The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-11-06
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blushed q tell.tale red. =
The telephone that lurked behind
the gayly painted wooden parrot in
a corner. of the breakfast room
trilled suddenly. It was Dirk.
ct just called up to tell you, Mrs.
Ruyther, that you have a checking
account, you know. Why don't you
run up a few bills, and see what
kind Of q husband I'm going to
make?"
"Oh, Dirk, you mustn't-not yet.
That's one Of the rules. Don't you
know your Emily Post?"
"Go ahead, woman. Do you know
how I treat my wives when they
don't obey mel" There was more
Of the conversation, but 1t seemed
to make very little sense.
Smiling knowingly, the old man
heaved himself out Of his chair and
tiptoed out Of the room with
clumsy, schoolboy gallantry. -,
A LMOST instantly, It seemed, .
"A starched and statuesque maid
appeared with an envelope which
she handed to Mary on . tray.
!. (Bessie had been released to pur.
sue the sort Of histrionic career for
which she seemed to think herself
fitted.)
Mary fumbled It open with one
hand while holding fast to the re-
ceiver with the other. When she
finally held up the crisp bit Of pa
per 1t contained and saw the figure
-$1000-and the signature. ]. ].
Jupiter, still wet in the corner, her
joyful exclamation reached clearly
the young man murmuring fatuous
nothirgs into the telephone many
miles away.
"A little wedding present" was
written on the business card that
fell out with the check.
"Never mind supporting me yet
I'm RIGHT" she caroled gleefully.
and told Dirk Of the check.
well, that's 1ne!" he replied
with perfunctory heartiness. Such
munif1cence rather dashed his own
pleasure in turning over his world.
~ goods to his bride-to-be. What
are you going to do with it,"
Bank it."
"You will mott"
BUY Clothes" she amended hap
PLY. "And then buy some clothes.
And then buy a few more clothes"
That's better. Lunch with met"
"Oh, I won't have time. We'd
dawdle and I've 30 much to get!"
"Better come. I'll be working
late at the ONCE, putting things in
shape SO I can leave. ! may not get
out until quite late"
But you'll comet"
I'LL come! Wait up for me-"
"You know I will"
}, She was to regret that decision
about lunch, as she sat slipping a
lukewarm, too-sweet drink at q
crowded fountain after q hectic
mornings shopping. It would have
been delightful to be lunching on Z
cool roof somewhere with Dirk
opposite. Shopping. even with q
$1,000 check in your purse. was ter
j, rible. Her feet hurt, her head
ached, and she felt as II her eyes
|, would never quite focus again. And
there was more to come.
At five she hailed the first tax
:. she saw, piled it full OF bundles
and climbed in gratefully.
:. Long Island" she told the driver
, , and sank back against the hare
: leather seat. She closed her eyes a!
. the cab wormed its way crosstowl
toward Greensboro bridge. Tha'
state Of complete relaxation sparet
her the brunt Of what followed.
All she remembered afterwart
t was hearing Z yell and . curse
t and feeling herself jerked v~iolentl!
forward as the taxi swerved ant
careened wildly to the sidewalks
striking a flight Of stone steps. Thel
she must have tainted. for she knew
8 no more.
. sx. .(To Be Continued)