The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-29
CYNTHY HNN BOMKER'S STRANGE GUEST.
BY FRANK w. SAGE.
Copyright. 1856, by the Bachelor syndicate.l


keep, | reckon"
Having discharged this mission, Sol
returned leisurely to report to the
stranger cheering news of his success.
''Ef you see me lean my hoe agen the
fence, you may know it's bargain"
he had said to Cynthy Ann at parting.
ITS all settled, but you're not to go
nigh the house fer an hour. She pinted-
ly told me to tell you she would't be
drove fer the president himself l had
a wras'lin' match with her. you better
believe. Mighty nigh give it up, once.
You see she was sewin' one O them
piece-Quilts she's SO crazy about, an
when Cynthy Ann Bowker is busy at
work o that kind, it's about like tryin
to whistle a hog out of Il sweet-per-
tater patch to git her to lay it down.
But you see l sort o let on about the
nuisance q people comm round an pes
term fer favorS at unhandy times, an
doubtin' whether you'd got the price of
a meal o vittles about you, an things
like that 'till I'd got her a-pulin' con-
traireywise. An now she's got started
an no stoppin her. She'll jes' try her.
self, an fix you out with luXurics o
llIt SttiHbli, lIblll tpl W NNtt'iiii
cake, | reckon"
Sol bent himself, laughing immoder-
ately at the drollness of this impromptu
concert. Then, suddenly bethinking
himself, he delivered the cookies. she
thought you mightnt be able to wait"
he explained. The man gave Il queer
smile. but accepted the gift with be-
coming humility. Sol leaned his hoe
against the fence and stopped to re-
move an imaginery pebble from his
shoe. Then the guestto-be retired to
the shade of a towering sycamore ON
Il creek bank near by, to heguilc the
interval of waiting with newspaper.
IL don't properly recall your name"
said Sol, inquiringly, as he ushered the
supplicant for Cynthy AIMS favor into
the dining-room.
Brown" said the guest, simply. and
as his hostess, heated and perspiring,
came in at the moment from the kitch-
en-, he bowed smiling, before Sol could
formally introduce him.
IT'S too bad to put you to so much
trouble, Miss Bowker," he apologized,
glancing at the bountifully furnished
table with look of appreciation which
spoke at the same time sincere concern
for the labor ii had cost her. Il fear I
have imposed on your good nature.
really must apologize for allowing you
to undertake such Il task, this warm
day"
1T amt the trouble, ef things was
only cooked right" Cynthy Ann replied,
IN, Tl,a of
faded from her features under the touch
of his sympathy. "There's times when
I'm that flustered. like I'VE been since
the accident, that I can't cook fit fer
section-hand. Speakin' o that, | want
you to tell me. Sol Adams, what ails
them biscuits"
A curious smile lurking behind the air
of mystery which invested this query.
suggested that the solution of the prob
lem would be found to shed light upon
various indeterminate factors which
operate frequently to battle the cooks
calculations.
Being thus expressly challenged to
pass judgment. Sol seated himself at
respectful distance from the table, but
tered a biscuit and nibbled at it with n
profound ratiocination far removed
from any suggestion of animal appetite.
Mr.. Brown and Cynthy Ann awaited
breathlessly the verdict. After a mo-
ment Cynthy Ann broke the silence.
Il see you amt maxim no headway,
Sol. No, it amt the Jumps in the flour,
ner the mite too much sody. though
them faults / kin notice if you can't.
Well, then. | reckon I'll have to tell you,
men is such poor guesscrs. it's the lower
,crust's bcin' speck underdone. I'd
ought to left the pan settin' on the bot
tom of the oven half n minute longer.
IF I'd "a had time I'd "a slung the hull
ba tch out to the chickens an begun all
over. But they'll have to do, so draw
up your chair Mr.. Smith. while fetch
the sweet pertaters.'
AS the meal progressed, Cynthy Ann,
flattered by her guests favorable COM
ments on every dish, rehearsed her eX-
perience as n cook, from the earlier
days when her faculty was universally
recognized as a heaven-bcstowed gift,
to the present time when, as she averred
but the merest suggestion of her former
aptitude remained.
"Since I've taken up piece-qultin',
I've noticed a stiddy falln' off, goin' on
four year now. But a body can't be