The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-19
q XBY A h ! C F HI EWG A IT R. I C E.

through. But if his mouth smiled his eyes belied 1t, for more pathetic pair of appealing eyes never raised to an irate master. He stood now, humbled and disheveled, guilty the children at being caught in mischief.
 Pretty goin's on," snffed Mrs. Skittles to the ceiling Here I be- hustlin round from up to the steamboat whistle an you onery children, 'std of bein' down yonder strippin' terbaccer, a foon' round here Clear out everyone of you 'cept Jimmie; she ken stay and clean up this here pgsty / Whereupon slowly directing her searchlight from the ceiling to MT. Skittles, she pointed with long and rigid finger to the unmade bed. to the soiled dishes in the corner coming to awful and ac! cusing halt at Mr. Skittless stocking feet. Then, with snort of indignation. she backed herself out of the doorway, the children scattering before her like leaves before whirlwind.
 MT. Skittles, left alone with the plump Jimmie, cautiously closed the door, and sank dejectedly to the plush rocker Each fresh reprimand from Mrs skttles added to his burden of contrition for remiss as he had been in other duties. he had CT faltered in loyal allegiance to his leader
 Jimmie let herself down from the table and going to him, put her about his neck. Don't you care." she said reckessly; T love you heap better than do maw."
 This blasphemy reused MT. skittles to protest: "Oh. you don't, Jimmie; yer maws wonderful woman. never was good enough fer her; her fam bly all said so when married She deserv- ed to git first-class husband 'stid of me-"
 T love you best' insisted Jimmie, hugging his head to her breast
 in the chair beside him. She snuggled up close and, holding tight to his hand, tried to direct his thoughts to more pleasant subject
 "Aint you got any secrets to tell me tOday?" she asked slyly.
 MT. Skittles's face underwent transformation. The look of detection gave way to one of sudden
 Well. ef I ain't clean forgot to tell you!" he exclaimed.
 5o1fob heart and body, make big ring and spot in the middle. won't tell"
 We'll said MT. skittles. peering anxiously around the side of the chair to see that the door was secure, and sinking his voice to whisper, I'm a making new investment'
 'Is it a melojeon, Par"
 "No" said MT skittles, pursing up his lips with show of importance, 'I can't say it's melo- jeon, Jimmie. was changing between a melo- icon an writin' dext, you know. But this here Is new offer; it's patent an combination
 What is it?" demanded Jimmie impatiently.
 Well" drawled MT. Skttles, gaining time and courage, tits usefuler article than a melojeon; it kin be used in the field and in the house. to fetch and carry in the day time and to set at night D Mr. skittles' counted off these attractions on Jin- nies fat fingers.
 "A bucket?" asked Jimmie inoredulously
 'No. madam!" said MT. Skittles; tits a guarantee patent easy-cheer an wheelbarrer."
 Jinnie's face fell. 70 Pa, why didn't you stick to the melojeon? You don't need wheelbarrow." inside itself an looks jes like natural cheer, then you turn peg an the fus thing you know thers patent wheelbarrer, easy runnin' light as a feath- CT, an strong as-as-ennything
 'eWhere's it at?"
 Mr. skittles again surveyed the closed door and winked significantly at the woodshed
 Jimmie silent moment, wrestling with new thought. Say, Pa," she asked, "have you got through payin' fer the clock?"
 Mr. skittles's face fell. Well, no, ain't quite," he confessed, "but that's with another company. It ain't the thing at all; this here is con cern, twenty cents week till you pay up" @WiH they take it away from you like they did
 
 "Oh, This here is good. honest, concern. The agent said so"
 a lively interest in the wheelbarrow, and Mr. Skit- tes encouraged by her sympathy, drew largely upon his imagination in recounting the marvellous possibilities of his new investment When the din ner bell sounded from the other cabin, Jimmie rose reluctantly. T 'spect better spread up bed. an empty out yer wash pan" she advised; tits awful mussy in here"
 That's right" said MT. Skittles, approvingly "rn jes' do that very thing. Jinnie!" he called she started, ''the fus time you and Bud git chance you slip around to the woodshed an take peek at it."
 Meanwhile Mrs Skittles, having with great dis- patch cleaned and brushed and fed each little Skit- ties, ordered them into the of the kitchen with positive instructions that they not to beyond certain crack in the floor. There was an air of unusual importance about Mrs. Skit- ties this afternoon She marched back and forth to the pantry, measuring flour and lard and making frequent references to muchthumbed cookbook.
 Only did the group in the venture inquiry: 'Is it going to be punkin apple. Maw?"
 .I ain't a-sayfn'" said Mrs. skitt1es Ioftily cit did bring pie no luck to talk about it before hand" She rolled the dough with firm hand, pinching it and spanking it with the skill of one practiced in those arts.
 "I know" whispered Eddie Jo; tits sweet pertat- er."
 Mrs. skittles kneaded and measured and stirred in absorbed silence. "Rhoda Ray" she presently demanded, reach that there allspice the of the shelf The this way"
 Rhoda Ray, glad to be ordered on the scene of action, looked while her mother liberally sprin kled the contents through the mixture
 Yours took the blue ribbon at the pie social last year, didn't it. Maw?" she asked in concili- atory tone,