New Britain Herald Newspaper, February 25, 1921, Page 8

The Macintoch Red Jim's worrying didn't lle me especlally. I'd let rry, and then I'd cheer ppose butter had gone ty-hine cents,” I'd say, u@u fifty cents tomor- im, smile!™ wt time 1 talked like that would smile if only to de, but there he sat, star- ter check, glummer than #oon found out he liked things I sald, thouxh the trouble to show it. ¥ & harder working man He and Ned Blake the best farms in town e 26 and started out to ald pay off the mortgage ehow or other, as the on Ned kept $100 or so s payments. It was sort for Jim always had his mortgage, and to hear ING & CO. have ges again.” ! Again?’ Jack Belew his chalr and took an the office. “They cut oug? manager; he's trying that's what he Is. Why, Irun‘( us if this keeps sell at such prices.” what he’s after—to apetitor less,” grunted floomily. 1. I'm going to write letter. This thing has ‘Why, man alive, they'l) business, too. Oh, Miss & Co., city. Gentle- to your recent reduc- of Japanese lilles we wish to say that ly ruining the entire ‘e is absolutely no are to’' compete with Your new man- Ned's great rollicking laugh you'd think he never had a care in the world. 1 sald Jim was the hardest working man I knew. I suppose Ned really worked as hard, though he never made 80 many motions doing it. Living with a worrying man grew to be as exciting as a game. I found so many little ways of helping Jim. When a small blll came in that he couldn't pay just then I learned to lay it aside until I'd sold my eggs. Then, with his bill in one hand and my check in the other, he couldn’'t find much to say. But there were times when Jim got ahead of me. He saw the mail first the day he recelved the highest tax bill we ever had. That evening you'd have thought he was reading the obituaries of all his relatives instead of the dally. “Jim,” says I, looking up from the lit- tle coat I was mending, “why don’t you &0 to bed?" “I can't go to sleep if 1 0,"” groaned Jim. “We never can pay ager may be an emergetic, live wire man, but he has no brains when it comes to the bulb business, etc. Three days later Joe came in. “Hear from Fleming & Co? I can't land an order at our prices—every florist is or- dering from Fleming & Co.” He sank dejectedly into a chair. Jack's face looked llke a thunder- cloud. “Yes, I got an answer today They wish to Inform me that their new manager is contemplating’ another cut.” “I'd like to wring his neck,” was al) Joe commented. “That's nothing to what I'd do to him. Look here,” pointing to a trade journal, “here it says Fleming & Co.'s new manager is off for a vacation at the new Hot Springs Hotel and we—- watching our business go to smash.” “Jack!” Joe’s volce foretold an in- apiration, “you've got to go to that Hot Springs hotel and scrape an ac- quaintance with that fellow and talk to him. Now listen. We've finished ‘That Strange chief,” she added; as she disappeared within, Just then an overalled boy country road, as fast Ittle fat legs could him, the yellow curls ‘Winter breeze, the blue ze with mysterious 4 little Tony. When & fow yards of & pretty a tall, blue-gowned wo- at the door. you running this cold panting for breath, Dick 7 he asked at last. itle chum next door. you ought to know,” “1 am going to this afternoon, and I two to get into mis- street!” called the con- and Harvey Wilson, d in a morning paper _barely time to make a at the autocrat of the snateh up his bundle of the seat beside him, and exit, thus avolding be- his corner. On Lincoln Sing's laundry, and the best and cheap- Harvey knew. Step- laundry, he deo- to the bland Hop his balf of the ticket, @ short cut to the main office was situated. the office wero vastly ey, but he did not liment. Someway he care for girls. A pity, ‘WAs as attractive as is saying a good deal. —_ came around the cormer. Tomny rushed to him, his forefinger on his lips. Then the two youngsters walked down the road together talking in low tomes. “I tell you what,” whispered Tony, “4t you could only get that tall hat everything’d be great.” “But it might get hurt,” Dick. “Pooh!” was Tony's scornful reply. “You csgn put it right back after—" “Oh, all right,” agreed Dick, after some more urging. “But I don’'t want to lose my supper tonight. I saw Su- ventured those taxes without borrowing money.” “Well,” says I, “go to bed and per- haps you will dream of a good place to borrow some.” Pretty soon Jim threw down the paper for me to pick up and started off. Five minutes later I tip-toed into the bedroom and there he was sleeping like a child. I sup- pose ‘twasn’'t much fun worrying with no one looking on. 1'd never seen Jim so light-hearted as he was the year we had the banner apple crop. Next to Johnnie and me, Jim loved his orchard, and the pride of his heart that year was the big Mackintosh red that stood by the road- side. I tried to