The Cairo bulletin., 1907-08-29
WElGhTs AND
WIVES
~ IRWlN JOHNSON

1
the minister, AZ he stopped the new
superintendent OF the mills for chat.
The ladies have a new idea. I'm not
exactly clear as to the details, but II
promises to be amusing"
| tn try agreed Libby, though he
made the mental reservation that no
was certain to have important work
ON hand
\ But after supper he felt the call OF
! his kind. Somehow he could not ap-
lply himself to the facts and figures
on the paper before him, and In the
end he put them away and went over
| to the bureau for a fresh collar.
/, Ten minutes later hewas struggling
Into his coat and inQuiring the way to
| the church Mr., Griffiths welcome
was alone worth the trip, and II was
with "a glow OF satisfaction that he
entered the Sunday school room and
looked about him.
AT one side, on q long table, were
pies Of all sorts, sizes and degrees Of
appeal Mrs. Griffith came forward
to take him In charge and led kim
up to the table.
Now you just pick out the pie you
want she urged. Then we'll tell
you the rest
Don't r have to be weighed FIRST"
he asked with smile as he Indicated
the scales at one end Of the table. She
shook her head with dancing eyes.
you Just pick our your pie" she
commanded
In the midst of such plenty II was
no easy matter. but at last he settled
upon a particularly crusty minre pie.
Mrs. Griffith lifted up the plate, looked
at the card beneath and began TO
laugh.
you've got Mrs. Marlowels pie
she announced. you gee you pay
half cent a pound on the weight OF
the maker; then she keeps you COM
pany while you eat the pie. Mrs. Mar
iiowei"
There was shout Of laughter as
she called the name. Mrs. Marlowe
came forward, jolly-faced woman OF
exceeding stoutness.
She clambered upon the scales and
Libby duly deposited $1.10 Then,
with a bow to Mrs. Marlowe, he Of
fered his arm.
II was rather more than he had
bsrgained for, but he was game, and
as they sought table he smiled back
into the faces of those who laughed
at the way he had been caught.
I've got more pies up there" an
nounced Mrs. Marlowe. I'm making
more money for the organ fund than
any three of those skinny girls
want to watch the pies. I'll send you
a substitute" ~ tey
She left him at the table to return
in moment with a slight young girl.
"You see," she exclaimed In whis-
per, Bessie isn't any heavyweight,
but she can make splendid pies. I
told 'em 1t was shame to let pie
like that go for half dollar, so |
put my name under 1t so the fund
wouldn't be cheated"
NO danger of that" he said. with
smile, with you on the lookout |
Lhink your business ability Is wasted
IN so small a sphere. Properly placed
YOU could become Napoleon Of
inance."
"They go TO jail In the long run"
the rumbled, pleased. neverthelessSat
he compliment "Bessie'll take care
If you all right"
Bessie Roblee lacked Mrs. Mar
owes confidence of manner, but Lib
~ quickly put her at her ease and
lie found her shyness indescribably
attractive. Long before the pie was
inished, he had fallen captive. and he
nanfully ate part of second after
hiding out which was hers.
Even when he had to pay toll on
Irs. Marlowes weight a second time
e did not complain. The pie-and its
ccompanimentLwas well worth the
rice.
He did not realize II. but he had
cen lonesome and homesick He had
missed the life of the city. and he was
Miserable. Now slip of girl had
irought a marvellous change. and az
q blew out the light he smiled at
imself in the glass.
The social was such SUCCESS that
. was repeated in the spring, and
gain Mrs. Marlowe stood proxy for
er more slender sisters.
Bert was one of the first to appear.
nd he had no difficulty in selecting
iessies pies. In the interval he had
artaken Of many, for Mrs. Roblee
sd made him welcome at her home.
nd it was a polite fiction that he
anne to eat pie.
He Was finishing on hts second. Il
-ish I could get other things as cas-
"" he said as he laid down his
Drk. Hearts, for instance"
They come by weight" she said.
Dftly. "The weight OF mans worth,
My IL is he who is weighed IN the
Il wish could get Mrs Marlowe
" a proxy" he regretted half humor-
usly, half wistfully."
DO you need herr" she asked. at
not bulk. but worth.
and you think would weigh UP
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