SHE EARNED HER HALF.

Evening Star, Issue 11676, 7 February 1902, Page 8

SHE EARNED HER HALF.

“ I thongbt you had given up betting on the horse races?” said Mrs De Tompkins to her lord and master on his return from “ business ” the other afternoon. “ I trust you haven’t wavered in the belief,” said Mr De Tompkins. Ignoring the remark, the wife quietly allied: “ How much did you win on Ben Brush?” “Look here, madam,” said her husband, angrily, “ if you’ve been spying on my ac Rons, or hiring any laxly to dog my steps, all I have to say is, you might bo more profitably employed." “ Don’t get excited, Frederick. I have neither the money nor the inclination to employ detectives. It isn’t necessary. 1 have merely used tho method which you ridicule. Yon know yon have called the Sherlock Holmes stories absurd? ” “ What’s that got to do with it? ” “Everything, my dear. You got off the ’bus before it had fairly stopped. (I saw you from the window.) That meant that you were feeling well and in good spirits. You spoke cheerily to Julia on tho stairs, and even patted little Mary’s head. Instead of setting your cane down in the rack with a thump, you let it fall gingerly into its place. I observe even now, as you are washing your hands, that there are four cigars cropping out of your vest pocket. Now, look at your coat; there is chalk on tho sleeve. And what is this on the back? Tho plain mark of four fingers and a thumb. Do you deny that it is the mark of that good for-nothing Major Sportley’s hand, or that he struck you a hearty blow on the hack in the billiard room when the news that Ben Brush had won came in over the tape? ” “ Good gracious,” said Mr De Tompkins, “You’re a wonder. But”—suddenly—“why do you think it was Ben Brush? ”

“ Ah, Freddie, dear,” said Mrs De Tompkins, sweetly, “ when you leave your morning newspaper in your chair at the breakfast table, with the sporting page turned outside, .you shouldn’t make a hole with your toothpick through the name of the horse you fancy most. Now, Freddie, how much was it, and how much do I get? ”