The Coolidge examiner., 1933-09-29

NElN AlNL1 you nave NealQ
- that Tom and Betty Linton
have decided to forget their matri-
nonial disputes and carry on to
gether" said Fanny Barton as she
was dealing the cards at the
Wednesday afternoon bridge club,
meeting at her home. I'm so glad.
Ii would have been really tragic
Ffor them to separate with that
lovely boy of theirs"
"Yes. heard that they were rec
onciled. 1t happened at Atlantic
City last month, didn't it? When
Betty sent for Tom when the boy
was ill?"
Lets keep the conversation for
over the refreshments, girls" sug-
gested Hilda Downs.
Fanny Barton followed Hilda's
glance toward boy sitting reading.
Later on Hilda Downs said: "And
now for the inside facts about the
Lintons, while the refreshments
are being served. I'd like to hear
all about the case"
We'll" began Fanny Barton. at
certainly looked as though their
married life was due for the
divorce courts. At first they were
ideally happy but then Tom made
a lot OF money and they stepped
out. Later came the crash, and
then the trouble started. Betty
admits she was as much to blame
as her husband. She had taken
young Tom to Atlantic City and
they had planned divorce action in
the fall, and then Tom-the son
took a sudden turn for the worse
down there-you know he's always
been delicate boy. Betty was
panicky and telephoned Tom. The
boy was delirlous and tossed
around in bed, and called for his
father necessarily. Tom went down
Immediately and they didn't leave
the boys bedside for several days
until he began to recuperate. He
begged them to take him home and
for them to stay there with him
That was the first time that either
Tom or Betty realized that Tom
Junior knew about their planned
separation. II impressed both of
them great deal and they decided
to try getting on together for
young Toms sake"
Cora came In with the refresh
ments and as she passed the boy.
absorbed in his reading. she whIs-
pered: Fruit punch. sandwiches
and cakes Tor you. Jack"
When Jack had left the women
for his refreshments In the kltch
en-. his aunt spoke. 81 do hope
Jack was too interested In his
reading to hear what | said about
the Lintons. You probably know
that his parents-my brother Joe
and Belle-are having the same
trouble. He realizes that things
are upset at home and is very
sensitive about it. That troubled
look In his eyes almost breaks my
heart"
At dinner that evening, Jack an
Dounced to his aunt and uncle that
he would like to go home.
"Uncle Harry can drop me at the
/ nf ctr nd I
prise mother and father. I'm not
feeling so well and I think I'd bet
ter go home"
II was just a little after seven
the next morning when the tele-
phone rang and the voice that
rearched Fanny was excited.
Its Belle. Fanny. IL just
couldn't wait TO tell you. Jack
was sick last night but he's much
better this morning. thank good
ness. Joe sat up all night holding
him and he's giving him his break
fast now. 1t was so strange and
sudden. We called the doctor and
he couldn't find anything wrong
with Jack. but he tossed from one
side of the bed to the other and
acted delirious. He kept calling
for both of us and he didn't get to
sleep until some time after mid
night. Neither Joe nor | slept a
wink all night but he slept sound
ly until six this morning. But Fan
ny, what do you suppose he said
just before he doZed off last night? =?
"He said: If you love me and
want to keep me. If you don't want
me to be sick. then you both must
stay right hsre with me-all the
time. Oh. Fanny. to think" and
Bellies voice broke in a sob.
"And now what?" prompted heI
sister-in-law amiably.
"Joe and have talked every
thing over. We talked and talked
last night while we sat in Jacks
bedroom watching him. And we
realize that we've been sort of self
iSh as far as Jack is concerned
We've gone along sort of blindly, !
guess. not realizing that our quar-
rels were useless and stupid ANY
way we decided for Jacks sake
we'd make strong effort TO fOrgei