Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-01-01
The First
 BOarder.
By Temple Bailey.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
 Literary Press.

.s-i-.-:~:-s!.-.-:-.-!.,
 It was so different from the usual summer boarding place that Denton stopped short and eyed doubtfully the wide lawn. the massive stone house and the garden noming with June roses.
 He even looked Ut the great mast,f that sauntered towarl him with sus. picious eye.
 Look here. old fellow" he said, "are you in a fairy tale, pr Is this just an everyday fact?"
 Duke, come her," called a clear voice, and the dog bounded back to the porch.
 Denton followed him.
 Are you the princtss" he asked of the owner of the clear voice.
 The girl flushed and stared.
 q don't understand she stam. mered.
 Denton laughed. "I beg pardon" he apologized, ''for boring you with my fancies. But this place is so beau- tiful that I thought had stepped out of real life into fairyland and that the dog was the monster that guarded the gate and that you were the enchanted princess"
 The girls eyes twinkled. 'I'm not a princess" she told him. I'm your landlady."
 Something of disappointment crept into Denton's expression.
 "Then you are Mrs. Carier?" he haz- arded
 Miss Carter" she corrected, and 1 he looked relieved. "In the letter that I wrote you I signed myself Mehita- bel Carter. and I suppose you thought l had gray hairs and wrinkles"
 "The name did suggest them," he unused, watching her sparkling face. | Every one around here calls me Belle" she explained. But of course when one writes letters to prospective boarcers one realizes that dignihed name is an asset"
 Certainly" he agreed and settled back in his chair. content to listen and look.
 But his hostess was more energetic.
 "I'll show you your room." she said and led the way through the spacious hall and up the stairs to the second | story.
 When Denton came down a little later and found his landlady walking In the rose garden he said to her: "You needn't tell me. This is an en- chanted castle. Who ever heard of white bathtubs and nickel trimmings and pond lily friezes and Circassian walnut furniture for S10 week?" A little anxious frown burrowed Miss Carter's forehead. "I was afraid l was charging too much," she said. You see. you are my first boarder." It appeared on further conversation | that there were to be six other board CTS, and they were to arrive at T:30
 Five of them are maiden ladies'" Miss Carter explained. "and told them they might bring their cats and parrots"-
 And the other one?" Denton de | handed
 "Is man." said Miss Carter. "and he wants to bring his automobile" Denton gazed pensively across the garden toward the purple hills. Alas" he sighed, and l brought only type writer The automobile is the dragon that must slay" She stiffened n little at that
 "I don't think quite understand" she said
 "Of course not" Denton agreed quite cheerfully. "as writer of stories deal much In metaphor. It isn't to be expected that you would understand. But you will--some day"
 He switched to other topics and learned that the beautiful house. with its beautiful furniture. had been the girls summer home. That the failure of her father in business and his ab- sence to fill position in another city made her decide that the house must support itself or be sold. So she had advertised for boarders, and. with two old and trusted servants. she was go- Ing to make IL pay.
 We raise all of our vegetables" she confided, and we have our cows and make butter. and there are plenty of chickens and eggs'- Don't say any more." Denton begged. "I am hungry enough as 1t is without hearing of real milk and but. ter and eggs"
 She laughed. "The train is due now." she said; "as soon as the other boarders get here we will have sup. per"
 Contrary to Denton's expectations. tAe six old maids proved to be delight fuf company. Three of them were teachers. one of them wrote for the magazines, one, having a private for tune. was something of globe trot- ter and the sixth, being domestically f,xa txxaI n T. el.- r