make Jim pick off some of the apples, but he said we nceded all the money we could get and propped up the branches until the tree looked like a centipede. Try as I would I couldn't get that tree off my mind one day when Jim went to town for grain. Half a dozen By Joclla Johnson times during the forenoon I looked out to see if it was standing in the same place, For the sixth time I was tell- ing myself how foolish I was acting when I heard a noise at the barn. ‘“Whoa, Prancer, whoa!” Johnnie was calling excitedly, and then I knew that he had forgotten again to shut the gate and was in for a good chaso after his colt. Johnnie gave a wild halloo and started in pursuit. Prancer snatched off an apple and whirled around, kicked up his heels,and made for the farther side of thelfield. Two of the props under the largest branch fell with a thud; theré was a creak and a groan and the branch lay upon the ground, the apples scattering far and wide. And in less than an hour Jim would be driving within a rod of that tree! The worst moment [ ever spent was when I saw Jim drive over the hill. [ felt as if I wanted to put my arms around 'him and comfort him as I used to my little boy when he was hurt. When Jim saw what had happened he Jjust leaned forward, staring his eyes out. Where Johnnie was I didn't know nor wished to know. I couldn’t stand it another minute and ran back to the kitchen to put the dinner on the table. Sooner than I expected Jim drove into the barn, and the next thing 1 knew he was hurrying up the back walk. I was so nervous by that time I had to run into the sitting room to collect myself. Before I'd fairly closed the door I heard Jim's voice. “Well, Martha, had quite an accident, didn’t she?’ I sank into a chair and breathed hard for a minute. Jim spoke so cheerful I was sure he'd lost his reason. “Mar- tha, Martha!” he called again. “How'd it happen?” T found Jim at the table, dishing out A Cut-Prlce Pmposal trying to bulldoze him; we've got to use other tactics. First of all, apolo- gize for your letters. Have a heart- to-héart talk with him, persuade him. see? You simply got to, Jack; it's ourt only chance; and for heavens sake get another face! Nobody will speak to you if you look that sour.” Jack went very reluctantly, Joe in the city waited for reports, at first, very patiently, and then, as only pic- ture postcards came with “having fine time, best ,wishes, Jack,” he began to fidget. After two weeks of such correspon- dence Joe was mad as a hornet. He had not sent his partner down to Hot Springs for his health, and he was go- ing after him and bring him back. sie making raspber.y tarts this morn- ing.” “Humph,” grunted Tony, contemptu- ously. “You're meant for a girl, I guess. We won't lose our supper if we're careful—anyhow, we can eat more breakfast in the morning—" “Well, I'll get the hat,” interrupted Dick, as he turned in at the gate. An hour later a tall, blue-gowned woman was serving lemonade to the members of the Ladies’ Aid. “It was the strangest creature,” demure lady was saying. “Oh, tell us about it,” smiled tho fat lady with the pompadour. “Well,” continued the first speaker, “Hope read it in her new book. You the Jack, beaming, was at the station to meet him. “Joe, old chap,” he said, and wrung his hand as though he had not seen him in a year or more. “I'm bursting with news. I know I only wrote post- als, but you'll forgive me when you hear all about it.” Joe pricked up his ears. “Joe,” his voice quivered, “I've met the most wonderful girl. Listen, I fell in love the first day I came here. Joe, I did not know such a girl existed, the most wonderful—" “By golly, my patience is at an end! What about our business—what did you come down here for, anyway—to fall in love?” Joe actually roared. “0, stop yelling, I didn't have time to tind that manager, but see here. Joe, a fellow only falls {n love once in a lifetime, and Daisy Ryers is the sweetest girl. O, well, if you won't listen, all right, then. Now that you're here you can look after that manager yourself. So long, see you at dinner.” When Joe cooled off he determined to find this Miss Ryers and explain things. “Jack has «onfided in me,” Joe, after a bit. “Yes,” interrupted Daisy “we're engaged.” Joe was a little taken aback. “I must congratulate hlm, mured. “You see,” bungled Joe, very much embarrassed, and really hot knowing began sweetly, he mur- By Algia Frances Brooks. see, she's been interested in some new ‘ology’ and she's been reading all about it. This was a new animal just discovered in India. It was very in- teresting, with a high, flat back, a very tiny tail, and almost no perceptible head. It “Merc cried the postmaster’s lit- tle wife in the bombazine dress, look- ing out the window. “What's that in the road?” All eyes turned towards the road, and the strange animal was forgotten. “Why, Mrs. Dolan!” exclaimed