won't have time to GO a thing.
Jacki You clear away tonight, that's
dear. The Laytons are going to call
for nae at eight. and it takes me for
ever to do my hair. If you had given
me some money 1 could have had It
dressed down town when L bought my
slippers, but hair-dressing parlors
don't have charge accounts with wo-
men too poor to have theirs done only
twice a year,"
She took his assent for gran 7. and
well she might. He had clear. away
for her too often to feel at all uncer-
tain about it.
''I'lI call you when I am ready to
have my dress hooked" she said from
the hall.
StilI Jack didn't speak.
His wits seemed slow. He hadn't
spoken of feeling i'll. He followed
Helen into the bedroom.
II don't feel very well tonight. Hell
en- Won't you stay with me-"
Seems to me you have taken sick
very sudden! Trying to keep me home
aren't you? 1t won't work, Jackl Try
something else!" Her gay laugh trailed
after him as he went back to the
dining room and commenced to clear
the table.
His thoughts were busy. Was there
anything he could do to keep her
home? The idea of her being with
Barnes after what had happened, of
her wanting to be with him, hurt
jacks pride more than 1t ever had
been hurt in all his life.
Come on and hook me, Jackl' her
voice interrupted his musings.
He obeyed the voice from habit.
He hooked the dress, carefully.
painstakfngly. as he always did. He
had learned to be quite an adept
ladies' maid in the last year, since
Helen had gone out so much.
The bell rang.
There are the Laytons. Tell them
I will be out in a moment"
As he turned to leave the room he
thrust his hand into his pocket. The
key! Quick as a flash he closed the
door. and then in the hall he turned
and locked it. Then he stood still
while the door bell rang again and
again.
" nat iub why OOn you
let them in ?'t Helen called.
They're not coming in. neither are
you going out" Jack said distinctly,
but quietly. thankful for the first time
their bedroom window was on a shaft,
instead of where anyone could hear"
Your joke has gone far enough
Let me out at oncei" Helen demanded
angrily. as the ringing of the bell
ceased.
Hes let them in" she said aloud,
smiling to herself.
CTo be continued.