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Show The Fiction IRONCLAD EXCUSE Richard H. Wilkinson Corner SHORTLY AFTER his marriage to Lynn Harvey it became evident evi-dent to Burt Englewood that his wife was a procrastinator of the first order. This was annoying because Burt was used to order and system and routine and regular schedules. He had definite time for doing things, and he did them as planned. He was never late for an appointment, and never left articles of clothing strewn around. He never set over until tomorrow things that could be done today. Despite his annoyance, Burt tried to be fair. He realized that there must be I certain things 3 -Minute about his own Cintinn habits that proved I ricnon distr acting to Lynn. And so, instead of complaining, he endeavored en-deavored to discover his own faults and rectify them in the hopes that she would take notice and try to improve her own deficiencies. But no matter to what ends he went his endeavors and sacrifices made no impression whatever on Lynn. She continued blithely to and angry expression. "Burt Englewood! Engle-wood! You think that! Of all things! Why, I can't believe it! And I have been trying to improve, too. Only only I haven't been feeling well lately. I've even thought of going go-ing to a doctor." "Doctor!" Burt scoffed. "You don't need any doctor. What you need is a little backbone and ambition! ambi-tion! You're just downright lazy, and I don't mind telling you it's getting on my nerves." pOR A MONTH THINGS were serene. And then one day Burt came home and found Lynn asleep on the living room couch, and the breakfast dishes still in the sink and dinner not yet started. He woke her roughly. "Well, what's your iron-clad excuse ex-cuse this time? Have a pain in your foot or something?" "No," said Lynn, "it's in my side. I don't know what it is, Burt. Besides, 1 was dreadfully tired. I'm awfully sorry." "Tired? Lazy, you mean!" Lynn sighed and started for the kitchen. "All right, Burt. I'm sorry sor-ry you don't believe me." Burt was mightily pleased with himself. Moreover, it gave him a certain feeling of superiority, appeased ap-peased his vanity. Thus having satisfied himself that Lynn was once and for all definitely cured and having promised himself that he would never again break down when she offered her excuses, It was something of a shock to return home two days later and find her stretched full length on the couch. "Well," he roared, "what is this, a game? There's plenty to be done around here, yet you seem to find time enough to take a snooze. Just what is your excuse this time? Now don't tell me you're sick or something. That gag's worn out." But Lynn didn't move. She lay there, very still. And presently Burt came nearer, bent down to peer at her face. A horrible, sickening sick-ening fear clutched at his heart; a wretched sense of shame and guilt and self-condemnation. For Lynn had an iron-clad excuse ex-cuse at last that was flawless. procrastinate, aim uie waae umv cence with which she accomplished it fairly caused Burt to writhe. At length he was driven to complaint. The occasion was provoked by a bureau drawer void of socks when Burt was in sore need of these articles ar-ticles of apparel. "Good heavens, Lynn!" he blurted. "I own two dozen pairs of the things. Certainly there must be one washed and mended." Lynn's eyes widened. She looked apologetic and contrite. "Darling! I'm so sorry. I intended in-tended to finish them up last night, but as you know, the Westlands dropped in and I simply couldn't." Which was true. After awhile Burt began to suspect sus-pect his wife of strategy, of manufacturing manu-facturing excuses for the sole pur- "... You're just downright lazy, and I don't mind telling you it's getting on my nerves." pose of evading the inconvenience of household duties. He began to suspect her of being lazy. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became and presently present-ly he accused her openly. Lynn looked at him with a hurt |
