JENNIE'S MAN .sx JENNIE RYDER knelt on the hearth-rug in front of the kitchen fire , her little hands resting on the fender in front of her , so that the firelight glimmered on the gold of her wedding-ring .sx A thrillingly new ring it was , for barely three months ago handsome Dan Ryder had it on to Jennie's slim finger in the church that stood in the centre of the mining village .sx And the young bride's soft eyes were full of happy dreams as she down at the narrow gold circle .sx " Dan and I , together - always together !sx " it had seemed to say to her during those first months of her married life .sx But now it had an even sweeter message .sx " Dan and I - and one other !sx " had been the words ringing in Jennie's ears for the last few days , and to-night she was going to break the news to Dan .sx The secret would seem even more wonderful once she had shared it with him , she thought happily , as she knelt there , hoping that he would come in in good time , the supper was all freshly cooked and hot .sx An extra special supper it was , for this was Jennie's birthday , the first spent in the new home , and she and Dan were celebrating the occasion .sx " We won't go out , " she had decided .sx We'll just spend the evening quietly at home and I'll cook a cosy little meal .sx " And then , when she had discovered that this evening Dan was supposed to be playing in the third round of the billiard tournament at the Miners' Club , she had insisted that he should go , rather than scratch and lose his chance of the prize .sx So they had had a hurried tea as soon as he got home from the pit , and then he had changed and gone straight to the club , while Jennie went ahead with the supper - pork chops , a favourite dish of Dan's - with chipped potatoes , green peas , and apple sauce , and a gooseberry pie to follow .sx " There , that looks really birthdayish , " she decided when she had the table and was setting out two orange-coloured serviettes , which just matched the bowl of flaming gold marigolds in the centre of the white cloth .sx And then , while everything was cooking , she had run upstairs and slipped into her new , home-made pink dress , so becoming to little bride , who smiled happily at her own reflection in the mirror as she clasped a necklace - Dan's birthday present - around her neck .sx " Oh , it's going to be a lovely evening , " she had been thinking as she hurried down again , dished up the vegetables , and then settled herself by the fire to wait for Dan .sx " Half-past seven - he'll be here any minute now , " she decided , as the grandfather clock in the corner of the kitchen chimed the half-hour .sx And for the next few minutes she sat listening for the lifting of the latch .sx However , instead of the familiar sound , there came a loud rap at the back door , and Jennie made a grimace as she scrambled to her feet .sx " Mrs Pye - I know her knock , " she thought , and went , rather reluctantly , to the door , for she was not very fond of her garrulous neighbour .sx " I'll hurry her off , " Jennie decided , as she drew the bolt .sx But the stout little woman who stood at the door was not so easily disposed of , and she had been chattering volubly for several minutes before she explained the reason of her visit .sx " Would Jennie lend her an egg ?sx She was doing a bit of baking this evening , her husband being out , and she'd just discovered - " .sx But Jennie had flown to her store cupboard without waiting to hear more , and was just picking out the largest egg in her box when she discovered , rather to her annoyance , that Mrs Pye had calmly followed her through the little scullery and into the kitchen , and was looking at her curiously .sx " Quite festive , aren't you ?sx " she suggested inquisitively , with a jerk of her head towards the table .sx " Yes .sx As a matter of fact , it's my birthday , " Jennie explained briefly .sx " Dan will be back any minute ; he's slipped down to the club .sx " " Well , I wish you many happy returns of the day , " Mrs Pye broke in .sx " But where did you say Dan was - down at the club ?sx I'd not let him go there too often if I was you .sx There's a deal of gambling going on - 'tisn't allowed , of course - but some of the men get together in the back room .sx Joe Deakin is going around there these days - an old pal of your Dan's , isn't he ?sx - and you know the name he has for gambling .sx And , of course , seeing that Dan has a weakness that way - " .sx " Dan never gambles now .sx He gave it all up before we were engaged , " Jennie interrupted sharply .sx " Oh , a lad who's courting 'ill do anything to please the girl he's after , but when she's married to him it's a different matter - you'll be finding that out soon , " commented Mrs Pye , with a hunch of her fat shoulders .sx " No offence meant .sx I'm only warning you .sx " Two lights blazed up in Jennie's eyes then , and her slim back stiffened as she answered steadily - " Thank you , Mrs Pye , but I don't need any warning .sx I trust Dan - absolutely .sx " Very quiet her voice was , but something in both tone and manner had the effect of subduing Mrs Pye , who took the egg and made off , with a rather hasty good-evening , leaving Jennie alone , with only the ticking of the clock , for company .sx " Tick !sx Tack !sx Tick !sx Tack !sx " it went on .sx Steadily her fingers moved on , and still there was no Dan .sx And by a quarter-past eight an anxious look had crept into Jennie's eyes .sx She trusted her man - of course she did - she reminded herself again and again .sx But , all the same , with Mrs Pye's words ringing in her ears , she couldn't help remembering how terribly keen he had been on gambling at one time .sx With a little shiver , his wife recalled the time when he had joined Joe Deakin and other old associates , and had spent an evening