Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-06
The Morning After
By Lillian OAKLEY
O Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

OOugQt over the counters QOWuCOWu,
Bill Hay was the first man he called.
Bills wife was hyena about poker
playing. and since his marriage, Bill
had been forced to 60 contract But
business is not always business when
1t keeps q man downtown late, II you
know what mean. Anyway. Bill said:
"Okeh. old boy. old boy. I'm dry as
q cotton batting camel and lucky is
my middle name"
Then Bill called his wife.
Hello, darling" he said in q voice
heavy with business worries. Il just
phoned to tell you not to wait dinner.
From the way things look now, I won't
be able to get away from the office
before nine or after"
well. that's funny" his wife told
him, II thought you said at breakfast
that you didn't have any business and
that you just kept the office open to
fool the neighbors."
"Yes-yes, I did say that this morn
Ing. But I've flushed covey Of orders
and I've got to stay with 'em until get
'em in my bag"
81 don't believe one word you say,
Bill Hay, not one word. think you're
just trying to get out of going to
Madge Cooks reception with me to-
night"
mo. honestly. darling. I'd forgotten
all about the reception. But this thing
may break big for me and I've got to
stay with it. And If things turn out
as 1 expect them to I'll buy you the
prettiest hat in town."
well, of course. But l still
think It's queer that you have so much
business tonight after saying what you
did at breakfast"
II told you that all of this came up
since noon. And I'm going to have
plenty of competition, so don't sit up
for me for it may be 1even, even
twelve. before l get home"
When Bill got to Fred's house the
party was on. And what a party it
turned out to be! The home-brew had
a kick to it and the cards ran high,
wide, and handsome. Kings consorted
with kings and the four aces chung
closer than the Marx brothers. That
is except when they were in Bills
hand. Bill had lots of luck but it was
all bad.
They called the party off at four
o'clock, Bill was seventy-fve dollars
in the hole and had cramp from writ
ing l. o. US. He borrowed twenty
five dollars from Fred to stem the cur
rent of his wife's wrath if the worst
happened and started for home.
When Bill reached his house the
moon had called it a night and gone
to bed, the sun was shaking out it's
rays and Mandy the cook was in the
kitchen starting her breakfast Bill
gave Mandy one Of his borrowed dol
lars not to tell his wife what time he
got home. Then he crept silently up
the stairs to bed.
The next thing Bill heard was the
clock striking seven. He opened a eau
tious eye and looked across at his
wife's bed. She was gone, the covers
were neatly folded back, the room was
warm, the cat was purring on the win
dow seat. Everything sang Of peace
and amity. Bill bounded out of bed
with light heart
He went whistling down the stairs
some ten minutes later and opened
the breakfastroom door with bright
Good morning, darlingw But the
words froZe in mid air. One look at
his wife's face told Bill that she knew
all. Bill did his part but he didn't get
anywhere.
"Oh, stop lying to me, Bill Hay. I
know exactly where you were and
what time you got home" she said.
Il don't see how you know what time
! got home" Bill said. "You were
sound asleep, snoring loud enough to
wake the dead"
Il was not. You're just making that
up, for l don't snore. I know what
time you got home because Mandy
told me-"
Mandy? What does she know
about it?'
Eyes, what does she know about it!
She knows that lay here all night by
myself with thieves and murderers
running around everywhere, while you
were out carousing with that awful
Fred Lawrence. Drinking his vile
home-brew and playing poker with
that gang of cut threats he runs with.
And telling me it was business! l
ought to pack my trunk and go home
to mother, that's what ought to do I"
Bill knew when he was beaten.
"Well, to tell the truth" he said, I'VE
did play a few rounds of poker after
We got through our business. l was
feeling pretty lucky. and thought you
could use little sugar money"
Bill pushed one Of the borrowed tens
across the table to his wife. She eyed
it with scorn. With an inward sigh
of resignation he fisbed the other ten
out Of his pocket. Still hot words and
cold looks. Then the telephone jingled.
His wife went to answer it, pocketing
the two tens before she left the table.
Bill made bee line for the kitchen.
He'd tell that colored Mandy a thing
or two. But Mandy had gotten a cheer
full little ear-full through the keyhole
and she beat him to the first word by
two breaths and snort.
Don't you come in here blamin' me,
Mistah Bill, cause never tot yo' wife
what time yo'all got home. Homes to
,Gawd 7 never She come in here AKIN