Mexico Missouri message., 1909-04-08

| got sort Of used 10 IL By THE time; my
krm goes round Of Itself. like q pad.
| die wheel"
She laughed and grabbed q chowder
plate and commenced to wipe. She
done fairly we'll for anybody who
hadn't practiced much. but she never
would have won the cup for speed.
Ono dish every Ave minutes Ia all
right, maybe. II you're getting paid by
the year. but However, judged her
ma kept hired help TO home. l won.
dered what she'd done with Hartley.
by and by she says: "Mr. Pratt.
how long do you expect to stay here?"
"Here7" says I. "on Horsefoot-on
Ozone island7 Land knows. Longs
the Heavenlies-that Is, longs Mr..
Van Brunt and Mr.. Hartley stay here,
I guess. It's a restful place. aims 1T"
says /. reaching for the next stack OF
dishes.
She smiled. "No doubt they fine Il
So" she says. How do you like the
Natural Lifer'
''Who-me?, oh, cal1ate I shalt
like II tlptop when get little more
used TO it--that is. IL last was
Oldest boy in family OF nine, and dad
died young, so was brought up Natur
al, as you might say. It's been some
time. though, since had so many
hours Of straightalong, pltch.in-and-
hustle NatuPainess In the days run;
been getting artificial and lazy Of late
years. guess. But I'm tough, and I'll
be all right and used to II pretty soon
getting lots of practice. BY the
way" says. who was II that sent 'em
here?"
''who?' says she, looking surprised.
Sent? don't understand"
was Mr. Van Brunt and his chum
sent here by the doctor. or who7"
why, / didn't know they were sent
at all. think they came here OF their
own accord"
'Humph!" says I, considering. was
any Of their folks ever took this way?
Does It run in the famllies7"
That seemed to tickle her and
guess she understood what l meant.
But she didn't answer the question;
went on dry-polishing the pickle dish.
Then she says, kind OF accidental on
purpose:
is Mr.. Hartley's health improving?"
"oh, yesl" says /. He's picking up
some, specially in his appetite. He
amt up to Van Brunt in that line yet,
though. Van eats for three; Hartley's
only up to the one-man.and.a.boy mark
SO far. He'd do better II he didn't have
them blue streaks OF his. Seems to
have something on his mind"
Perhaps he's troubled about leav-
ing his business" che suggests, look.
Ing sideways at the pickle dish.
Guess not" says !. looking side
ways at her. Il don't think I've heard
him mention business since he's been
down. No, faint that. according to
my notion. He amt In love, is her"
She looked at me then pretty hard;
but was as wooden.faced as q cigar
sign.
Dear me, no." she laughs, brisk. Il
guess not. What made you think
that?"
"oh, nothing" says /. Il amt ever
been took that way myself, but 1t
seemed 10 me he had all the symp-
toms. Didn't know but he was fret.
ting about some young woman. He's
a fine chap. that young Hartley. tn
be lucky girl that gets him"
She didn't say much more. but she
looked at me every once In a while as
II she was wondering. never let on.
/ was as innocent and easy as the cat
with the cream on its whiskers. I had
a sneaking hope that might have
boosted Hartley a little mite, and
felt good down one side. Then
thought of Van, and felt mean all
up the other.
After q spell the Twins and Miss
Talford happened along. and what a
time Van Brunt made when he see his
girl helping me wipe dishes.
''well. welli" he says. rs this the
way you hurry back to see what the
dear children are doing?' Sol. you old
fascinator. how do you do IL? Martin
and l fell in love with him at first
sight. Miss Talford; and now look at
Agnes"
Hold on there" says 1. Don't
spread II too thick. amt got but one
hat thatTn do for Sunday, and want
that to fit me. was giving Miss Page
q few lessons in housekeeping. and
you'd ought TO thank me for that. Mr..
Van Brun.,"
II seems the Talford girl had seen
James and he had agreed to so TO
Eastwleh with 'em. Twas q good
chance for him. soft Job and all that.
Truth to tell. guess no was kind OF
sorry about parting from Van alto
getheF, the cleaning might not be so
good In his next boss berry pasture.
So about six o'clock scudder come
with his dory and the picnic broke ~.
The Fresh Airers were pretty nigh
played out by this time. The smaller
children was noddlng with their heads
| on the shoulders OF the bigger onen