The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1939-02-17
Petty Quarrel
BY q. Il. wumgBou
Q Associated Newspapers.
WNU Service.

EFFREY found the newspaper "
- ing as usual beside his plate, and
he picked it up, scanned the head
lines and read a lead paragraph or
two in three of the front page sto-
ries- But nothing of what was writ
ten there registered on his mind. His
thoughts were too occupied, his spir-
its too low to concentrate and enjoy
his usual morning routine.
Jeffrey's eyes were heavy with
lack of sleep.
With a definite gesture he laid
aside the newspaper.
For the hundredth time he went
over the scene again. He saw once
more Susan, his wife; saw her
standing in their bedroom. Rage,
uncomfortable, held her in its grip.
''It's the end, Jeffrey! Absolutely
the end! I'm leaving-for good this
time. Pm"
<"But, Sue, can't we talk it overf
Can't we settle the thing without
making a mess of our ives?"
mol"
Then there's more to it than you
pretend" She was silent, and he
went on accusingly: There's some
one else. Another man"
Jeffrey Gordan. you're a fool!"
He watched her in bitter silence
as she flung things into her suitcase.
He caught the CLEAN Of costly dia-
monds, necklaces. brooches, brace
lets. Sight of them sickened him. Il
was so easy to remember that there
were no costly jewels, and no quar-
rels before prosperity smiled on
them. There had been nothing but
happiness then.
1t was all very funny and very
tragic. Because both he and Susan
had wanted money, were forever
planning all the things they could
do when eventually it came, as they
were sure it would. Perhaps it was
the planning that had kept them free
OF trouble. He hoped it had been
more than that.
Jeffrey couldn't tell how or when
the trouble had started. 1t just had,
that's all. Petty quarrels that often
resulted In angry outbursts. There
were days when no word was spoken
between them.
'Pm going" said Susan. ''Nowl"!
And she slammed shut her suitcase
and looked at Jeffrey with flaming
eyes.
Every WE'LL" Jeffrey's voice was,
like ice. But remember this: II
you leave this house, IN your pres
ent condition. don't ever return"
Her haunting laugh came back 10.
him. Then there was silence, and
Jeffrey was alone.
He stood there for some. time, q
little dazed and bewildered. COM
scious Of an aching pain inside Of
him. thinking vaguely that. Susan
had gone, that she had, actually,
stopped loving him. This wasn't ope
Of their petty quarrels. : It was hig-
ger, had been prompted by some
thing far more serious. His Thoughts
flashed to dark and handsome julian
Brooke. who had protested friend
ship for them both
Jeffrey ate his breakfast-all oil
land picked UP the = newsnaeer,
again. He must force himself %
read, to get his mind On other thiaGs.
And 50 he waded through two whole
columns on the first page and tnsned,
the sheet in search 81 some4Aine
more. Almost instantly his &c fill
on headline near the top. He reed,
and suddenly felt his heart poqndfnG
wildly: Society Woman Held Up
and Robbed. Mrs. Jeffrey GqrdaA
was held up early, last niGht On the
lonely Sleepy Hollow, road -hx. two
masked gunner while driving int
the city and robbed. of several yt,oss.
sand dollars worth Of jawelry. Mrs.
Gordan- was en- route to her mothers
for short visit, and was carryinI
the gems. in q small box, StEaAge-
y enough, when she. reported ths
robbery to local police, she showed
great anxiety over the. loss. Of q ring
which she admitted was practically
Naheless,- being an imitation. hut
which she priced more than an The
efher gems. She was wearing, H.
Elpg Mt the time OF the held-uR and
asked that special endeavors 30
made :"
Jeffrey was impatient because The
operator couldn't complete his Con-
nection in less than record time.
But presently Sues voice came -
him over the wire. ,f -,
Darling, read about your being
held up. If there
Jeffrey, please come and ret me.
Jeffrey, they-they took my ring
Yes, darling, ] know. And I'm
glad ~
but, Jeffrey, tit was the enc
you gave me-. When they tore Il
from my finger, IL realized how
much it mesnt-and how much you
meant, and how silly il Ill was"
Jeffrey's voice was . little husky
when he answered. ~ know, sweet.
l know" He paused, swallowed. !.
1--WE called the police station.
They've recovered everything. Even
the other jewelry. Wait there, dar-
bns. IN be over to get you."