Show I m Husban San i audI and I Ji J ne PI CHAPTER Tom Acknowledges He May Have Made a Mistake No bright clever pretty woman is ever at a loss for company he returned returned re- re turned just as the luncheon was served I Claire Hnderson Henderson and her escort finished finIshed fin fin- long before we did They rhey were obliged to pass us on their way out As they went by us Claire leaned toward me and said very low If you dont don't tell I wont ont Carol Carot heard her and laughed mer- mer rn rily What did she mean I asked Tt Tell 11 whom Oh she was just jolting joking I imagine imagine im- im agine he returned though I saw a peculiar look 1001 in his eyes She couldn't tell anything about you because because be- be cause yOur husband knows you are here She meant for me not to tell her husband I exclaimed Why does I she come here with anyone she fears to tell her husband about 1 Do you OU always tell te your husband nd he asked quizzically Nearly always and and- andI I hesitated Tom had found fault with me for lunching with Carol Would he be cross cros today in spite ot of being himself invited But not always Carol returned with no a glance I did not understand I dont don't think I was more Ignorant more foolish than most girls brought up as asI asI I had been but I was no match for this blase man ot of the world was not able to cope with him in any way lie He seemed to me then just the best most unselfish friend a man or woman could have I classed him with Everett Crandell endowing him with the same fine ideals etc p pIt It was 3 o'clock when he sent me home in his limousine pleading business business busi- busi ness as an excuse for not accompanyIng accompany accompany- Ing me Your little outing seems to have done you good Tom remarked when he came home to dinner I haven't seen you look so bright since Vera came Oh I had such a nice time T Tom m It was too bad you couldn't join us Wasn't it nice of Mr Blacklock to ask you No nicer than it was to ask you Tom laughed as he kissed me and patted V a who was lying on my lapI lapI lap I begin to think Ive I've been mistaken in Blacklock lIe used to be pretty wild hut but I guess as hes he's grown ol older er he h has changed Oh Im I'm sure he Isn't a bit wild as lIe visits with I you ou call It I returned would And or anyone me just as you when I Iam Iam he never drinks not anything am along anyway I added sorry I had mentioned drinking when I saw Tom flush By common consent we had neither ot of us ever mentioned that awful night when Tom came home drunk but neither ot of us had forgotten it lIe used to be I I am glad ot of that called a great champagne drinker Tom replied trying to speak naturally natu- natu rally I dont don't believe he Is any more lie He asked me to have some that day I lunched with him before but when I told him I never t took olt anything to drink he didn't order or er any even for himself A RESTRAINED IMPULSE We Ve had a lovelY luncheon I enthused en- en and Frery's was just crowded I dont don't believe there was a vacant table by halt half past one And I was about to speak of Claire Henderson then caught myself Perhaps she had been in earnest In her desire that I should not tell that she was lunching there She might have had some particular rea- rea son Anyway I tried to be ca cai ful about what I said fald anent Toms Tom's wealthy acquaintances lIe He always scolded me for trying to ape them and I constantly constant constant- ly longed to be like them to do as they did wear the same expensive clothes I and entertain in the same fashion II What were you ou about to say Tom Tom I questioned onlY only to tell you how won I dt the women were dressed I I parried When do you suppose you will get another raise I You should have m married a millionaire millionaire million million- aire Sue instead ot of a poor fellow like me me Tom rejoined putting his arm around me as we walked into dinner Be patient girlie Well We'll get there some that day is If we keep out of debt and arent aren't too extravagant That was the way Toms Tom's speeches always ended It If we weren't extravagant and it if we kept out of debt and I wanted to tobe tobe be only extravagant I didn't call it that and wanted accounts In the different different dif dif- ferent stores I could manage then I thought the same as I did with the I tr tradesmen desmen by paying each one a little II I each month But when I had only Bimble's Bim- Bim bles ble's account and had to buy everything everything every every- thing unless there I had the cash I couldn't manage at all Bimble too too had dunned me pretty severely the last month I was beginning beginning begin begin- ning to be worried about his when bill I thought ot of it at all aU A FAVOR I II I had said nothing to Tom anent a larger apartment for weeks but he be W. W was wasso as asso so good natured I thought the time propitious So after we were seated at atthe atthe the table I commenced Would an apartment nt with one ne m more e room cost very much more than this one Tom I Why yes I think the real estate agents figure about 10 a room ex- ex tra But the locality and the kind of apartment makes maltes the price In the fIrst place This one we are living in In It if it were further down town and in a good locality would be at least 76 or 80 I hope you haven't got that bee In your bonnet Sue It If you have you might as well get it out at once We Ve cannot afford another cent for rent But We really need another room now Tom Why we wont won't have a place to put a soul If your mother or mine or Peggy or anyone should visit us wed we'd have to hang them up on a hook The two children n will have to have the spare room Dont cross cross a bridge until you come cometo cometo to it Sue We Ve are not apt to haVe Kaye much company It If mother should come or any ot of your girl friends Ill I'll sleep on the couch in the living room It is very comfortable and they could bunk in with you But that is such a cheap way todo to I do l' l complained I The scowl I dreaded appeared on Toms Tom's forehead and I changed the subject but I had not changed my mind The very next morning I ran up to see Helen and told her I had come to ask asle a favor What Is it nothing I cant can't grant I hope Only that you wm will stay with Norah and the baby for a couple of hours this afternoon I returned Of Of course I will and be delighted to I thought Tom rom was the sweetest baby I ever saw but Vera is just as as dear Isn't it nice that the carriage Is In such good order you ou wont won't have much to buy for her That's Thal's one advantage advantage ad- ad vantage In having them so nearly an age |