the hostess, “It looks like a bundle some- one has dropped. And did that animal really have no head?” she asked, turn- ing to the demure lady. A few days later, he again bent his steps In the direction of Hop Sing's establishment, this time homeward bound after the day's work, to get the clean shirts and collars which should now be ready for him. The clerk smiled as be produced Harvey’'s bundle. The smile broadened as he untied the bundle and unrolied to Harvey’s astounded gaze, a black “Dinah” rag doll, a “Kewple” In a most insufficient sash, two teddy bears in indifferent repair, a train of cars, and a miscellaneous assortment of what he would bhave termed “doll duds!'” “Why."” exploded Harvey. “I never brought that junk here! Where'd I get a bundle of rag dolls and teddy bears? What've you done with my shirts and collars?” “That's your bundle,” returned the clerk. “Look at the ticket.” “Hope read three or four pages be- fore she found that the head was con- cealed under a—" “Heavens!” shrieked Mrs. “That thing just jumped!” The demure lady was vexed at the second interruption. Everyone looked toward the road; there was surely a small, dark object in the middle of the road, but was too far away to be seen distinctly. In a moment it gave a slight jump. “What did I tell you?” gasped Mrs. Dolan. N A few more gasps came from the group. The hostess rose and said she would investigate. Several started to join her, but being more timid than Dolan. Accidental Exchange Harvey looked. Apparently the facis were as stated. But where and how had he annexed that bundle? And where were his shirts? Harvey left the laundry in a state of perspiration which seriously threat- ened to add another collar to his laun- dry. Plainly, he must have exchanged his laundry bundle with somebody on the car, when he made his hasty exit. iie vaguely recalled a young woman tak- ing a seat next him, as the car filled, and putting down a bundle between them. He wished she had her old bundle! Hop Sing wouldn't keep it, and he meant to chuck it into the first dump-barrel he passed! In the trolley, homeward bound, he opened his paper, glanced over the ads. to sec how the one he had just inserted for an office boy looked, and stumbled upon this item, under “Information.” “WILL THE GENTLEMAN who ac- cidentally exchanged a bundle of laun- dry, for a package of toys, last Tues- day a. m. on the 8:30 Forest avenue car call at No. 12 Bronson street, cityr, to make exchange? “B. J. SEWALL.”’ Would he? He quickly secured a transfer which landed him at the end The Quarrel m, dear, I've , and I'm , and key, not getting any response from his four short rings, and found on the ta- ble a note. It read: “Have gone 1o meet Jerry. Will be back in time for of Bronson street and presently was confronting the prettiest girl hg had ever seen, who had answered his ring' at No. 12, “I called,” he began awkward'y “about those rag dolls—" “Oh, yes!” cried the girl. “Come right in. I know you’ll be as glad to get your laundry as my little nephews and nicces will to get the toys their cousins sent them, and which you now have.” She was bringing out the other bun- dle as she spoke, and Harvey was not- ing how womanly and sweet she was, By Parke Whitney mind like a mountain. Who was Jerry? Did Helen love him? Where wouid they spend the afternoon? Tom had se- cur-d a half holldgy as a surprise for tents. “Will be back tonight. Have taken Elsie and gone fishing,” it read. “Elsie! Who was she? Why, how could Tom do such a thing? Gone on hin rip gvith g he had nev- a big helping of squash, and I told him. “Well, it's too bad,” says Jim, with- out a quiver, “spoils the looks of the tree—killed it, mebbe—but there's more coming on. Say, Martha, Ned paid off the last cent of his mortgage today, and he looks sick.” “Sick!” was all I could say in a kind of whisper, but Jim didn't know whether I'd answered or not. “Ned drove home right ahead of me,” he went on, “and I noticed he didn’t act natural—never turned ‘round to taik and joke, as usthal, ad I thought may- be he was sick. When I couldn’t stand - it no longer I hollered and asked him what the matter wad. Thep he turned quick enough and talked right out.” “‘Jim, this is the most miserable day I've spent since I bought my farm,’ says he. ‘I told you down to the store that I'd paid off the mortgage, and I have. Jim, I've been the hap- piest man alive making a payment ev- ery year, keeping up the interest and supporting my family on what was left. It was just like a game and I'm plumb lost without it. Of course, I can spend more than I can make on farm machinery, but that ain’t like a mort- gage to keep you hustling and happy.’ Then Ned clicked up his horses never whistled once going up the lgf hill” Jim took the last hot bisc! passed the plate to me. 1 fill set it back on the table, but I could breathe a word. o Then Jim looked into my eyes sort of smiled. “Tell you what, M: tha,” he says. “We've only $150 K on our mortgage and we're not so ribly old. Guess you'd better not Ty any more about that Macintosh Didn’t happen to make &pple dun liffgs for deasert, did you?' T Behind All Around. Ezaspérated Passenger (after lo delay at wayside station)—Why you keep bétter time on this wretch line? Irish Guard (confidentially)—V now, then, ma'am, I'll explain it all ye. The train before is behind, his train was behind before besid e Uncomfortably Warm. “It is sald that paper can effectively in keeping a person w. “That’s true. I remember a th day note of mine once kept me sweat for a month.” By Phil Moore how to tell her, “You see, Miss Ryers, 1 sent him down here to find Fleming & Co.’s manager and—" “0,” iInterrupted Daisy joyously, “here comes Jack!” and ran a few steps to meet him. “I've been talking to your chum, Mr. Gray, Jack, and he's just telling me that you came - down here to find Fleming & Co.’s manager, and isn’t it nice he found the manager, Mr. Gray?” “But he didn't,” sald Joe quickly. “0, yes he did,” contradicted pretty Daisy, smiling. “Only Jack - doesn’t know it, either. I'm the manager of Fleming & Co.” Jack simply stared, dumfounded. But Joe burst out: “What? you a girl. By golly, we brave, settled back in their chairs as the tall, blue-gowned woman started toward the road. Mrs. Delan still gazed at the road. Her eyes grew big with wonder. “Do you suppose—it had a high flat back and no perceptible—" Once again the demure lady was the center of attention. “Why, perhaps—" voice. “It has a high, tured another. By this time the ladies were so ex- oited they rose as one person to go down toward the road.. Their hostess had almost reached the jumping ob- ject. She had reached it! It jerked sideways—Mrs. Dolan caught her breath! Now the tall lady stooped and reached out her hand. “How does she dare to touch it,” whispered one of the group. o Then the tall lady grasped the ob- ject, picked it up and held it aloft. Mrs. Dolan sank to the ground; the rest of the group hurried to the road. began ome shrill flat back-—" ven-, as well as pretty, and what a nice homey place No. 12 was. “I—I feel as if I owed them some- thing for disappointing them s0,” he said. ‘‘Couldn’t I bring them over some—some candy next Sunday, to make up?”’ “Oh, that would be lovely!” cried the girl. “They live at No. 44 Hope street—" “Well—you might—bring mered. and—" “I've known you by sight for some time, Mr. Wilson,” sald the girl, “but see—I—I thought—I it here—" he stam- “My name is Harvey Wilson, Helen on the couch with swollen eyes. “Well, dear,” said Tom, with a light voice and a heavy heart. “Where’s Jer- 1y, or whatever his name is?” “His? Why, Tom, you know Jerry Page. However did you misunderstand like that?" Then the light broke before Tom's mind as Geraldine Page's face stood out among the rest of the college class that Helen and he were in. “Well, dear, I certainly was (ool.l- I had for- oten all about poor J not your name. gone to work in your office, i My name is Betty Sewall. q dren—sometimes visit here Sunday tion solemnly. morning, Mrs. Blank inuuadxoiuunm. : but, then, earth are y dot ‘never thought of that!” “And as for all the silly price c} ting, Jack and I will talk it over. rather tired of managing, and m we might merge the two compay ‘What do you think, Jack?” asked D softly. “We never thought of that eith mumbled Joe to himself as hn discr ly left them alone. —_“_.._. He Was Pushed On January 3, 5, 6, 1920, I gave tice" to the public that I, Fred 'I' ‘would not be responsible MW contracted by my wite; ‘Juiia which was a mistake, as ¥ was p to doing same. I am giad to '-;yA are together again —Fred Traut. There they saw the tall lady knowing look om her face hold tall silk hat in her hand u‘ lo down at 2 huge toad “Well, of all—” squealed a m of the Laidies’ Aid. Behind the fence in the next crouched Tony and Dick. “And those raspberry tarts wil all gone by tomorrow,” sighed Di “You were meant for a girl,” ‘Tony in a voice of contempt. The Penalty. “How about that telephone drl married for love?” “The line’s still busy.” “What do you mean?” “She's doing the family washing B ey On Trial, “The officer says you used b guage.” “When he stopped me I was tantrum.” . “Never mind the make of the cay My cousin has “F'll bring the candy, then!” vo Harvey. — The jury composed entirely of en had been brought back into courtroom after 10 hours’ deliber: “And does the jury want in from me?’ asked the Jy “No, your honor. What we & pack of cards suitable for a g of bridge,” replied the forewom: ‘dry those tears before Jerry comes, she’ll soon be here, and she mu: know,” after hearing about He talk with her college friend. “No,” softly came from the hidden in Tom's coat, “Jerry er know.” Al Over. Hearing a crash of giak . ""