The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-02-10

about washing dishes.
She had been splashing and wiping for
several minutes, when a sound at the door
made her look up. A young man was
standing in the doorway, tall, broad
shouldered, good looking young fellow,
with blue eyes and pleasant mouth.
Excuse me" he began when she saw
him, ank then he stopped short. Evil
IDENTIFY, he had no idea what else to say.
Cecily was even more taking back
than he. For a moment, they stood
looking at each other in embarrassed
silence, then, Cecily said quickly, won't
you sit DOWN." and Immediately, it struck
her that that was ridiculous.
Jerry apparently thought so, too: they
both laughed, and after that, it was
much easier.
"You are Bob's sister, aren't you?"
asked Jerry Bigelow.
eyes, am Cecily Selfridge, You see,"
she explained, ''the cook left very sud-
denly this afternoon and our other maid
can't do anything. SO had to cook the
dinner"
1T was bully good dinner" said
Jerry, pleasantly.
Thank you"
A little silence; then, Cecily asked
"But-how did You happen to come down
here?''
Jerry explained.
THE fellows are all up in the billiard
room, and Bob sent me down for some
ppollnaris-thatis is" in answer to her
look. "He asked me to call down the tube
but couldn't find the tube so | came
down here"
why didn't he call himself"
"Oh, he was too busy; he was playing
a game with McMurtrie and there's a
deadly rivalry between them. l wasn't
doing anything, so | came down. boy you
know McMurtrie?"
Dick McMurtrie2 Oh, yes, met him
in Bob's freshman year. Who is the
other man here?"
'Steadman Bell. Do you know him."
mo, haven't met him, though I've
heard Bob speak of him. What is he
doing?"
"Oh, he's amusing himself singing the
pianole. He can keep it up for hours-if
he's allowed to-"
Has Bob been wondering where l
ann"
"He called you when he came in, but
think that sad-eyed maid of yours gave
him the impression you were out to din
ner. Did you tell her to-"
Eyes, am afraid l did," replied Cecily
laughing. well, 1 am certainly not
dining at home"
Haven't you had any dinner? That's
a shame"
"Oh, l ate lot at a tea l went to this
afternoon. I'm not hungry"
81 was wondering if you usually wash
ed dishes in those clothes" Jerry ventur-
ed, looking at her pretty gown.
Not generally" Cecily admitted,
smiling.
mine are more suitable, don't you
think" suggested Jerry.
Cecily, for all her energy, was not a
person who refused to let others help her
with her burdens.
Perhaps they are" she said.
Then why don't you let me do them
tor you?"
"Will you put two aprons on?'
''Oh, yes"
"Then I'll let you help me-
1t is astonishing how task which may
seem tiresome when done alone becomes
easy and pleasant when one has an
agreeable companion, who moreover,
does more than his share.
Jerry and Cecily, arrayed in their four
aprons, came to the end of the pile of
dishes amazingly soon and were SO en-
by their enjoyment of the work
that they gave themselves the additional
task of putting the things away, and ar
ranging them on the closet shelves.
Then Jerry found a broom and was
sweeping the kitchen floor, when a sharp
ring at the bell interrupted him.
That's Bob" said Cecily. you an
swer him"
Hello" called Jerry up the tube.
What in thunder are you doing down
there" returned Bobs voice plainly au-
lible to Cecily, who laughed softly.
Ierry's answer was ready.
Getting the Polly" he called back,
Didn't know it took a week."
There's great ealyou don't know"
Cecily laughed again.
And l don't see yet why you thought
It needed to be personally conducted"
went on Bob's voice "Still, unless you
are waiting for an elevator to be built for
you, just come up with it sometime,
won't your"
"Oh, keep cool, I'll be up before long,"
and Jerry moved away from the tube.
You'll have to go up" said Cecily.
The apollinaris is in the ice chest. I'll
lelp you get it."
"Oh no, don't; I'llgetit. You've work
d enough for tonight.
But Cecily insisted on helping him.
Another peremptory ring came at the
DELL
"Your brother, Lord Chesterfield, is
getting inpatient" said Jerry and he
went to the tube and called up "Oh,
what's your hurry" and moved away
again.
He turned to Cecily.
Bob will be down here if don't go
up. What are you going to do?"
II? Go out the back door and round
% the front, let myself in"
That's great" said Jerry, you're not
going to tell Bob, them"
mot tonight"
"We'll have one on him.
She laughed back and nodded at him.
"Wait moment" she said, ~ want
you to lock the door behind me-"
Jerry put down his armful of apolli-
laris bottles, and calamity held the door
open for her.
It'll we meet again" she said as she
vent through, and Jerry bowed low.
Then he closed the door behind her and
;he heard the click of the lock.
Five minutes later, she swept into the
billiard room at the top of the house,
With her hat on her head and her coat
brown back to show its facings of white
and silver; she was brilliant spectacle,