Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1910-10-27
SHE WAS
DISSATISFIED

8sAANg -
quiet summer place. engaged It for the
season without waiting to confer with
his wife. who happened 70 be away
from homo.
Afterward he had cause 70 regret
this preclpitAncy. When he and Mrs.
Hardness arrived at Briarwood they
found the neatly furnished cottage"
supplied mostly with I1ckety folding
cots. broken-down wash-StAnds and de-
Cr0pit chairs. Mrs.. HarEnOss appeared
to think this sad state Of things en-
tirely due 70 the fact that she had
not been consulted before the sign
ing Of the lease.
"oh. well, Kate" Hardness said,
soothlngly. I'VE came here for the sim
pie life. Tho view IL beautiful and
the scarcity Of furnishings won't in.
terfore with our having Q rcstful sum.
mer."
you won't nnd It very restful to
walk q quarter Of q mile to the farm
spring every time We want drinking
water" she replied. And the agent
failed to tell you that the fireplace
smokes like-like VesuviuS."
I'VE probably won't need many fires.
Swimming in the lake will be more In
our line"
Eyes, but there are 20 many weeds
that I shall be afraid to 90 into the
water, for I'm sure snakes hide there. /"
I'll rake them out" said Harness,
who had planned q complete rest.
while you do that I'll work In the
garden. Though why the agent should
have called that patch Of plantain a
garden I can't seo."
TT isn't much Of q garden, 10 1T But
there are some nice old-fashioned
roses and the view here IL lovely"
The morning after their FIRST night
at Briarwood Mrs. Hardness came
10 the breakfast table looking pale
from loss Of sleep.
Now, Fred" she began with q
weary little smile, before I say any
thing else, I'll acknowledge that the
Briarwood view Is charming. But the
most superb view in the world would
not conmpensate me for q night like
the one I've Just been through.
could almost believe tho house Is
haunted"
''Haunted?"
"Yes. ! suppose that bell which
rang at intervals all night long wasn't
audible in your room"
"A ringing bell! Why, you must
have dreamed Il. There isn't even q
telephone here"
II didn't dream a bell. heard It.
You don't know how gruesome and
weird It sounded" Is
"I1l know tonight, Kate" promised
Hardness. And he insisted upon ex.
changing rooms with her.
"Well?" she asked next morning.
Il heard It, all right. Hardly slept
q wink. I'll get a boy and q ladder
from the farm and II that bell isn't q
spook I'll find It or know the reason
why.
The Harnesses were relieved to
discover that the nightly disturbance
was caused by flying squirrels playing
around an old disconnected bell in
the caves, which had been used to
call former tenants Of Briarwood to
the farm for their meals.
well, I think the agent should have
had It taken down." said Mrs. Hark-
ness.
"Oh, by the way, got a letter from
him this morning that / haven't read
yet" Paid her ausband.
1T may be In answer to ono ! wrote
him the first day telling him q few
facts Of which he appeared not to be
aware when be inveigled you into
coming here"
HE says" Hardness looked I'D from
the letter, that as you are dlssatis.
ned he is glad to be able TO take the
place on our hands. He says he has
q man who will buy the cottage II we
will give immediate possession"
"0f course" said Mrs. Hardness, I'VE
won't give immediate possession after
the work we have done here. Why,
you've made the bathing beach fine.
and I'm getting the garden in splen-
did order"
But he wants to sell and he'll pay
Us for the lease"
"oh, Fred, do let's buy Briarwopd
ourselves"
Hardness looked at his wife In
speechless astonishment.
you know, Fred, the view IL per
Rectly beautiful" she reminded him.
Il said 30 all the time"
Eyes. that's Ro,' agreed HARNESS,
wondering In q mans vague way Just
what were the peculiar processes Of