Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-12-01
GUESSING CONTEST

had popped over for a moments chat
"I don't think the agent ought to let
the house to such people. It's shame"
Whose that you're talking about,
them Blums?" The speaker was Mrs.
Flanagan, who had just appeared upon
her threshold next door. Il never take
no notice of EN-
NO. but did you ever see anything
so deceitful as that Eddie?' exclaimed
Mrs Jones. I"deClare, when ! first
saw him | thought I'd never seen a
sweeter. lovelier child"
"Oh, and me, too" echoed Mrs.
Smith. so frank he looked. and the
pretty way he'd say, yes. ma'am,' and
to think of his being such wicked
little-but what can you expect with
such n mother"
"Ah. that's what say" said Mrs.
Flanagan. her arms akimbo. After
all. children are what therere made;
not but what there's some worse than
other. there's no doubt. ! couldn't i'm
agine my Jim getting into such sCIapes
as that there Eddie does. Did you
hear him yesterday afternoon humping
Mrs. Simpsons little Willie's head on
the sidewalk"
WAS that what he was doing?" in
lquired Mrs Smith innocently. II
heard great noise and thought II
might be Eddie But | was busy in
the top back room and couldn't stop
to look out. Humping little Willies
head! Oh, that bad boy"
"On the sidewalk. mind you" said
Mrs. Flanagan. with tight shut lips.
And what did Mrs. Simpson do?"
, asked Mrs. Smith.
why, she came flying out, poor
thing. when Willie hollered, and | be-
lieve she'd have gone for that Eddie
I'm sure should; but Mrs. Blum came
, out and pounced on the bOy-you know
her way-and dragged him into the
, house. Shes always very rough with
him"
Not half rough enough" declared
, Mrs. Jones, Indignantly. "I'd fix that
boy IL | had to deal with him! ID
break his spirit or else I'd see."
"Hush-h!" whispered Mrs. Smith
with a guilty and expressive gesture
|, for Blum's door had opened abruptly
: az ii always did, and the statuesqu'
: Mrs. Blum was standing there gaZinl
., down the street ana apparently un
' conscious Of the nearness of her neigh
burs. She had her hat on, and he
forehead was just little wrinkled a
she gazed.
Looks like rain. don't it," Mrs
Smith observed to her companion, yer,
laudiby, just to make 1t seem as /
, they had only been discussing tn,
weather. All the neighbors had an in
stinCtive perception that II would b,
= well to keep in" with MIS- Blum.
1T certainly does the warlke Mrs
Flanagan assented meekly.
"Well, | must say" chimed in Mrs
Jones in staccatO, Il wish II would dc
one thing or the other These dragg!
= kind o days, when the clouds han
, round, and II don't either rain or let /
= alone, makes me sick"
Here Mrs. Jones began to WELD tn,
broom in her hand with great energy
Mrs. Smith gave the buster the long
deferred shake, and retiring when sh,
became aware that Mrs. Blum. wearinl
:, an air OF Pre-occupatiOn, was proceed
q ing down the street with her usua
proud gait.
n There she goes" whispered Mrs
Flanagan 10 Mrs. Jones Look here
" I'll bet you that that there Eddie
n lest again"
/ Like enough" rejoined Mrs. Smith
/ as she turned back TO look I've no
/ seen him for a while this morning"
:, why, let me See" said Mrs Flani
1 gan, considering. I've not set eye
= On the child sinCe-now when was II
d why, of course!-since came t,
take in the-no, It wasn't! 1t wa
[ when | was washing the dishes, and
g thought ! heard child screaming. AM
d | ran out TO the door and-yes, tina
n was it,-little Eddie Blum was asst
ting on their step; that was before
4 o'clock, and ! amt seen the chill
i since"
5 1t was before that seen him." oh
n served Mrs. Smith. Seven, more like
g Well, bad pennies are sure to turn up.
: Yes, not much fear of that chill,
= getting lost; If 1t was my jim, though
= I'd be worried. III tell you what, In
u going to watch for Mrs, Blum's cominl
: back, just to see If she's got Eddie"
y so will l."
o When the sun threw its CLOWN
= beams as the morning advanced an,
n frightened, directly into d street, n
d housewife brigade was visible, and ev
Z, cry pair of shutters was uniforml
4 closed as a protection from the heat
y Yet 1t may be that behind the Stat
$ Of said shutters were concealed diver
k keen feminine eyes, and that Mrs
k Blum was not unohserved when sh
0 came back near the hour OF noon
came back as never before. She wall
" ed heavily, as II her black dress fash
" toned clingingly as usual, weighed he
g down. A wet and crumplcd handker
II chief was crushed in her firm, whit
D hand. Her features were quiyerinl
- GiSCOIOTpd with tears. every trace {