The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-03-10
~ VIRGINIA BLAIR

f - - 4SS
across the way. and entrance was
made through a blue door with a brass
khocker. We had lived in our own
little cottage for three weeks and bad
seen no one go out or in.
There must be some other en-
trance" Julia said.
"But there isn't" | declared posi-
lively.
And they can't be away" said
Julia. because we can see lights in
the tower window"
eyes," I said, ''and the rural deliy-.
cry carrier ulnIocks the box ard takes
out the mail every morning. 60 there
must be some one who writes the let
ters."
"Weli. PIl ask him." said Julia
promptly.
But the inafi man knew nothing. 81
just take out the letters" he said.
'and put the mail in. cut / never e
a soul"
How are the letters addressed?
Surely you must know whether a man
or a woman is shut up there"
"No'm," the man protested stolidiy;
''the letters Just say Marion Fuller
neither Miss nor Madam nor Mr..
"of course it's d woman" / said
when the carrier had gone.
'fWhy?' Julia asked.
Because a man would have to cook
for himself, and ali that
And no man who could help 1t
would want that name. Think OF a
man named Marion"
I'm thinking Of one named jack
said regretfully. IF he were only
here. Julia"
Then Julia turned on me wrath
fully. That's always the way" she
said. mo matter what 1 try to say you
always come back to Jack. You en-
gagged people always harp on one
string
Silence .reigned for a moment, and
then to break the ice I began, I'm go
Ing TO watch the blue door after dark"
How "a you watch anything after
dark?"
ITS moonlight" I reminded her,
land I could certainly see the outline
Of any one who came out"
That night as / sat on the porch ]
Snifed. "Julia," 1 said solemnly, do
/ smell onlons?"
Julia's aristocratic nose was ele-
waited. Onions it is" she said.
'SThey are in a delicious comblna-
ton With something" l said. "Tt Is
the nearest thing to q Hsh chowder
that l have known since the days of
shore dinners" ~
"ChOWder?" Julia demanded. 'NWhere
would they get their Ash?'
"Cath EN-" I said briefly. ANY one
who would drop q line from that
stone wall on the other side could fsh
I'm the river"
Then you think?' Julia questioned.
81 think that II it Ii the fragrance
OF Dish chowdef that Is being waited
toward us on the evening" air the
tenant behind, the blue door Is a man.
And even as I spoke the blue door
opened. and young man came forth
carrying d s~teafning dish.
'VVeA. OF All things" said Julia IN
der her breath.
The young man came up the steps.
81 am your next door neighbor." he
announced land + thought that this
choWder might be my Introduction.
Tt 10 a most exclusive recipe, which I
have shared with only one friend.
Jack Carson"
1 sat up straight. sack Carson?" i
exclaimed. WHY, he is-he 49,
'The nan you are engaged to-ex-
actly." said the young man with the
chowder. '1This morning I had q let
ter from him saying that you were
somewhere in the neighborhood. j
knew from the description that you
were the young ladies next door, and
I felt that his letter and this chowder
would constitute a sufficient introduc-
ton, and so I have presented myself
and he handed me Jacks letter, with
a bow. -
And while / read it I heard Julia
say. ESQ you are Marion Fuller?
'Yes:'' Ja 81
81 thought IL was a girl" Julia muir
INJURED, dimpling and sparkling. 'The
name IL $3.50 feminine"
"But now that you have seen me?'
he questioned.
ST shall not think OF you-at ALL" she
said.
.'Stay me with chowder," he plead,
ed. Comfort me with He held
the dish out toward me. You'll &C,
cept it won't you?
Indeed l WILL" / said promptly
'and you shall tell me how you came
to make a Robinson Crusoe OF yourself
behind the blue door"
I led the way to u little dining
room.
"Our coffee is ready" I said, "and
Julia made the rolls With her own fail
hands"
The chowder was delicious, and the
big man at the head Of the table serv
q "a -I3AN - In~Srh&hAAS - -