Show a I Husban I and idI I 4 I By y one Jane Phelps eps CHAPTER 83 I IA r A Blizzard All night it had snowed steadily I When Tom left for the office the big swirling flakes were still stin coming down I softly steadily But by 10 o'clock the I wind had risen and the blizzard had I started Peggy and I went to market marlet and It was aU all we could do to get home The snow had drifted so that even at that time we could scarcely struggle through the plied piled up drifts In the street During the afternoon it gradually Increased increased In- In creased in violence until we began to wonder how Tom was to get home He had three long blocks to walk after leaving the subway and the wInd in his face all the way About 4 o'clock I trIed to reach him on the telephone but the wIres were an all down and I could get get no answer Peggy and I 1 stood by the window watching Occasionally I I Norah joined us awed and frightened by the force of the storm Six o'cloCk came and she left lert to attend to the dinner Sure It will be an all burned up it if I stand here any longer she grumbled loath to leave Do light up Peggy reggy exclaimed This storm Is getting on my nerves I thought we had storms out home but I never saw anythIng like thIs to be frIght frIght- I really was beginnIng ened Even after we turned on the lights I kept goIng to the window and holdIng my hands around my face to slut shut out the light Ight I watched for Tom I HELPLESS FRIGHT I I When 7 o'clock came and we had heard nothing from Tom we went out outto outto to dinner more to stop Norah's grumbling grumbling grum- grum bling than because we were hungry The storm had steadily increased in vIolence until the drifts were plIed piled up In spots as high as a person and the wind blowing the swIrling snow made It impossible to see across the street while the street lights looked like lightning bugs through a mIst I 1 couldn't eat cat neither could I sit still Back and forth I went from the I dining room to the livIng room window win win- dow which fronted the street the only ones In the apartment from apartment from which I could watch for Tom Finally I rang for the elevator and w went nt down to the door Several other women women Helen among them were vere In Inthe inthe the hall haU an all nervously talking and questioning the hall ball bOY who know knew as little a as s they did Oh Helen I 1 exclaimed It awful II how w do you rou suppose they'll ever Jet get home I think they'll be along arong soon now Sue she returned You know the th subway will he be jammed and then It will take them some time to walk over here They'll have to fairly plough their way through the drifts I never nevel saw anything like It I r I I I I Do come up with Peggy and me I Isaid Isaid said to her The boy will tell you If Walter gets in before Tom Tom does I believe I will Then to the elevator elevator ele- ele vator boy she said It If Mr 11 Thurston comes In I shall be in Mrs Randalls Randall's apartment Can Call me immediately By S o'clock I was almost frantic and Helen was but little calmer Peggy trIed to keep up our spirits by telling us that nothing could possibly happen In the three blocks the they had to walk from the subway that it was only the probable blockade which was delaying them A HELPFUL NEIGHBOR It was about half past 8 when we heard haard a commotion In the hall ball I rushEd to the door and there was Walter Val Wal- Valter ter Thurston covered with snow pale and panting from the exertion holding holdIng hold hold- Ing Tom rom on one sIde while the elevator elevator ele- ele vator boy held the other Oh Tom I gasped Is he hurt I asked Walter No only exhausted he replied himself speaking with difficulty We Ve got Tom In and took off his wet clothes Peggy made hot drinks and both Walter Valter and Tom drank thirstily of them Walter had dropped immediately immediately imme- imme Into a big chaIr and closed his eyes Helen hovered about hint him as she tried to get hIm to go upstairs and undress lie He was too tired to move and only shook hIs head Tom went to sleep almost immedIately but Valter Walter Val Wal- ter after 3 a little explained to us that he was sure that Tom rom would be all allI allright right in the morning that It was nothing but complete exhaustion I I stumbled over Tom in a big drift drifton on the next block he told us He had fallen man many times after leaving the subway and had so used up hIs strength Hell He'll be all rIght In the morning After he had explained how he found Tom he and Helen left us Peggy went to bed but I sat long besIde Tom whom we had md decided should not be dIsturbed thankful that lie he had come comeback comeback back to me And I made myself aU all sorts of promIses as to the things I would do for him to male make hIm happy It was nearly daylight where when final finally I 1 crawled off to bed but Tom didn't waken until noon CHAPTER 84 Pricks of Conscience We Ve kept the baby very quiet so that Tom could rest Walter Valter carne came down about 0 o'clock to see how he was I and sa said d he would stop in and tell te 11 I Mr 11 Crandell that Tom would not be down until ver very late It if at all that day I had tried several times to get him himon himon on the telephone but the wires were still down All the mornIng t I had that guilty I feeling we have when we have done w wn W to c we and that I someone is in danger I thought of my my debts and determined tl ti lH be very Ery economical to go without I possible until the were paid I would refuse to go anywhere or du do anything of which Tom disapproved Several I times I crept quietly in to look at him and each time came out more conI conscience con con- I science stricken He was very pale and the deep circleS circle'S under his eyes I showed the strain he had beEn under About noon he wakened an and insisted upon getting up He bathed and dressed then had luncheon with us After he had finished h he declared d he was gOing downtown Both Peggy and andI I tried to dissuade him but I I feel as good as new he said wily why shouldn't shou I go We Ve may be short handed too some of the boys live a long way ray out and may not be running After he left Peggy brought out her pencil and p paper per again Do you suppose we could get down downto to she asked after figuring a while I II I AN ADVENTURE I dont don't know know-I should think we I I might I replied The subway goes right there The only trouble will be getting from here to the station They rhey j have been shoveling an all the morning though and I I should think wo we might I get through Come on lets let's t try Pe Peggy gy returned I must get some of my presents off I I anti and it will be fun to go out out in in the snow The sun was shinIng brightly arid and aside from the enormous pills s of snow in the street the blizzard of the night before might have been a dream We Ve dressed In heavy high boots and rubbers snort short skirts and jackets so that we e could wade through the drifts it if necessary Then we started out Men with shovels an were everywhere Peggy thought It a great lark to walk between piles of snow sno higher than her head while I kept thinking of Tom What If Walter Valter had not fallen over him One of th those se piles might have covered hips I shuddered dered derd at the thought thought-I have hated snow ever eer since that night Ye We finally reached the subway It I was crowded even then I wIth men going gO- gO gOI I Ing down to busIness All streetcars Here rere stopped an and it was impossible I for either taxies or horse cabs to get along I was glad to leave leavo the crowded crowd crowd- ed cars at nut But nothIng could quench Peggys Peggy's gay spirits e eJust Just as we went inside of the store 3 c then saw a w her hel I I I I stoop and pick somethIng up from the floor Here young oung lad lady give me that a coarse looking woman exclaimed I just dropped it I looker looke at Peggy Pegs who ho held square pocketbook in n her hand and andI gazed doubtfully from It to the wom woman ln who had spoken and who 1 noticed carried a silk handling handbag FINDINGS IS KEEPINGS It may be yours I dont don't say it isn't Peggy finally returned But I shall not mit give it up unless you describe the contents Ill I'll call a floorwalker and You ou can tell him him what Is in it Then J. J well we'll open it and If It b be C wh why Ill I'll gladly give it to t With an oath and a lo look i plaInly t that at she would kill dared the woman crowded store 3 hear s Did you ever su Peggy asked Come on l It t the ladies ladies' dressing room a Ive I've found I dont don't to anyone but the rightful I followed Peggy very mt ml Suppose she had fo money money j Tomorrow Tomorrow Christmas tm i |