New Britain herald., 1923-05-09
Why Madse Patiently Listened Ia Mrs, Marks and firen Faced
 a psohiem


 The naive eenfidenees ef Mrs, Petey Marks interested me greatly, Hut al- though her whispered manolegue had occupied only minute or two, the thought Of little Mrs, Inlrkee in my living room. and the luncheon which was keeping warm over hot water on my gasplate, made me edge away and answer Mrs, Marks challenge, You know how the men are" with a vague
 'Yes, indeed. hut will you please pardon me, for"
 She srasped my sleeve with an eager. elutehing hand,
 'I won't keep you but minute, dsarie." she whispered, "I know you've got company, l lamped her through here. when the bell rang, Some swell little dame, too"
 So our guests vefe submitted to the impertinent scrutiny of this im- possible woman l almost shook her off in angry disdain, but something perhaps the queer, strained look on her faee--made me control my im- patience and stand quietly while shs whispered rapidly, with manifest sx- eitement. the while her eyes never left the aperture through which she could view the lower entrance door.
 "That Was Why"
 You see. l don't dare say thing to you while Petey's around. He's awful good to me, Petey is, he haint never lifted his foot or hand to me yet, in tho Ave years we've been mar ried, and that's more than lot Of women can say"
 shivered slightly at this glimpse of a kind of life I never had seen be- fore, while restraint in conjugal kicks and blows was counted supreme righteousness in a husband. but Mrs. Marks was so absorbed in her watch of the door that she didn't notice any reaction to her words.
 But he's awful set in his ways. is Petey," she went on. And when he takes a notion into his head you can't do nothin' with him. And I'm just worried plumb to death about him lately. He's got in with some fellows"
  clutch upon my sleeve frightened.
 That was why was hidin' in your kitchen the other night" she went on hurriedy. He brings ii those buns with him, and then he makes me beat 1t down to the bakery or the entrance down here, and stay till l see them go away and then I can come back again. Honest to Mike. sometime I've had to loaf outside for a whole hour. Besides, made up my mind was goin' to see what kind of deal those dirty buns was putting up on my lit- tie Petey. But I couldn't get on to much the other night. so I wanted to ask you-I know I've got an awful nerve, but it means lots to me-if you'd mind my snooping in your kitchen some other night?"
 She took her eyes from the front door for a second, and looked at me with such dog-like appeal that my scrupies melted.
 "Gee-There's Petey"
 MT. Graham has gone away for three days" said slowly, and l am going out of town this afternoon to stay until he gets back. So for the next three days you may use my kitchen as you please. But--pardon newly not ask your husband frankly to tell you what he is doing?'
 "Oh! I dassent '" she breathed. I'm not so afraid of Petey but those other loafers, they'd as soon grind me up into sausage meat as look at me. Honest to Mike, get ice cold in my insides whenever l look at 'em. Gee there's Petey back now. Please throw your kitchen door open and pretend to be busy in there while he goes through. And thanks. You're white"
 She closed the aperture of the win dow, raced to her own door and gave me her parting monition--all in 8 breathless ten seconds.
 The closing of her door preceded | the opening of the hall door by the briefest of intervals, but I had enough | faith in her resourcefulness to be sure that her doughty spouse would sus- pect nothing. And when after passing the kitchen with a surly nod to me, he entered his own abode. my belief in her cunning was justified, for I heard his low approximations:
 "well If you haven't gone back to pounding your ear again !. What's the matter with you anyway Coming down with the sleeping sickness?"