Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-05-30

.(Copyright.)
TT WAS late. Or rather It
was early. There was light, how
ever, In the upstairs bedroom window.
Raleigh took out his watch and
glanced at 1t nervously. by the light
of his cigarette lighter. Two a. m.
And he had only been married a year.
Back from the honeymoon but six
months. There would be, he foresaw,
a lot of trouble. He hadn't had any
idea that time was slipping by SO
swiftly; and he had been consistently
behind the game. rl
Very gingerly he unlocked the front
door. But careful as he was, Angela
heard him. She came rushing down
the stairs. Her eyes wide. Clad In a
shimmering night negligee of such per-
lection as to bring out her slim young
beauty perfectly. Raleigh heaved
sigh. 1t was too bad to have to quar-.
rel with Angela for she was looking
particularly lovely tonight. He just
stared at her, and she just stared at
him. It was u tense moment, there in
the hall, In the dim light And then
Angela turned and calmly went on up
stairs without speaking.
Raleigh heaved sigh of relief. She
had been afraid that he would be In
capacitated, he gathered. Probably
she was relieved that he was able to
walk, at any rate. But she looked
so pretty tonight. And it was SO
queer. So deuced queer to be in ones
house with a creature who would not
speak to one. Gave him a peculiar
feeling as of invisibility.
He followed her silently up the
stairs. His mind was acutely busy.
He thought of the thousand and one
jokes he had seen In cartoons cor
corning what one might do under such
circumstances. The cartoonists must
all be single men, else how could they
think such a situation funny. There
must be some way out of it. he de-
clded that he would have to think up
a new lie. Impossible 1t would be just
TO say he had been playing poker. She
would want to know why he hadn't
called her to let her know where he
was. Why he had stayed so late.
Why he couldn't play poker and come
home at u decent hour. Why he had
shown no consideration for her feel
ings whatsoever. Why he this, why
he that. and the most particularly why
he the other.
OF course he could brazen and blur
1t out. Buster and pout himself. But
that would prolong the quarrel until
morning, at least; and most earnestly
Raleigh did not want the quarrel pro
lOnged. And he wanted to sleep.
II would take, he decided, nothing
short of genius to link up something
really good that would square things.
And he didn't feel like a genius. No
man who has Just lost in q poker
game ever feels like genius.
Nevertheless, Raleigh doggedly fol
lowed her to her door. There she
swung about, barring his entrance and
said, in most discouragingly EN-
phatic tone:
"Well .H
"Whyl Uhi What's the matterT'
asked Raleigh, innOcently.
WHAT'S the matterp she snapped
You can ask that" And then, who
can say what happened. Perhaps
there is Il particular god who watches
over the destinies of married men, for
Raleigh blurted out:
81 don't understand your attitude
at ALL" hae
"Ohl" she mimicked, you don't |
Well. isn't that stranger" (The last
with Iamentable sarcasm.) IF you
hnd decided to begin leading the night
life of tom cat. you might at least
nave 'phoned me, Perhaps could
have fixed up date for myself"
Phone YOU" echoed Raleigh, still
IN the crest OF Heayen-sent inspiru
zion What are you talking about
called you. explained that | was &c
ing to play poker, and you said sweet
~ could be: US perfectly all righi
dear; I've got good book to read
don't want to hold you down. On
right ahead and have your good times
Stay as late as you like. and If YOU
inse don't worry. You know he
added. nfier moments reflection Il
thought your voice was strange al rlnti
time. must have gotten the wrong
number just called you dear, and you
just called me dear; suppose a"I
some other chaps wife. I'm
sorry" Then he laughed at the Iuke