Are you sick ?" "No, I ain't sick, Fanny," Andrew said; then in a low voice, "Let me go, I will tell you by-and-by." "No, Andrew, you have got to tell me now.

I'm goin' to know whatever has happened." "Wait till after supper, Fanny." "No, I can't wait.

Look here, Andrew, you are my husband, and there ain't no trouble that can come to you in this world that I can't bear, except not knowin'.

You've got to tell me what the matter is." "Well, keep quiet till after supper, then," said Andrew.

Then suddenly he leaned his face close to her and whispered with a hiss of tragedy, "Lloyd's shut down." Fanny recoiled and looked at him.
"When ?" "The foreman gave notice to-night." "For how long?
Did he say ?" "Oh, till business got better--same old story.