Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-03-04

'Rosaline! R0Saline! Where Is that
girl? Run quick, ROsaline! That's
Mis- Talcott's ring. Be sure to clap
your hand over the mouthpiece; it's
most time for the clock to strike. Mis-
Peters did look so knowing the other
day when she said, 4 hear your clock
strike so often lately, Mis- Applebee.
Guess I've heard hers strike, too. l
know every clock on this line, as far
as that goes.
"I declare. Rosaline! They'll be all
through before you get there. If it
wasn't for this bread" and the
widow raised her hands impatiently,
with the soft dough clinging to her fin
gers.
She moved the pan cautiously, and
gave soft pats instead Of her usual Wig
orous thuds until the receiver was safe
" in place again.
That must have been something In
terestlng, the time 1t took" she said,
as Rosaline turned toward her with a
face.
Now don't be all day about 1t. Who
wos It and what did they say?"
'It was Mis- Tom Walker and some
body else"
"WhO?"
"Some other woman. don't know
who
Don't know who? Another time
I'll go myself. What did she say?"
cit was something about surprise
party"
when? Where7 Who? What?"
Rosaline's stolid little face began to
redden under the impatience Of her
aunt's tone.
IL couldn't understand what she said
half Of It. She kept saying, You
know and what we were talking of
yesterday, and for PHYS sake, don't
let the widow get hold Of 1t yet and
and, It's to be next Friday night"
All the quizzlng, threatening and
s-questioning the Widow Applebee
could summon to her assistance ayailed
naught ROsaline fed from the walls
of her wrath, and Mrs. Applebee plant
ed herself at the telephone, ready to
solve the mystery, If possible. Not a
message went over the wire that after
noon that she did not intercept, and
every sentence was carefully analysed
for the light it might throw on the
garbled message ROsaline had report
ed.
The minister's wife called up from
the Center: Would Mrs Talcott please
remind the Bangs Corners ladies of
the chicken pie supper Saturday night?
They would expect eight pies from that
neIghborhood."
They'll never ask me for one, "
muttered the Widow Applebee, "and
there isn't a woman in this county
can make flakier crust than l can
Oh, we'll, It's all the same. The two
chickens 1t would take for pie will
pay my telephone rent, and do take a
sight of comfort since I've had 1t. Get
news from everywhere. There, that's
Mis- Turner's ring. Now I'll hear
something more about that surprise -
Hello"
"That you. Mis- Turner?"
"Yes"
"Well, I've invited 'em all, except
ing as you advised. Well so about
seven o'clock Friday evening. They
all promised to bring things as request
ed, and give something towards a pres
ent besides. hope to land-ahem-
won't get hold of It. These telephones
aren't safe. and / know 1t. There's
somebody listening now. Good-by"
"Good-by"
The widow hung up the receiver with
a half-baff1ed expression, until a sud-
den light seemed to break upon her.
''I see through it all :" she chuckled.
am the one they're going TO surprise.
She said they all knew about ii. Good
ness knows. it's my turn! I've helped
surprise everybody else in the neigh
borhoOd enough times. I'll be ready
for 'em.
Lets see. this Is Monday. This
house has got TO have a thorough
cleaning before Friday, and one day
I've got TO have off TO go to town.
Rosallne! Rosaline! Where is that
girl? Here I've saved her out of the
pOOrhouse. and slave for her day and
night. and she's that stupid. 'Taln't
many'd do as we'll by her husbands
folks. and him gone and left her. be
sides ROSaline."
When the rural telephone was in
stalled at the Center, as the New Eng
londers designate that part Of their
township which boasts the church.
town house, pOstoffice and blacksmith