Argosy, Volume XXIII — Index Page, 1897 — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

A TALE OF TWO HOTELS. 767 Three o’clock and no husband. ‘‘If I had some money, I’d eat alone,’’ she thought. | A brilliant idea! She caught a bell boy who was passing and sent word to the office that Mrs. Jack of Boston wished five dollars. “We don’t know the lady,’’ came back the answer. Mrs. Jack felt mortified enough to cry. Self preservation is the first law of nature, and Mrs. Jack did not propose to die of starvation. She wrote on one of her cards: “ Dear Doctor, Jack /nas been detained down town and I am famished ; please send me five dollars.’’ Calling a bell boy, she despatched him with this missive to the dentist, with instructions to bring an answer. It was about six o’clock. Mrs. Jack had spent the time staring out of the window in hopes of seeing her missing husband. What a beastly day she had had, instead of the one of pleasure she had anticipated. ‘I wonder if he’s been run over,’’ she sobbed, as the idea occurred to her, and visions of her husband’s athletic form nicely quartered by the cable car floated before her. ‘The idea was too harrowing and she threw herself upon a sofa and cried heartily. , “‘ My dear, you are in trouble; can’t I help you,’’ said a kind, motherly voice, and looking up, Mrs. Jack saw a neat looking old lady bending over her. ‘’ My husband is lost ; do you think he’s been run over?”’ ‘“ Don’t worry, my dear; he has been detained on business, no doubt.’’ ‘* But it is after six o’clock, and people don’t work so late, even in those dingy law offices,’’ she sobbed. _ ‘I beg your pardon, but does your husband drink?” asked the old lady. Now there had been just one spot on the little woman’s domestic horizon, and the old lady had laid it bare. Shortly after their marriage some of Jack’s bachelor friends had called in -the evening and they had emptied the decanter drinking to Jack’s happiness. Jack, who seldom touched spirits, was quite ill after they left, and his wife cried herself to sleep. “Ive married a drunkard,’”’ she thought, ‘‘afd it won’t be long before he’ll come home and break up the furniture and beat me-—maybe murder me.’’ Jack had been dreadfully penitent the next day, and she had never seen him indulge since. She began to be uneasy, but determined that the stranger should not see it. ‘“ My husband does not drink,’’ she answered, somewhat unsteadily. ‘‘ With such a pretty little wife as you, he surely would have eyes for no other woman,’’ continued the comforter. Oh, that widow! I’m sure she came down on the same train,’’ thought Mrs. Jack. ‘‘ To think that Jack would treat me so. I never want to see him again. I shall go right home and pack up and leave him forever.” ‘‘ I wish I had never seen the Imperial Hotel,’’ she said aloud. ‘“ Why, have you been over to the Imperial ?’’ asked the old lady. ‘‘ Over to the Imperial? Isn’t this the Imperial?” gasped Mrs. Jack. COMMIE NOK KS =) (<(@)