Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 10, Number 47, DeMotte, Jasper County, 10 October 1940 — AN OFFERING OF FLOWERS [ARTICLE]

AN OFFERING OF FLOWERS

By LEW ZARE

j < McClure Syndicate—WNU Sei vtce.) | ARCHIBALD J. MORTIMER ** raised himself on his toes and planted a kiss on his wife’s lips. Then, snatching his hat, he scurried out the door to catch the 7:45, leaving a thoughtful wife behind, too dumfounded to move at this sudden display of affection. When her'husband was long out of sight, Mrs. A. J. Mortimer bounced herself to the calendar and discovered that this day was not her birthday, their anniversary, nor even her mother’s birthday. A sudden fear spized her. Was Archie losing his affection for her? Would little Archie dare to fall in love with someone else as he had so often done before their marriage? The next thing that entered her mind w r as the possibility that he had hired a pretty stenographer. Before much time had elapsed, Mrs. A. J. Mortimer arrived at the office, rushed through the door marked private in expectation of seeing some beautiful siren on her husband’s lap. She was almost disappointed to find the same unattractive secretary sitting at her husband’s desk jotting pot-hooks in a notebook. Mr. Archibald J. Mortimer was leaning far back in his chair, his hands folded over his waist, a big cigar in his mouth. Realizing her mistake, Mrs. A. J. Mortimer stopped in the middle of the room, toyed with her pocketbook and then uttered a' weak, “Hello.” Calmly he queried, “What is the matter, dear?” The secretary had meanwhile left the room, and for a moment Mrs. A. J. Mortimer thought of telling her husband everything; but seeing a wrapped-up bouquet of flowers beside his desk, supposedly concealed by two wastebaskets, she refrained. “Just thought I’d drop in, dear. I’m shopping today. Well, I’ll just toddle along.” Before her husband had time to urge her to stay awhile, she left the room, upsetting the office boy, who couldn’t get out from under the keyhole in time. Left alone, Archibald heaved a sigh of relief, put the flowers in a more secure spot, and went back to work. Meanwhile, Mrs. A. J Mortimer, outside now, w r as more perturbed than ever. Eventually she decided the flowers were not meant for her. Beginning to sniffle slightly, she further decided to have her husband trailed as she had done once before. The business-like man behind the desk in the office of the Aberjamb Detective agency assured Mrs. A. J. Mortimer that her wishes were their orders. “And you say that if he should happen to go to a cemetery, he should be trailed no longer? Oh, your father just died?” Meanwhile, Mr. A. J. Mortimer, having concluded his day’s work, brushed his suit, straightened his tie, and used a mite of perfume. Leaving the office, bouquet in hand, he did not at all notice the man who, only giving him a casual glance, walked a little to the side of him. In a taxi Archie was too absorbed in his thoughts to pay much attention to the other cab right behind his. Mr. Mortimer's car soon pulled up in front of the Wander cemetery. The detective had also alighted, and although he knew his directions, decided to follow hjs victim into the cemetery for a short space at least. Past the huge wire gates, Mr. Mortimer suddenly stopped in front of one of the graves and knelt down. That was sufficient evidence for the detective and he left the cemetery to make his report to headquarters. After Mr. Mortimer had finished tightening his shoelace, he hurriedly rose to his feet. Then scampering over to the caretaker’s cabin, he blissfully entered and was greeted by the open arms and sunny smile of the caretaker's daughter.