The Democratic advocate., 1908-05-22

anl a snare"
"suburbanites are an unneighborly,
chqrlish lot"
r,brs did Harriet and Pierce Elkins
...,octfveIy sum up their first month
4 Meadow Manor, where, on the ad-
- Of old family friends, Mr.. and
Wrs sam Rogers, they had taken a
-;ctrresoue bungalow for the season.
ITarriet based her Judgment on warp
a = doors and a shortage in books and
o.Ior small domestic essentials, sum-
- ND with the announcement that
rhon women turned architects houses
wo,,Id be properly planned.
Her brother founded his criticism on
4bp fact that the young woman whom
~ had nominated as the Meadow Man
i bnoutv had so far ignored his very
sris+ence, She boarded the $50 train
r,tb him five days out of seven and
IN seemed to hold herself alof not
onIv from him, but all other masculine
Sbp was a most competent young
,orson and never gave him the least
onportunity to do her a service. In his
to make an opportunity
yor knightly service he ignored the
sripndlv overtures Of other neighbors.
At last opportunity appeared on the
l horzon Pierce had taken the 2:3O
Rain home in hopes of getting turn
N the links to counteract the depress-
lro effects Of falling stocks, and there,
Walking briskly ahead of him under
he arching trees of the quaint village,
ros the inaccessible beauty. And in
he dust at the right of her daintily up
lifted skirt lay a handkerchief. Pierce
Elkins darted forward.
II beg your pardon, but think you
dlopped this
The girl glanced first at the man,
tbsn at the bit of cambria in his hand.
anl smiled.
"Rut l did not drop it," she said and
h yerification of the statement pulled
hex handkerchief from her sleeve.
Numbling inaudible words of apollo
b. Pierce turned down the opposite
srrrat toward home. Even golf did not
improve his humOr, and the next morn
inr 1t breakfast his mood had not
changed.
VIII vou have two lumps?' asked
Harriet as she was pouring the coffee.
"S,vcntcen." growled Pierce.
Seventeen. all in one cup!" cried
Harriet in anaZement
Il thought YOU asked me the day OF
The month" explained Pierce. 1.-TWO
will 10. The fact is, Sis, l did not
sleep we'll last night, and my brain is
,pfu4lei. That blamed roof leaked
lgaiu. and the rain came right in on
uy hcI I've decided not to go to
own this morning, but instead I'm go
NJ round to see our landlord and tell
lin what think of him"
"The roof over the kitchen leaks,
co." said Harriet plaintively. 'You
night mention that also"
What's the beasts name?' asked
Pierce.
Il really don't know" Harriet an
;wered THE bills come in signed
NJ NJ, per Hook & Hock.'"
Well | won't bother Hook & Hook,
Tor they are like all agents." said
Pierce. Il want the man higher up
he owner himself. NJ. NJ" he mused-
I bet his name is Mike Murphy. and
III also wager that III rouse his Irish
before get through with him."
He lives in the little white bunga
oW on Maple avenue. Mr.. Hook point
I'd it out to me-" directed Harriet as
her brother started on his mission.
Pierce soon found the bungalow and
rang the bell. He waited 4 moment
md then rang again. He was in no
mood to wait. From the hall inside
voice called, Coming, comingw
And she came-the beauty!
Pierce gasped. He had evidently
made another mistake.
Il am looking for our missing land
ord" he exclaimed. II really don't
Know bis name-some Irish contractor,
III bet, ashamed to sign his full name"
Sit down on the porch, won't you,
Mr. She hesitated. The beauty
would make no mistakes.
'Elkins is my name-Pierce Elkins-
and fear have made a mistake. Ny
sister and l live in the little red cot
rage on New street. I'm searching for
our landlcrd-name unknown, but
methods atrocious. Really Miss-Miss"-
Now Pierce hesitated.
"Markwell," she added.
This landlord signs his receipts M.
NJ, and I'm after his blood" finished
Elkins.
Won't you sit down?" again sug-
Hested Miss MAXWELL and she deftly
turned the conversation into more
agreeable channels. The landlord was
forgotten.
l wonder if your sister would like
" 70 Know me-" said the beauty finally.
l Know it is my place to call, but l
rather hesitated-well for several rea-
sons"
Oh, | do wish you would call on
harriet! She's brick all right and as
.onesome as stray cat No one has
called yet"
wen, III come over this afternoon
" n4le you are on the Inks" said Miss
Narkwell, with some emphasis about
the links.
but when Miss Maxwell called that
4 IL Ierhoon it was Pierce who answered
the bell.
lou see, I've such a fearful cold
~, rom that leaking roof" he explained,
mat thought had better stay home
Ind nurse it."