Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-04-17
CHAPTER W.

and he went Into the house.
Matte" said he.
We'll, WHIP?
Il see q use for the rest OF that nice
big roast OF beef l smell In the oven
let's have all these fellers stay to
dinner and give 'cm one good feed.
What do you say?"
why. I'd like to. VIII, but l don't
KNOW here'n set them?"
Couple Of boards outside for ia
ble-let them sit on boxes or something
Got plates and things enoughT'
MY. yes. Plenty of such things.
Will"
Then If 1t amt too much trouble for
you we'll let 1t 60"
mo trouble at all. Wilt will be q
regular picnic"
Boys. you'll eat with me this day."
said Red.
They spread the board table beneath
an old apple tree and cleaned up for
the repast in the kitchen storm shed
with an apologize Sorry to trouble
you, Miss Saunders," or such u mat
ter us each went In.
ing the meat from the oven there came
knock ut the door.
Goodness. graciousw she exclaimed.
"Who can that be now? VIII, will
you see who that is? can't CO."
"Surev' said Red and went to the
door. There stood two women Of that
indefinite period between forty and
sixty, very decently dressed and with
some agitation visible in the way they
fussily adjusted various parts Of their
attire.
They started at the sudden spectacle
Of the huge man who said pleasantly,
"How der do. ladiesT
"Why, how do you dor replied the
taller instantly and In a voice she had
never heard before. II hope you're
well, SIR" a remark which filed her
with surprise.
Thanks, I'm able to assume the per-
pendicular, as you can see" responded
Red. with a handsome smile of well
come. How do you find yourselfT'
I'm pretty WELL" said the flustered
lady How do you dot"
burned II we amt right back where
we started FROM" incurred Red to
himself. III it's one Of the customs of
this country saying how der do an
hour at a stretch. pass 1t up" Aloud
he said: Coming along fine. HOw's
your fatherY "Cuss me II I don't
shift the cut little anyhow" he add
ed mentally.
"Why, he's very well indeedw ex-
claimed the lady, with fervor. How
She got no further ON the query, for
the other woman interrupted In a tone
can you talk like that? Your fathers
been dead this five year last August!'
The horror Of the moment was bro
ken by the appearance of Miss Matte,
crying Hospitality on seeing the visit
ors. why. Mary and Pauline. how do
you doY'
The shorter one, Pauline, looked up
and said sharply, "We're well enough,
Matte" She was weary Of the form.
''Come right in," said Miss Matte.
you're just In time for dinner"
There was a great protest at this.
They hadn't a moment to spare;"
they were lust going down to the
corner and had stopped to say" etc.
you've got to help me-" said Miss
Matte. "Wul here has invited the
boys who are working for him to stay
to dinner, and 1t won't be any more
than Christian for you to help me
out"
Ladies'" said Red, III you don't
want to starve q man who's deserving
Of a better fate take or your filings
and come out to dinner. No. he con-
tinued to their protests. which he OBJ
served were growing weaker. ITS NO
trouble ct NIL. There's plenty for ev-
erybOdy. Come one, come all. this
house shall fly clean OF its base as
soon as I! Now, for heavens sake,
ladies. it's all settled-come on!'
Whereat they laughed nervously and
took or their hats.
1t was jolly dinner party. The
young fellows Red had picked up in
the blacksmith'S shop were not the Or
binary quality Of loungers. They were
boys Of good country parentage, with
q common school education. who un-
fortunately could find nothing to do
but the occasional odd Job. OF course
them into common ne'er do wells, but
now they were merely thoughtless
boys.
The whole affair had an al fresco
favor which stoppered convention.
The two women visitors pitched in and
had as good a time as anybody.
In the middle Of the festivities q
young man walked past the front
fence-a stranger evidently, for his
clothes wore the cut Of q city, and q
cosmopolitan. up to date city at that
He stopped and looked at the house,
hesitated q moment and then walked
n, back to where the folk were eating
Excuse me-" said he as they looked
up at him. but isn't this Mr.. Demilts
housef"
A momentary silence followed, a. II
was not clear whose turn 1t was ia
answer. Miss Matte glanced around
and. finding Reds eye on her. replied
mo, Sir. Mr.. Demilt's house Is about
mile farther up the road"
Dear mel" said the young man rue.
fully. He was a spick and span. In.
telligent looking man, with less Of the
dandy about him than the air OF q
man who had never worn anything
but clothes Of the proper trim and
become quite used to 1t. Nevertheless
the sweat stood out In drops ON his
forehead. for Fairaelds front street
savored Of a less moral region than II
really was on a broiling summer day
The young man sighed frankly and
wiped his head. well. that's too
bad" he said I'm q stranger here
would You kindly tell me where |
could get some dinnerY'
whats the matter with that?' in
quired Red, pointing to the roast
which still preserved an air Of fallen
greatness. He had liked the look nj