He had elaborated his theory in the spare moments of twenty-four hours devoted to arranging his affairs at the office so that he could be gone for an indefinite period. His first impulse had been to take the train and let his job go hang; but a young man who has just discovered that he is a husband realizes the significance of a job in its relation to his marriage. If he failed in his errand, the job did not matter; but it mattered very much if he succeeded.... And yet—he could not explain his predicament to any one; his very dignity as a husband was bound up in his not admitting that anything had gone wrong with his marriage. He had to think up some plausible lie to tell the managing editor. His play—Los Angeles—the moving pictures—five thousand dollars—a chance to direct it personally ... a lie like that was the sort of thing people liked to believe. The mention of five thousand dollars ought to convince any managing editor.... And it did. The afternoon before he took the train, Felix had gone to see old Mrs. Perk at the Community House Theatre. She was still there, sewing costumes. He threaded a needle for her. They gossiped for a while. Then he asked her suddenly, “Granny Perk, did you ever run away from your husband?” A delicious smile of reminiscence stole over her plump old face. “Yes, bless your heart, I did!” she said. It was as if he had recalled to her some exquisite and delicious adventure. She shook her head. “I was young,” she said, as if that explained much. “I was a girl as liked to have my own way. And so,” she said proudly, “one day, I took the bit in my teeth and ran away!” She put her chin in her plump hand and contemplated her memories. “It sounds very exciting,” said Felix. “Exciting’s no name for it,” said Granny Perk. “It was just regular sinful!” “What did you do, Granny Perk?” he asked curiously. She straightened up, and looked at him severely. “I wouldn’t be putting ideas into the heads of young folks that are well brought up and content with things as they find them,” she said. “Nowadays the boys and girls talk as they should not, but they behave proper enough. It was different in my time. I wouldn’t say Boo to a goose—but I was a wild one for all that. But I’m not one to corrupt the youth of the land. So ask me no questions!” “Tell me one thing,” said Felix. “What did your husband do when you ran away?” “Why, he came after me, to be sure, and brought me home.” “And you lived happily ever after?” asked Felix, laughingly. “Oh, well now, I guess we got along as well as most,” she said. “I’ve nothing to complain of....”