San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-31
The Making Of
a Husband
Ann LSsle's N eW
Phrase of Jim and
Amme's Marital
Adventure
By ANN Isle
Copyright, 1926. King Features Syn. Inc.
Chapter 157.
BY ANN Isle


Chapter 157.
Nicholas Perry, who seems to have
an uncanny gift for reading my mind
and putting into words the precise
thing ! would give a fortune to have
left unsaid, expressed what was going
on in my mind when Arlette Valleau
and Jim came from the kitchen OF
The Birches and Joined us in the
studio.
'Why are you so pink and rosy and
gay Arlette?' he asked of his little
model. "Is it because you rejoice to
have me call on you-or because you
were-having such pleasant time
with Mr.'Harrison when butted in?''
81 have work." Arlette replied Sc
dately. II have put the kitchen into
order again. I am warm while the
bloods run so fast now"
"Cryptic and unsatisfactory" said
Mr.. Perry, deliberately talking over
Arlette's head, and smiling at me in a
way that managed to exclude Jim as
well. "However we won't bother about
you Just now. 1t is to Mr.. Harrison
l want to talk"
Arlette's color drained away and she
went pale at the insulting way in
which she was made to feel her posi-
ton. But she went over to the win
dow and sank into low chair, where
she sat as still and silent as the shy
wood creatures she so often resem-
bled.
Draw up a chair, Harrison" com
authority whech seems to be growing
on him as he finds way in which to
compensate for his helpless hands and
the handicap they give him. I've a
proposition to make you"
"Let's hear it." Jim said easily, as
he made place for himself at my side,
and threw a casually possessive arm
around me.
"why don't you run a carr" de-
manded our visitor.
"Obvious! Can't afford it, Jim
clipped out tersely:
"And / can't afford to be without
one" Nicholas Perry replied.
at would help you a bit to have
a car to get around in" jim said.
Having your hands bandhged doesn't
seem like such a nuisance until you
stop to remember how convenient they
are for getting hold Of things
''Righto ~ said Nicholas Perry
cheerfully. "But 1 can't afford an ex-
pensive chauffeur and all the incident
ais he would entail. All can afford
is to buy n car and contribute about
fifty a month toward its upkeep."
"Gas isn't THAT high!' laughed
Jim.
mo, but tires are known to 60
wrong when brought into contact with
glass or nails. And carburetors and
engines and lot of other things |
don't even know by name, need ad-
justment. And chauffeurs know how
to make all that cost. And a man
with no hands to use can't show his
driver how to make a simple repair
with a screwdriver and save eight
hours of work and fifty dollars worth
OF bill at the repair shop"
You're pretty near right" Jim
laughed appreciately. "The fellow
who keeps his own car in order saves
dollar or so now and then. But OF
course, you can't do that just now.
It's a shame, just when a car would
probably speed you along the road to
recovery mile a minute"
Couldn't we work out n neighbor-
" proposition" suggested Mr.. Perry
II was Just talking things over with
your wife. You. both know cars
and love 'em. I take it. If / bought
n car and contributed fifty month
to its upkeep, and you two ran it
guaranteeing me couple of hours
ride every day and one day week
for touring, it would be a blessing to
me-and no hardship to you. How
about it,"
/ felt Jim's arm tighten about my
neck. I could imagine how impassive
a poker face he was wearing as he
replied:
That's a bit far fetched, Perry
We aren't in the garage business"
81 want a car. You want a car
For various reasons neither of us
can afford it," Nicholas Perry Said
imperturbably. But together VIC
could. Why not?"
"How about it. Aune?" Jim asked.
'Of course we'd pay for the upkeep
Do you want to consider this serious.
1y?"
''Do as you like. I'm not interest
ed I said.
But 1 didn't mean il. ! wanted
a car with the ache that always come
to ex-car owners on the first warn
spring days when all the world seems
to be racing by on four wheels.
."She's not-against it," urged Mr.
Perry. "All / ask of her is n little
ride every afternoon"
II spend Mondays and Fridays in
town." broke in CURLY.
II can learn to drive, l drive you
them" Arlctte called eagerly.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thurs
days, them" laughed Mr. Perry. quit
ignoring Arlette. Mrs. Harrison viii
surely not refuse me those three af
ternoons OF recreation. Let's get dowr
TO business. Jim. We can work this
out so it's an honest-to-goodness fifty
fifty proposition. You won't say
no.
The upshot Of II was that JiIl didn't
say "No," The only thing that wor
ricd me after our friendly negotiation:
were over was this:
"Why is Nicolas Perry 50 ofter