The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-11-10
CHAPTER ".
~AHERE was a knock. the I'M
latched door opened, and James
Smith walked In.

manded briskly.
mot solitary living soul" Emma
assured him. Come in"
Hello, Joe! You a dead one, too"
he said.
almost" replied Brooks, brighten
ing up little in spite of himself un-
der the influence Of his friends good
natured smile and cheeriness that pos
itively emanated from him. "Just
come upY'
"Yep, and 1 reckon In about time to
help" he said, glancing at the crock
cry on the table.
"Just in time" assented Emma,
whose drooping spirits also began to
rise under tho diversion caused By his
advent But frst explain what you
mean by not coming to dinner"
II couldn't come, really. l tried my
best, but had to attend to such q lot
of business that couldn't be put of
that I was unable to get hero In time.
hope you didn't wait long for me.
I'm awfully sorry"
"You look I'll don't think" she
scolded. Go on; get busy II you're
going to!"
"All right" he answered, taking up
small pile Of cups and saucers very
gingerly. where do these gov If
you left it to me, like as not I'd be
putting a soup plate behind the door
and slip a broom into the stdOboAUd."
"They go right in here"
He stopped on the way to the side
board and tdrned to Brooks.
"Seen the latest extra. Josp" he in
quired. The Orinoco wasn't hardly
scratched getting out OF Rio Janeiro."
"You don't say!"
"Kind O. seraped ovor the bar. She'll
only be day late now"
"Do be careful with those cups, Jim
sy," admonished Bmma. "Thsy:re
china"
"Don't you suppose know tsatT'
81 mean real china" she emphd-
sized.
"All china and Cinnamon look alike
to me. Here's the paper. Joe. You'll
find all about the Orinoco on the in
side page"
He drew 1t from his pocket, and as
he did 80 one Of the cups balanced on
the saucers slipped OF and smashed to
bits on tho carpet.
Now, Jimsy, you certainly are going
to get It." commented Joa, rising and
taking the paper extended to him.
Smith looked appealinGly at his
hostess
"Jimsy," she ehided, assuming m
expression Of mock gravity, "how
could you-my very best Sunday go tc
meeting china! How could your
mot how could I-how d1d Ir' he
corrected, STOPPING and picking up the
pieces. "You know. Emma, rye had
butter fingers ever since 1 was little
shaver, and I guess always will
have-in business and everything else.
"Why, how do you meanr'
1--WE been clumsy all my hfe, that's
all. Everything I've ever had in my
hands that was worth much I've gen
orally let slip and fall. Out in Colo
RADIO when 1 was a kid around Lead
vile they used to say that I sure
would turn out to be a sawed of and
hammered down, good for nothing
man. So you see the way things have
turned out I've broken about ever
with that prophecy"
"How broken evenT
taking their side for the book,
win the first bet and lose the second
There amt nothing sawed OF ant
hammered down about me. is there?"
II should say not" she said, with ,
merry laugh. you've been pulled ou
like piece Of taffy."
"Then I win, but 1t was in doub
quite some time. Never really di,
start to grow until 1 was fifteen, ant
then just eased out into my presen
altitude. But the second proposition
that good for nothing bet-I guess the.
win
Nonsense, Jimsy. How can you sa,
such thing? You're good for a Who'll
lot"
Emma" he declared solemnly
"there have been moments OF ffnancia
stringency when that declaration seen
ed to be open to doubt"
"Jimsy, you're an idiotr' she laugh
ed.
"Discoveredw he aVowed, bowin
tremendously.
Brooks, who had been reading tn
paper, threw 1t down angrily.
"D-n himw he growled.
"Joe" exclaimed his wife reproacl
fully.
"D-n whoT' inquired Smith.
"Why, Williams" he replied.
"Lots have done that" said the 81
perintendent. But what's the matte
now, JoeT
"His luck" went on Brooks. '"Th
Orinoco isn't scratched. II any or
else owned a ship and she got into
muss like that the chances are hui
dred to one that she'd have foundere
been a complete loss"
"That's right" assented Smith.
"But Williams-he don't lose her. q
couldn't"
'T ahnuld think Ynu'd hO G,ad." r