The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-07-07
REVELATIONS OF A WIFE
Why Madgs Ie Gonvineed That Her
Neishbors Are Watching Her.

why Madgs Ie convineed That Her
Neishbors Are Watching Her.
II my mental faculties hadn't been
shsrpened by the discovery that our
new neighbors were watching US
Through field glasses / shouldn't have
noticed the whistle which foiled the
cessation Of the flashes from that
third story window. But I had been
trained to ohseFvatial frem childhood,
and was sure that there was a dis
Itipet connection between my leaving
our dcorway and the whistle, which
was plainly signal Of soma sort.
After my glance al. the window
didn't look ia the direction of my
neighbors again until was safely in
the shelter of the grape arboF, an old
fashioned, rambling, tangle Of vines
at the rear Of the lawn. There I
stopped before crossing the tennis.
court 10 the barn beyond, and putting
aside the tender leaves, looked steadi-
ly at the hedge separating our lawn
from Mrs. Durkee's.
Yes! 1t was as / thought-one part
of the hedge was shaking, but even as
IL looked II settled into calmness again.
The inference was plain to me, al
though it seemed q preposterous thing.
But was sure that the man with the
field glasses, upon seeing me leave the
house had sounded the whistle as
signal and that some other member
OF the mysterious household was
creeping along the other side of the
hedge, watching my movements.
"WjIIIanI Oh. WiIiam!"
IL. 49,. Fo1,v rsrs1d
creepy little fear-but for the credit
of my womanhood I'm glad to say
that it was quickly replaced by hot
indignation. Ny anger, however,
didn't make me lose sight OF the fact
that this espionage constituted a very
real peril to the work ! was pledged
to Lillian to perform. ! must find out
how far the men next door intended
to carry their spying, at the same time
pretending 70 be in deep ignorance OF
1t.
With this thought in mind I strolled
out of the grape arbeT casually, and
going to the side OF 1t, looked at the
tangle Of vines critically, lifting some
OF the tandrillg and inspecting them
closely. We had had them pruned in
the early spring. but they were still
tar from satisfactory, and flatter
myself that my manner, even to the
most critical observer, held nothing
but concern for the appearance Of the
arbor.
StiIl holding up the vines for iispec-
ton ]. lifted up my voice and called:
sfWIlliam! oh, William
/ was careful not to make my voice
too penetrating. wished the man on
the other side of the hedge to hear me,
but / had no desire to interview Will
liam within view of my unseen watch
err, But az poor old William is quite
deaf hadn't much fear Of his answer
Ing.
4They,ra Bad Performers"
I repeated the call after a moments
interval, and then, with little ex-
clamation of annoyance psttishiy let
the vine fall from my hand and started |
briskly toward the barn. I didn't
glance In the direction Of the hedge, |
but I was sure that the man upon the |
other side was keeping me in sight.
I found William busily grinding
some tools. The welcoming grin that |
lit up his twisted old face would have
frightened a timid parsen, but l am
used to our man-o f-aIi- work.
..Mornin' Mis- Gramie." he said
what can ] do for you |
this mornin,?"
It was his inyarlahla salutation TO |
me, and there was something about |
the sincere homely words that typified |
poor old William Trumbun to me.
Il want you to do something very
important for me-. William" said
knowing that this was
the surest way to arouse his enthus-
iasm for task in his child like mind, |
And don't wish you to say anything |
about 1t"
Nuns the word. Mis- Gramie,n he
returned, Wrinkling up his face and