San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-14
The Making Of
a Husband
A mn Isle s N e ~
Phase of Jim and
Anne'S Marital
Adventure
BY ANN Isle
Chapter "a

Copyright. 1898, King Feature SYM Inc.
1t would be hard to say just what
was in my mind as / started toward
the kitchen in which someone was
moving around stealthily. As crossed
Z the big studio living room Of the
Birches, / was clutching in my hand
the stone which had hurtled through
the window TO fall at my feet. The
cord trniled from it. | was vaguely
wondering what had been attached TO
the other end of that cord before It
was so suddenly seEered.
May was bending over a Crumpled
sheet of paper on which | could sec
a smudged red palm cmblazOncd. She
was studying it carefully, obviously
spelling out the words written on the
paper.
i looked at the stone in my hand.
I examined the severed cord that
trailed from it. Then l stepped out
into the kitchen with a stern, force
full:
So il was you who cut the string,
May. What right had you to do that?
What right have you 10 read a note
addressed to Mr.. Harrison and me-
1T address 10 nobody" May said.
looking up with facial stolidity and
with heave Of her deep chest which
told of her astonishment and annoy
snce at my sudden appearance.
you must have known that n note
found on the grounds was meant for
u.s. l said.
Il not know Nav persisted.
Oddly enough she did not look gull
ty. She did not even act guilty.
There was no gesture to convey the
idea that she was ashamed or afraid.
You know now. Hand that note
over TO me at once" / said CURLY.
at no good. You not read it," said
May. 1T jargon! Nothing here for
you.'
As she spoke the girl made as if to
tear the note. / did not care to do
anything so undignified as scuffle with
my maid in the attempt TO get hold of
q crumpled piece Of paper signed with
a red hand. but ] felt that / must
know what it had to say. So took
step forward, showed the stone in my
hand and said quietly:
Il found this in my living room.
knew there was something at the other
end for me. tried TO pull it in by the
cord attached. IL held firmly for a
minute. Then it snapped. Did you cut
the cordl"
''Yes. cut him." said May.
tThen you couldn't have been the
one who put the thing there" said,
half 10 myself.
He stick because twig is caught in
between branches on ground by tree,
May explained carefully. Il almost
stumbled over him when 1 come to get
dinner"
'No one lad told you to come and
get dinner tonight. ] didn't expect
you" said, as much to myself as to
May valleau.
II think maybe il good I come just
now. Evenings when il is Winter-dark
now you shouldn't be so alone" was
Mays reply. Zeke Schmidt he think
also / shall come evenings by you"
So Zeke was in it! This thought
flashed through my mind with great
suddenness followed by tie question:
What do You mean by it Anne
Harrison? What are you getting
snarled up in-facts, or your Owl
imagination !"
/ took another step forward and
held out my hand with all the dignity
and insistence at my command.
'Give me that note. May" ! said
= CURLY. "You had no right to cut the
cord that bound it to the rock thrown
into my living room. If you have 8
friend you want to protect, you have
no right TO take my money for work
that isn't really work at all, but just
a chance to spy. had thought bet
ter of you. You can 90 now"
May threw her apron over her
head and burst into wild sobs.
Il not co." she gasped. u not leave
you. 1t is not safe. l protect you
not-him-"
"Not him." I repeated. 80 you
know Give me the note"
"Yes. ] know" said May sullenly.
"And ] stay by Ike dog if that best
] can do. But stay. So, maybe, you
better read note. Here, take!"
Nav handed me TIE crumpled sheet.
And this is what ! read:
$50 you ran away like wee told
you 70. Well, you durty white-hvvered
guys, doan't stick around too long. II
amt heelthy. You have no right TO bo
so eonfounded happi in a wurld wher,
there Is so much MISERY. Move on
pretty soon. or there is going TO be O
little MISERY in yours. Take it from
them that knows. Move. Git a gait on.
Or you may ride out Of town on q
plank. The red palm"
/ shivered as / read the communica.
ton. which seemed almost deliberately
mis-spelled. But. strangely enough, MI
greatest fear was for the Harrison
temper. ! began asking myself: "Whai
viii Jim do when he sees this?'
Ito Be COntinUed)