The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-06-10
copyrighted by j.. b. Lippincott c

the nail, nlied Win the missionary
spirit, and, as usual when the spirit
was upon her, she did not choose her
words.
TT wouldn't matter If you had a
scrap of talent" she adjured the re-
cumbent Eleanor. 1T wouldn't be so
bad If you worked even. But. hon
estly, can you say you've made one
improvement this year? They
oughtn't to let you keep on at the
studio, and If 1t were the league they
wouldn't"
Think of my homeless situation if
they turned me out" Miss Burke de-
Tended herself. BESIDES, I'm their
pet. | invented the sneeze. and it
turned the life class green with envy.
See here, Mamie. did | ever show you
about the sneeze?"
You might go in for vaudeville
Miss Wrigg commented. Il should
think you'd worry a little over wasting
your time and money. | know | wOr-
ried, and | really worked every min
ute ! was in an art school,
y may as well get up" mourned
her victim. But be accurate, honey,
wen when you abuse me. It's jim
my's money. | never had any"
Miss Wrigg got VI, too. The toe Of
her walking boot tattooed impatiently
against the wooden rocker OF her
chair.
II know I'm cross" she a%pologized.
I've been working. But. Eleanor,
how can you stand having our broth
er pay your way year after year? You
say he has only his salary. Suppose
he should get tired? There isn't a
thing you could do"
Miss Burke raised scandalized eyes
to the ceiling. Jimmy get tired of
supporting his sister, It's his chief
joy. Besides. it's good for him" She
sat down before the mirror and began
pulling the pins from her hair. Il
take great credit to myself for jim
my" she observed sweetly. "He
hasn't been able to acquire a single
bad habit. I've been a splendid ex-
pense to him ever since he began
edTHlbB money.
You probably have" Miss Wrigg
agreed. We'll, I've noticed when a
person plays lily of the field for one
time, Providence evens up the score
at some other. What If Jimmy we're
to lose his position or have something
happen to him."
Jimmy couldn't lose his position
any more than he could ever find an
ether if he did. He started in as
office boy, and he's grown into a piece
OF the business. And as for anything
happening to him"-Miss Burke
looked over her shoulder: Nancy's
practical d%isapproval was always a
provocation-"if anything did, he's
certainly made me out his life in
%surance." she ended. drawing a lit.
tie.
You're d~etestable!" Miss Wrigg
flung back at her. Sometimes |
don't see why | like you at ALL" she
added from the threshold.
Sometimes | don't fathom it my
self" Miss Burke admitted. She got
up laughing when the door closed.
There was a picture of her brother
on the mantel. She took 1t down and
held 1t at arms length In front of her.
Your sisters a bad lot, Jeems," she
a~postrophized the cardf ASK Mamie
Wrigg If she isn't. Now, | suppose
she'll be wroth with me for as much
as an hour"
She returned the photograph to it's
place and went on with her dressing.
When she was quite finished she
tapped at the opposite door.
The butterfly is going out she
announced. The bird of pleasure
f1utters on the wing. Do you approve
of me enough to see If I'm hooked up
behind? 1t might be a comfort TO my
brother to know | didn't come to
pieces on the streets of PHILADELPHIA"
You're horrid," Miss Wrigg relent-
ed. You pretend not to care about
anything. ! believe it's a pose"
"Poise. not pose. You've left out a
letter" the other corrected her.
Goodnight" She swept down the
stairs, watching her light skirts fluff
behind her.
1t was late when she returned, and
1t was very late before she woke next
morning. She vas dimly conscious
that some n had been tapping at
her door for what seemed an inter.
minable period. as she opened her
eyes. she saw the door slide ajar and
Nancy Wrigg's head come through
the opening. She turned over at thar
and pulled the watch from under her
pillow.
Hello. Nannie! 'Cruelties' shut
DOWN." she called in greeting.
Il got of for a WHILE" Miss Wr.gs
answered. She shut the door and
came ACROSS TO the bed. Her prac
.ticai. anectiorate- voice shcok~.l ;itt,t
~ she spoke. Il don't sapposa II
amounts tt anything. but | though
I'd come and tell you. It seem,
they've had-some kind of an earth
quake IN San Francisco"