Life — December 3, 1898 — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

acted very queerly at times.” «How do you make him out a rascal?” I asked. ‘He didn’t take anything, and I owe him a month’s wages. We got as much as we gave. He stood the work test.” ‘+ Bother the work test!” sald Kitty, impatiently. “I didn’t mean that. Perhaps we did get all we gave. But we trusted him, and he didn’t say— say good-by.” That was all Kitty had against James. “Here's a dinner invitation from Sally Mason,” observed Kitty one morning at breakfast, several months after James had disappeared. ‘‘She says she has invited some very interesting people, most of them students of social problems.” I had had enough of social problems, and said so. “But, Tom,” she pleaded, ‘we ought to go. We haven’t been there for ages, Besides, we ought to be grateful to Sally. If she hadn't asked me to that dinner when I met you—don’t you remember?” I remembered. and we went. III. E arrived just on the hour, and when we went down, Sally, between looks at the clock, told us that she was waiting for but one more guest. Kitty was in her element. I was doing my best to tell a girl, who bad made a study of the slums of London, what Kitty bad told me about the slums of New York, when the bell rang, and a moment later the portieres parted, and there, in evening dress, stood our James / Completely flabbergasted, I looked to Kitty for help. I was too late. Sally was presenting our ~an- of-all-work to her guests, and before I could catch Kitty’seye he was bowing toher. When my turn came I bowed stiffly, and expected James to show some signs of recognition. He remarked, without the slightest trace of embarrassment, that be was very glad to meet me, and began discuss- ing atmospheric conditions with Sally. I didn't catch the name she gave, and I could have choked the man for his impudence, “Now,” chirped Sally, ‘we'll go out. Doctor, will you give your arm to Mrs. Jackson?” Kitty looked a bit chilly, but she was equal to the occasion, and took the arm James offered with the quiet dignity that characterized him when he shoveled out our ashes. “Come, Tom,” eaid Sally, and in a dazed con- dition I went out to dinner, vaguely realizing that Kitty was preceding on the arm of our former hired man, and wondering how he had managed to work Jack Mason for a dinner. “For heaven's sake! who is that man with “Completely fabbergasted, I looked to Kitty for help." Kitty?” I managed to whisper to Sally as we sat down. “Why, don’t you know him?” ehe explained, ‘* That's Doctor J. Mortimer Stubbs. He's awfully io- teresting. He bas just completed a book called ‘Personal Investiga- tions in all Social Classes.’ He spent several years getting the material, and they say it’s one of the best things that has cver been done.” “I think I have met him some. where,” I answered. The truth suddenly dawned on me. Kitty and I had been investigated accord- ing to the latest method. * * * . Kitty and Doctor J. Mortimer Stubbs sat at the other end of tho table, too far away from me to hear their conversation. After a few chilly moments, I noticed that they brightened up and appeared very much interested ineach other. After the ladies had gone I took the vacant chair be- side the Doctor, and, offering him a match, asked : “Stubbs, don’t you think you owe me an explanation? I don’t object to furnishing material for ecience, but what in the world did you find in my house? ” “I do,” answered the Doctor, gracefully, ‘‘and an apolugy for leaving you so rudely. I have apologized to Mrs. Jackson. I assure you that I intended to call and explain myself. My applica- tion for work at your home was accidental. I bad lived with tramps, beggars, thieves, and all the other discontented classes, when it oc- comicbooks.com