The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-04-22

Is desirous of gaining entrance to her
erstwhile home. Burglars do not push
house off it's foundation to get into
the cellar. Listen to that! She is ex-
ceedingly eager"
The sarcasm of this speech Gained
the fears of Mrs. Conley, and she was
sufficiently reassured to follow her hus-
band as far as the first landing as he
went down stairs wrapped in blue
bathrope decorated with yellow chry-
santhemums, and in his noiseless bed
room slippers.
AS he entered the refrigerator room
front of him and he chuckled, while
Mrs. Conley, shivering on the first
landing, held her breath. ..
"Hello!" called Conley. Who's
there?" f.
tits jes' me, suh," came from the
other side of the door.
who's me?" and Conley covered
his mouth with his hand, as though
he expected the black eyes of his
caller of the night to pierce the door.
"Ah cain fin de key, suh," he heard.
What key?" Conley asked curious
ly, drawing one foot up under his
bathrobe.
'De key t de do, suh.''
What do you want the key for?"
was the masters severe query. And
Mr.. Conley realized that the situation
was really worthy of modern French
drama
"Kase TO- t. git in, suh.'
What do you want to get in for?"
IVY, kase l do, suh." Then the
voice took on a certain richness, add
ing: stop yo' foolin', Mr.. Conley, an
lemme in; Is mos froze solid out
heah."
who are you. anyway" Mr.. Con-
ley had to chuckle then.
IVY, you know who l is" came
back through the door, 'Ts Carrie,
Mr.. Conley."
Carrier" the man in the bathrobs
| managed to say-"Carrie who?"
IVY, you knows-Carrie, Mr.. Con-
ley, wo'ks heah."
"You what?" this stentorian.
81 wo'ks heah.'
"Oh, see; you work here, eh? Now
| there seems to be a little mistake
| somewhere. You did work here, Car
| rie-yesterday; but just now-to-d day
Il don't think you do, Carrie. guess
you're private in the army of the
unemployed. So run along now, Car
| rie. . Goodnight and good-by."
f. There appeared to be an instant's
hesitation on the part of the person
through the door, then Mr.. Conley
heard footballs on the steps. He dart
| ed into the pantry and from the win
dow saw squat figure moving hastily
beneath a sputtering electric light;
then it; was swallowed by the black
ness that enshrouded the choice
| building lots that clustered unbuilt
and desolate thereabout,s. ,r:
! The holy sun of May morning was
| streaming in at the window 1t was
beam that fell athwart Mr. Conley's
| face that awakened him. He arose and
prepared his bath. Afterward, while
he dressed, hunger smote him full
and involuntarily; as he tied his scarf,
| he chewed on nothing.
He went downstairs noiselessly.
! Starving in the land Of plenty! How
| insane it was, after all! And Carrie
was human-no more, no less. He re-
! gretted-actually, keenly regretted
that he had not admitted her and apol-
ogized for having kept her waiting.
He went to the front window and
stood there beside the palm pedestal
looking out He felt rather ashamed
of himself. 1t was quite as though
Day herself called "Shame!" at him
and held up chiding finger. He
promised himself that somewhere,
somehow, he would secure Carries ad-
dress and seek her out-yes, even if
it took all day-and make amends.
"By Jove, I'm hungry"
The words fell unbidden from his
lips. The inner man it was that
spoke.
Half turning, he gazed of down the
street. In the distance he beheld .
solitary squat figure. 1t drew nearer
nearer! It wore dresses! 1t was a
| woman! 1t was, Carrie! Conley's
heart leaped into his throat, but he
swallowed it back and waited. No
doubt she was passing only. He held
his breath. She was going by-yes.
No. she turned in!
AS Conley flung open the door her
finger was poised above the bell-but-
| ton.
! Carries black face broke like
night-sun into one all-suffusing smile.
Conley's emotion choked him, and
he could only gurgle-"Carrie!"
Yes, subj" was the rich, melliflu-
Gus, tender reply. IT'S Carrie; dat
was great joke you played on Carrie
las night, Mistah Conley."
All the strength oozed from Con-
ley's finger-tips that instant and he
leaned against the door.
Then his laugh rang out-awaken-
ing Isabel above-as, with robustuous
glee, he cried
"Oh-eh-oh, yes-joke-yes-c
| not resist-knew you wouldn't-ha,
ha, ha-great joke, wasn't it, Carrier"
| sITI -