Evening star., 1925-06-14

BESIDE HIS WASHIUB.
She sat rigidly: nerves a-jangle, ears
strained for a REPETITION of the sound
YeS-there it WaS-again' A stealthy
shopping noise from the kitchen.
A burglar! There wasn't "A doubt
of it.
Noiselessly she slipped from the
bed. Quietly she opened the bed
room door. Her bare feet made no
sound on the uncarpeted floor. On
the other side of the kitchen she saw
a sinister, crouching, shadowy figure.
She crept toward il, every massive
muscle tensed-breath coming in
short. choking gasps. She set her
self for the spring. She sprang-
A yell of terror shrilled from Pri-
vacys throat as the fighting figure
leaped upon him from the blacknoaa.
long fingers clutchiug at his throat-
Frenzied with terror, he leaped TO
one side. His fingers closed around
something. a weapon. A poker!
1t swished through the air. There
was a thud-a choking grunt-the
sound Of heavy falling body.
Screaming for help. Privacy found
match and lighted the lamp-then.
limp and lachrymose, turned to gaze
upon his handiwork.
He found himself gazing down into
the UNCONSCIOUS lace OF MS Nle, ana
gradually there came to him realiza-
ton of the fact that he had con-
quered her in physical combat. With
that knowledge there was born with
in him a new and glorious sense of
power; Il paean of triumph sang in
his heart. Proudly. defiantly, he
reached for the breastbone of the
chicken and bit into it.
\ +
FIFTEEN minutes later he sue
ceeded in restoring Clarry 10
consciousness. He didn't know what
had caused all the trouble. but he
knew he was victorious: he was
gripped by certitude of triumph.
Clarry raised terrified eyes. Pri-
vacy, glancing affectionately into
them, was pleased to see that her in
juries were but temporary. And
then, as Clarry glimpsed the face of
her adored Privacy she clasped mus
cular arms about his neck and
swooned again.
II was but the work of a minute
to bring her back to consciousness.
And her first words reassured Pri-
vacy-
Where he is at?"
''Wh-where which is at?''
The burglar"
Suddenly a great warm light burst
upon Privacy. He understood
"Oh. him? l heard him jump on you
an l chased him off"
You chased him OFF,"
She turned upon him eyes in which
there was no sign of disbelief; merely
a wondering affection. 'O-o-oh, Pri-
vacy-I never knowed what a fine
man you was"
MT neither that amt the on thing
you never knowed, CONAN"
She warmed to the new, assertive
nuance of his voice. Reckon I amt
ben ve'y good to you. OH Privacy
why amt you ben eatin' what I ben
cookin' TO you?"
Them eatments want good
enough, Clarry."
Honey if'n you on'y want
gittin' a divohce away fun me. I'd
show you how good / can cook. :"
Somehow, the tide had turned:
magnificent victory had been miracu.
lousy snatched from direct defeat
Privacy. ignored no scintilla of his
triumph
Il done stahted that divohce, Clar-
ry. Reckon I'd better go th'oo with
please, honey. please don't. Ise
willin' to do anythin' you want. -
Privacy appeared to consider-'Ise
willin' to call off that divohce, does
you do seval things"
III do anythin' you says, Privacy"
We'll" he said magnanimously:
"F'ust off you gives yo' mutual con-
sent that the divohce gifts called off.
Secon' you pays Lawyer Chew the
fees which / owes him. Thi'd YOU
promises l amt gWine halter do no
mo- wuk: wuk not bein' fittin' fo' a
man like'n to what | is. Fo'th you
promise you amt gwine raise no mo-
rows 'roun' the house.
Il promises all that. sweetness
Ev'y single lii bit of it,
Inspiration came to Privacy "An'
fifth, you pays me alimonies of thee
dollars ev'y week. Does you say yes?'
And Clarry, adorable in her utter
surrender, agreed
Clarry walked down the street in
quest of washing. She was radiantly
happy-and Florian Slappey. sliding
from behind a woodshed. scuttled into
the shelter of the Robson home.
He found Privacy in bed. a large
tray, containing the remains of an
enormous breakfast, beside him; A
huge, black cigar gripped between his
teeth. F'lorian's face broke into a
wide, congratulatory grin.
PRIVACY toP you l was gwine
fix things up fo you!''
>Privacy's face twisted into a sneer
OIL contempt nun. 1Ou says. You
amt fixed nothin' up And then
Privacy told him just what had oc-
Cured the previous night.
Florian listened patiently. And
when Privacy had completed his story.
there was a large expression of bit
terness on the face of Mr.. Slappey.
"Dawg.gone Privacy-if you amt
the ongratefullest man."
''How Gomez"
"Sayin' 1 di'nt fix all this UP TO
you
Reckon you di'n't."
Reckon l did. Now lisen heah at
me, Privacy. Trouble with YOU IN
you never has let me finish tellin' you
all the scheme l done schum. You
listens at paht of what l has to say
an then runs off an does the thing
yo' ownsef.
"If'n you had of let me finish the
other day I would of toll YOU what
was gwine happen bout Garry think
in you saved her fun a burglar.
moved all the time 1t was gwine be
that away"
Privacy's eyes popped wide with
believing wonder
Honest, F'lo'ian?"
'Cross my heart. I schemed 1t all
that way fun the fust.''
Privacy extended the hand of
friendship.
"Whyn't you tell me in the fust
place, Flo'ian? Fun the bottom of
my heart / thanks you An I saws