read the contents of the sealed envelope I gave her, which Constance had given me and nodded her head savagely. "Well, it's about time I had some help around here", she said. "Mr. Vickers is laid up for a few days and I'm worn out trying to keep house and take care of him and what can you do without a maid? Both Hilda and Fanny left to go to work in a war plant. Orville, Constance sent you just in time to save me from a breakdown." Her words, crisp and brittle, fell on me like little pellets. I was confused and disappointed. Apparently I was expected to do some work around here. Without giving me time to rest up from my trip, Mrs. Vickers picked up my suitcase and hustled me into a small room against the kitchen. It had room only for a bed and dresser. These were to be my quarters while I stayed with my wife's parents.

"Now, you hurry and get your things off while I hunt you up some work clothes", she said. Before I had removed any- thing but my coat and shirt, she was back with a large pile of clothes and shoes which she threw on the bed. "These be- longed to Hilda and Fanny and I'm sure they will fit you." She selected a dress, slip, shoes and cotton stockings from the profusion and offered them to me. "I'm sorry, Orville, but I couldn't find a girdle or panties. we can get them later".

I stared blankly. Quite seriously, my mother-in-law's tention was that I don these feminine garments. "What' the idea of the masquerade?", I asked. "Are we going to play games?" Mrs. Vickers clucked impatiently. "Young man, you'll learn that I'm not to be trifled with. Hurry and get into those clothes, I say. We have too much to do around here to stand about gabbing nonsense".

"All right, all right!" I said, a little frightened at her menacing glare. "Just explain why you want me to work in women's clothes". She glowered angrily like a long, thin hawk. "You came here to escape the draft, didn't you? You don't expect an able bodied man can stay around here indefinitely without questions being asked, do you?"