gambling recklessly .sx The worst thing of all had been the fact that Bob , Jennie's young brother , had been with him , and when her father got to hear of it there had been a terrible row .sx " I'll have no gamblers around my house .sx " Adam Green had stormed , and , despite Jennie's tears and entreaties , he had flatly forbidden her to have anything more to do with Dan Ryder - until her mother had intervened .sx " Darling mums !sx " Jennie thought lovingly , remembering how the gentle little woman had pleaded - " Give the lad another chance Adam .sx Jennie's fond of him , and there's a deal of good in him .sx " So , in the end , Dan had been put on probation .sx " You keep clear of the gambling for six months - and after that we'll see , " had been Mr Green's ultimatum .sx And Dan had come through the ordeal well , and by the end of the six months had so thoroughly redeemed his wild reputation that Jennie was allowed to become engaged to him .sx And after a two years' wait they were married , and had come to live in this dear house .sx But to-night there was a shadow over her happiness .sx Dan was dreadfully late , for the clock had moved on to twenty to nine now - and Jennie was just wondering nervously whether there could have been an accident , when at last she heard the front door open .sx " Sweetheart , I'm so sorry to be late , " were her husband's first words as he burst into the kitchen and strode over to her , looking very tall and slim in the firelight .sx But for all the cheery , familiar greeting , Jennie heard the slightly uneasy note in his voice , and before he took her in his arms she had noticed that his lean , boyish face was rather pale , and wore a strained look .sx " Dan , what's the matter ?sx What kept you ?sx " she asked anxiously , and felt more bothered than ever when he answered hurriedly - " Oh , nothing's the matter .sx I'm awfully sorry to be late , but I - I met a fellow at the club , and had to stop with him .sx It was business , and very important , or I wouldn't have stayed on - " .sx " What sort of business , Dan ?sx " Jennie inquired slowly , and the little frown between her straight brows became more marked as her husband said in the same evasive way , " Oh , nothing that would interest you .sx I can't tell you anyway , because I've promised not to say anything to anyone .sx Now , then , Mrs Twenty-Two , what about this supper ?sx The smell's enough to make a fellow hungry .sx " The last words were obviously intended to change the subject , and , with a brief sigh , Jennie moved away and began to put the dishes on the table , saying quietly , " The chops are rather dried up , I'm afraid .sx I can't help that .sx " " Of course not - it's all my fault - and , anyway , they look fine !sx " Dan broke in , and then suddenly , holding her close as he kissed her , whispered , " Darling , I'm no end sorry .sx I was dying to get back to you , only this was so beastly important .sx You'll forgive me , won't you ?sx " " Course I will , " Jennie whispered back , and then held his cheek against hers as she added , " Dan , I'm going to ask you something .sx Don't be hurt - and whatever you do don't think I'm not trusting you - only - a horrid little worry has been bothering me , and I want you to drive it all away .sx You - you haven't been gambling at all , have you , Dan ?sx " She felt him stiffen at the question , and then there came a pause , a horrid , doubtful pause , before he answered rather hoarsely , " No , Jen , I - I haven't .sx " But somehow , all the evening , while they were eating their supper and chatting together , and afterwards , when they sat hand in hand and she whispered her secret of secrets , a tiny shadow lay back against her heart .sx And the feeling of something unpleasant having happened was still with her when she woke to the " whirr " of the alarm clock , and mechanically stretched out her hand to switch it off .sx And then , suddenly , she remembered .sx Dan .sx The club .sx The question he had answered so curtly .sx Of course , that was it .sx " And - oh , what a silly little thing to worry about !sx I dare say I imagined that he was queer , and , anyway , if he was , it was probably because he was hurt at my asking him at all , " she decided .sx " It's queer how tremendously important little worries like that seem in the night .sx And she was smiling when she slipped out of bed a few minutes later and dressed herself quietly - not that there was much fear of waking Dan .sx He was a very sound sleeper , and always slumbered peacefully through the alarm , and Jennie's lips twitched humorously as she remembered his resolution of the previous evening , made just after she had told him the great news .sx " I shall get up and light the fire and fetch you a cup of tea in the morning now , " he had insisted .sx " And I'll do my share in the evenings , too .sx You're not to overtire yourself , sweetheart .sx " " Why , darling , you have always done your share , " Jennie had answered tenderly , adding whimsically to herself , " But as to getting up in the mornings - well we'll see !sx " And she was still smiling as she slipped round to her husband's side of the bed and stood gazing down at him lovingly .sx Such a boy he looked , with his bright hair , all ruffled and thick , fair lashes resting on his bronzed cheek , and Jennie , suddenly heartily ashamed of that horrid , little , nagging suspicion , bent and dropped a light kiss on his head .sx In the same cheery mood she went about her morning tasks , and at a quarter-past seven went upstairs again and woke Dan , a dismayed , penitent Dan , who was quite horrified to find that he had overslept after all .sx " You ought to have wakened me - I told you to , " he scolded .sx But Jennie's only answer to that was to ruffle his hair into an even more unruly mop .sx