The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-12-20

a doubt that the curious sucking sound
which arose at every step came from
water inside rather than outside those
boots.
"a pretty reception this to give an
invited guest" l muttered wrathfully,
thinking of Harold, well groomed, dry
and comfortable, by this time In May
vile and-perish the thought-taking
dinner, 1t might be, with the Daysl
Jerking the gate open with unneces-
sary yigor, sought the kitchen by
way of the back walk and an invisible
wire clothesline. This instrument of
mutilation took me on the point of the
chin, knocking my teeth shut before /
could remove my tongue to place of
safety and, scraping backward violent
ly, came to rest against my Adams APP
pie. When had righted myself and
made sundry remarks appropriate to the
clothesline and soothing to my wound
ed feelings 1 stumbled up the back
steps and applied my knuckles to the
door with a force which evidently
startled the inmates of the kitchen.
For an instant silence greeted my
demand for a hearing; then a hearty
voice with a Hibernian accent arose
from within: "And sure, me darlin', We
needn't be afraid to open tn door. Be
dad, with tn hammer I'll attind to his
casew
Some one approached the door, and
faint and tremulous voice asked,
"W-who is it?"
A blast of snow laden wind whirled
up under the cotton umbrella, boxing
my numbed ears and plastering a soft
application on the nape Of my neck.
II am Mrs. Smiths cousinw
shouted.
"Arrah he is, is he?" cried the Hi
bernian voice. Lave him give tn color
of his hair thin!"
The other voice was upllfted In the
strange inquiry, preferred in weak
tones, what is the color of your hair,
please"
Under ordinary circumstances in
stead Of replying to such impertinence
would not have stood upon the order
of my going, but with that storm as
sailing my back and the brim Of the
derby directing gentle stream inside
my collar 1 swallowed my ire and an
swered meekly, ''Brownish, verging In
to golden red"
"Arrahw came Bridgets triumphant
tones. HE amt tn wan she's lookin'
for, Betty, my dear! Lave him out in
tn storm, tn desaverP'
suspect the wall of the storm was
in my voice as raised it in protest |
II have in my pocket note from Mrs. |
Smith which will prove beyond doubt |
that am expected"
Again there was a pause. THAT |
sounds all right Bridget, and If Mrs.
Smith has invited him"-here the re-
marks were directed at me-"if l let
you in will you promise solemnly on
on your honor
whist me, darlin," came In a stage |
whisper, sure, and it's dootful If he's
got inny"
strangled laugh as the other fin
1shed bravely-"on your honor that |
you'll go away quietly If you are not
Mrs. Smiths cousin"
Il promise" replied confidently.
The bolt was slipped back, the door
opened, and l, furling my huge umbrel-
Ia, stepped inside, the mud dripping
from my coat and drop of blood fall
ing from my scraped chin.
l certainly presented a strange ap-
pearance, but no stranger than the
scene into which l had projected my
self, In the middle OF the room stood
l scowling Bridget, her muscular arms
Dared to the elbows, a poker in one
land and long handled hammer in |
he other. Peering over her shoulder
was Betty, large eyed and trembling,
but undeniably worthy of the agents
,ncomiums on her good looks.