Evening star., 1922-10-07
The Wife Who Wouldn't
Settle Down!
A Sequel to ssBrides Will Be Brides
By Lucille Yam Slyke
By Lucille Va,, Slyke
A Sequel to ssBrides Will Be Brides''

She put the hat back quickly as
she saw the twins pushing their way
in through the screen door. They
had found some marigolds and cosmos
that had survived the weeds.
you blessings" she congratu-
lated them. Wen get the big black
dish for the marigolds and the long
thin, green one for the pinky flowers.
How nice of you to bring them in:
And US wants candles, SOS 1t Will
be a party when daddy boy comes
home. and us wants it on the porch.
Ricky announced.
Merriam went down on her knees
to her insistent little daughter. She
held her at arms length and looked
straight into her eyes.
"Fredericka," she said slowly,
please, please, stop asking Merry
when daddy boy will be home. He
has gone away-on business-and 1t
will be a long time before he comes
back"
after bedtime?" Ricky's auivering
lips asked.
After a great many bedtimes. You
keep talking about it. So please.
honey lamb. don't keep talking about
it. Dick doesn't keep asking, does
he:" She reached out her arm TO
cuddle her son against her shoulder.
He moved away from her. He clasp
ed his fat, .dimpled hands behind his
back.
But when will he come home,
Merry deah:" he asked artlessly.
You little numbskulls!" Merriam
didn't know whether she was laugh
ing or crying as she pushed them
away and jumped up to rinse enough
cupboard dusty dishes for the coming
meal. You two-just-scoot!
She was feverishly busy for the
next two hours feeding her hungry
family and> tucking her babies into
bed.
She came downstairs to find young
Beecher and her father struggling
with dishes.S Ralph was efficient
enough, but the sight of her dignifieds
gray haired father. who had been
waited on all his life, trying to dry
cups was too much for her over
wrought feelings. She burst into
hysterical laughter.
"Fred-er-rick-' she shouted, as she
had been wont to do when she had
been an impudent sixteen. That's
one of my very best dinner napkins
that you're using. Drop it this min
ute"
But presently. when they had the
dining room table cleared, they be-
gan on the task for which they had
come-sorting through any and every
paper of Johns that they could find
one that would contain the Canadian n
| address. The things were a hope
less muddle, for the police and the
| detectives had already ransacked
things the day of the pay roll rob-
| berry But the three tired persons
worked valiantly a until long past
midnight.
It's a needle-in- -haystack search.
all right" Young Beecher leaned
back in Johns chair.
ut doesn't look like there ever was
any needle in the first place." Mer-
riam sighed. That's every last pa
per I can find and"-her lips quiv-
ered-'we've found nothing
Il think we'd best all get to bed"
her father decided sensibly, land go
at it the first thing in the morning"
Merriam left the two men down.
stairs while she crawled wearily up
stairs to dress beds for her visitors.
Every day will be like tonight"
she thought despondently. Every
thing 1 see or touch will hurt me
win make me think what wicked,
! wicked woman I've been" 1t took
sheer courage to open the door OF
Johns room. She moved into it with
| shaking knees.
Copyright. 1927
CONTINUED in MONDAYS Starr