The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-10-23
TODA VS. SPORTING NEWS L
DailYSbor1S1orY
THE HOUSE OF SURPRISE
BY Stuart b. Stone.

song patter about the Excelsio
Kitchen Companion. AS soon a
the door opened he would begil
to clip off three hundred word
per minute regarding the Peer
less File, guaranteed to sharper
the toughest steel, or should hi
begin with the Sterling Potato
Scraper, Winch sliced the yegeta
bles into cunning little pyramids
The door swung back. Dicl
Grantham waded in:
Madam, i have here the most
marvellous invention man has
given to tired womankind-"
He stopped suddenly, jerkily
The beautiful girl-the very, very
beautiful, blue-eyed. chestnut
haired girl in the doorway-wore
look of exquisite terror, of agon-
izing suspense upon her fair face.
She seemed utterly desperate,
hopeless, blanched with fear.
Madam, l have-madam, you
have rambled Grantham
Then a Transformation, as delight
full as sudden, came over the face
of the beautiful maids She smiled
gloriously, colored deliciously, and
threw wide the door.
81 am so glad you have come,
she declared. 81 am delighted to
see you. / am happy-happy-
happy!"
1t was a very unusual reception
for rGantham and the Kitchen
Companion.
But the girl took his hand In
hers. Are you really, truly glad
you came she asked, pleading
ly, coquettishly.
I'm happy as the 21st o.
June" responded Crantham. "Bu
we had better get down to bust
ness, l suppose"
The lady sighed happily. eyes
we had better get down to bust
ness, though you are rather in
hurry"
Grantham lifted the combina
ton corkscrew, jack-knife, augel
and pot-scraper. This" he said
impressively, would make house
keeping a delightful task fol
any"
ooh, how beautifully sugges
tive!" dubbed the girl. I'm Sc
glad you have manly, steel-gra!
eyes!"
Grantham actually blushed. g.
would also call your attention tt
the Perfection lemon-squeezer
which wrings the last drop
81 know know" she inter
rupted. frowning. ut was dear o.
you to bring this, and l appreciate
it and all that. But you nigh
stop talking so squeerly about i
-and-tell me what you think o.
me-"
Grantham dropped the Excel
sior Companion. You are beauti
full as Cleopatra, madam-but-
Err"
kiss mel" she commanded.
with all my heart" sale
Grantham.
The girl nestled cozily upon hi
broad shoulder. Il am so happy!
she murmured. st was foolish
thing for me to do. And I wal
afraid you might not turn ou
right. But l have these broat
acres, this great house, all to my
self. l am lonely. / need a hus
band. There are no suitable mel
here. l am glad l saw your nam'
in that paper"
Grantham put her from him ant
Strengthened up. There is mis-
take. l came here to sell you thu
Excelsior Kitchen Companion
which between you and me ii
strictly on the bum and wortl
about II cents. / never wrote tt
you'll wish I had. You ought t.
be very careful"
The girl collapsed in a big chat
and wept fitfully. Grantham gath
leIGu UP IuC Yum pdhiOh oOt ohs
stared in gloomy sympathy dow
the long expanse of lawn. He fel
deeply the girls. bitter disap
pointment, her great humiliation
He felt also her fresh, wonderful
|charm. From the gate a figure
straggled its way up to the house
THE man disported a huge rec
necktie, shirt of seven colors,
faded greenish-biack coat. Hi
face was deep-lined, cunning, for
bidding. He scrutinized the hous
curiously. Grantham called to thu
softly weeping girl. Here come
Jour gay Lothario!"
She came TREMENDOUSLY. ooh
THAT fright! That monster! Wha
shall / do? What shall I tel
Ihim?"
| Grantham stopped and kisset
her. 81 will answer him." h,
Whispered. 81 will tell him h,
has come too late"