Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1919 — “CROSSED WIRES” [ARTICLE]

“CROSSED WIRES”

By HAZEL B. CUMMINGS.

'.Copyright. McClure New»paper Syndicate.! They hail been married two months. and the secret was “out of the bag” now—the secret that often has a string of tragic results tied to it —cooking. Or more specifically in Mabel’s case, baking. * She knew perfectly that the tiling Jimmie adored, next.to herself, was good cooking, and so there fol towed in sa< 1 succession apple pies, spice cakes and many kinds of mvsterlQiiSi war breads. But as the weeks passed the disappointment in Jinmfie’s eyes gradually resolved itself into open resentment. ’ —— One crisp Wednesday morning he arose with a rare grouch. A broad strip of sunligr t fell across the breakfast table as he stirred his coffee, casting a glance of« antagonism at the heaping plate of corn muffins and the brown flapjacks.” “No eggs?” he queried briefly. . “Why, iny dear. L thought—well ynnare rather late this morning and I was afraid you might miss your train if She hesitated and fingered the tablecloth. nervously. ' He selected a muffin sullenly, bit into It, and then the long-dreaded declaration of War came. “Mabel! What did you put in these things?” And rising from the table he continued angrily: “Do you expect ine to go in and do a morning’s work on those salt buns? I’ll be a hopeless case from indigestion in another week.” He strode into the hall, calling back with cold significance: “I won’t be home for supper.” Then the front door slammed and the tragedy in Mabel’s »yp° ajjfaffe recalled thaf*fQr the first time since their marriage he had not kissed her good-by. She sat there for a long time: the flapjacks had grown cold. The passing hours and a good lunch had the effect of greatly subduing Jimmie’s wrath, and bite afternoon found him thinking regretfully of his harsh words at the breakfast table. He began to wonder what Mabel was thinking and was forming a resolution to atone for his unkindness by calling her up and telling her they would take supper in town, when the phone rang sharply. He answered it. There were voices on the wire. ’‘Hello-hello]’’ repeated Jimmie impatiently, and then the disorder of voices died away and a man spoke quickly: “Hello! —thought I’d better call you _arul-te.il-you that your wife left here awhile ago and forgot her umbrella ; we were delivering a small quantity of arsenic to her, but she was in a hurry and left—” the line was cut off abruptly. Terror was flashing in Jimmie’s eyes. Arsenic I He signaled the operator wildly: “You’ve cut me off,” he fairly shouted.

“What number were you talking with?” came the leisurely inquiry. “I—l—Oh, I don’t know.” his voice sounded like a low cry, as he replaced the receiver. - He felt strangely weak as a few moments later he found himself being borne in a mud-splashed taxi —at the highest rate of speed allowed by the law. to the suburbs. Every moment of the journey increased his agony of suspense—arsenic!! Bitter regrets for his heartlessness and ill-humor of the past couple of weeks crowded his mind, and "air an who had tried so hard and was perhaps even then lost to him forever Pvmwht a mist to -hi* eyes, Twilight had long set in when he finally arrived. Then an odd sound reached his ears, there -wasa peculiar odor, and turnings he saw a thi n ray of light under the, door leading to the kitchen. He flung it open, and there in a blaze of light, with a background of pans and measuring tins, stood Mabel, in a big apron, her cheeks rosy with the heat from the stove. She was just lifting a cake from the oven —not one of the flat, pale variety, but a beautiful, delicately browned one! Jimmie stood dishev-5 elled ami wide-eyed in the doorway. “Why, Jim! You’re early —” she began, but in a second he strode toward her and caught her in his arms, to the evident peril <*f the freshly baked cake.

"Thank heavens you’re here —you’re all right?” Jile looked at her keenly -and kissed her again and agaln. She drew away from him in puzzled astonishment at his odd words. “Of course I’m all right, Jimmie — what’s the trouble?" He tried to laugh lightly. * “I—I — nothing! Were you out this afternoon shopping? Did you—er—forget your umbrella. Leave it in a store —?” “Yes, dear, I was out, but I brought my umbrella back all right. Next morning Jimmie stood waiting for the elevator to carry him to his office <»n the sixth floor. As he stepped Itj somebody followed him. “Njce wet morning," remarked the cheerful voice of the chemist upstairs. “Right!” agreed Jimmie, viewing his dripping companion sympathetically, “you look liipe and wet yourself.” “Yes. thanks to the dear, thoughtful wife,” replied the .chemist. “Had her go over to the laboratories yesterday and get some arsenic and other stuff that I was in. special hurry so busy to stop myself—and she comes back and leaves hey umbrella there—had tn give her mine this morning—” Jimmie’s eyes suddenly grew/bright with mirth, but just at that moment the elevator girl said: “Sixth!” sq he stepped <wt anti as soon as the elevator had passed up he laughed long and heartily to htmself. ‘ :