The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-12-26

the rule with my menfolks. When
either fails to appear on time to
meal the other gets his dessert"
Two days passed with not a word
from Tom. Prue maintained her usual
pleasant manner. Her house, her chill
dren and guest were taken care of as
carefully as ever, only the increasing
ly dark circles aroun1 her eyes gave
a hint of what she was suffering.
1t was the third evening after
Toms unexpected departure. The
children had gone to the movies with
some of their friends. Prue and Rose
were sitting on the back porch in the
moonlight. Rose had had it on her
mind all day to speak very plainly to
Prue. Why, the woman must be crazy
to let her man run away and leave
her without making some sort of an
effort to either bring him back or at
least try TO find him
"Frue.' she began, and her voice was
low and vibrant with meaning, what
are you intending to do? You must
know YOU can't sit here forever with
out making some effort to bring Tom
to justice. Think of your children.
Prue! You must think Of your chill
dren-" She was interrupted by a
CHEEKY voice speaking from inside the
house. 1t was Tom. He had come into
the house from the front and finding
no one there, and hearing voices had
wandered onto the back porch.
"Why must Prue think of her chill
dren?" he shouted. Good heavens !!
They're the only thing she ever does
think of except her home and me and
million other things. How's every
body?" And coming out on the porch
he threw himself upon the steps at
his wifes feet, took up her hand and
kissed it.
Prue couldn't speak But Rose said
sarcastically:
u guess Prue had been thinking a
good deal about Bernice for the past
few days
"Bernice vho?" Tom demanded
anyone been trying to put some
thing over on you, Prue?" His voice
was belligerent.
"Now don't play innocent, Tom"
Rose said, as Prue still remained
silent. 81 meant of course Bernice
Carrier"
IF she's been thinking about Ber-
nice Carrier l don't wonder" said
Tom. "If I'd heard about her earlier
I'd have thought about her, too A
man was telling me on the train
coming out tonight. It's all in the
evening papers You know, she and
her first husband parted. Some jeal-
GUS old scandal monger made trouble,
| guess. Bernice got a divorce and has
just married again. She and her hus-
band were on their honeymoon and
something happened to their car
They went over to the bank. They
never got near here at all. Gosh, I'm
a tined man. I've done more figuring
the last few days than ever before
in my life. John Hit dropped in at
the Office unexpectedly and carried me
off in his car. He wanted me to
clear up Il niue question VI SUI Ncy
that | knew about when l worked for
him. He wouldn't even let me have
time to come home for clean collar.
so | stopped at the school and left a
note with Junior. Tomorrow we have
a telephone put in so l can call you
up if such a thing happens again. But
| knew, Prue, you'd understand. |
don't suppose there happens to be a
pie in the cupboard, does there?"
Yes" Prues voice had a happy
little ring. "There's a blackberry pie,
Tom. I've baked a fresh one every
day since you went away"
Good old girl :" Tom jumped to his
feet and bounded whistling into the
house.
Next morning at the breakfast table
Rose announced that important and
pressing business made her immediate
departure necessary. An hour later
she was gone.