Arizona state miner., 1926-06-26
THE
SURPRISE
VISIT
By JANE O'RYAN
60. 1926. Western Newspaper Union.)

A turned to leave she noticed that
the window shade was not
drawn, so tiptoed to the window and
with infinite care began to draw the
shade down.
| Suddenly, without any warning, 1t
rebelled and jerked the cord from her
| hand, and doubtless to show it's pref
erence for high place in life, flew to
| the top Of the window, with a rattle
| that made Beatrice cry out in protest
and turn alarmed eyes to Bert, who
awoke with start and half sat up.
"What in thunder was that?" he
cried in pain.
I'm so sorry" walled Beatrice,
"but l thought the light might annoy
you and"
"If 1 can only get little Sleep"
| groaned Bert, ''I'll be all right and
ready for my days work tomorrow.
Much depends upon my feeling fit."
! "Now, now," Beatrice protested,
don't criticize yourself again. Sup
pose you did get angry with your boss
| every one knows Mr.. Wolford upsets
people, and if he is going to refuse to
| give you an increase because you lost
your temper, when you do such heaps
Of work" Her voice became un-
steady.
Bert kissed her tenderly. "We need
that increase tremendously, darling"
They had married on love and high
optimism.
| nf1si0
| band back against the pillow. you're
| to sleep, dearest" she commanded.
| He nodded, then murmured with in
finite feeling, ooh, for a steak, love
| ly, juicy, expensive steak
| "And vegetables of all descriptions"
whispered Beatrice. Then sprang to
her feet and ran swiftly to the door.
| AS it closed after her Bert sighed.
| 1t was hard on Beatrice-four
months of slim pickings. OF course
| they did not intend to complain but it
was strange that Aunt Amanda, who
| seemed to be fond of Beatrice acted
| so Indifferent. She had returned
| from Europe three weeks ago and had
not even let them know where she
was staying. He shrugged, mentally.
| They could get on without her help;
and as he sank blissfully into sleep,
| her help became of less and less i'm
| portance, then of no importance-then,
with an imperativeness that dragged
| Bert back from the blfssful Depths the
| dog next door barked.
Bert sprang from the bed, dashed to
| the window, opened it with a crash
and leaned out. There was the abom-
ination in the courtyard, having a
wonderful time bounding about in
| sheer joy over nothing.
"Spike" was the name bestowed
upon this foolish pup by his small
owner; but Bert had given him one
| he thought far more appropriate, and
which the dog evidently recognized as
| justified, for he always promptly
! obeyed, as he did now, when Bert
| called-"Hi, there, Gomel! !"
! The dog looked up inquiringly and
wagged his stubby tail. Bert threw
him bone from an array he kept
upon the window ledge The dog
| sprang to it and Bert returned to bed.
Once again he was sinking into the
| all-satisfying depths of slumber, when
| from the courtyard came a voice that
| drew him forth and laid bare his ear
to brazen-thrOated notes. accompanied
| on a harsh and untuned piano. "Let
me die for thee" the singer pleaded.
| "YOu bet I will,' cried Bert, spring
| Inn fo SC CT, 10 @Io
| dow. Cautiously, he looked out, then
| picked up a pebble from the sill, in
| serted it in the sling of handy bean
| shooter, aimed
"Pll die" the singer insisted
Bert let go and the little concert
| came to an abrupt end.
| After q dazed look about, with his
| hand on his assaulted chest, the sing
| er departed; so did Bert, for his bed,
upon which he dropped and curled up
| like a leaf of autumn
| Then the door opened cautiously
| and Beatrice's nose and one eye ap-
| peared in the crevice
"Are you awake, dear? she whis-
pered.
mo, I'm dead, Bert grOaned, "and
l want to stay dead"
The door opened violently, bringing
| Beatrice's startled face to view; then
with rush forward, she cried, "oh,
don't talk that way; did you hear the
| dog bark and the man sing?"
He nodded grimly.
"Well," Beatrice pleaded, "try to
sleep now"
| 1t seemed as though he were willing
to do so; but at that moment the ir-
repressible Gomel, fearful no doubt,
that any one might think he had
| changed his mind about the joy of Iiv-
ing cast aside the unyielding bone,
and began to give hilarious demon
| strat1on of his conviction. Bert
sprang to his feet, as he gritted his
teeth.
| On Monday he started for business
in a jaded condition. The work was
continuous; but he kept his temper,