Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1910-04-01
When the Plumbers Struck
BY ABBIE FoSDICK RANSOM

lhi Wbuhh utIs
u shan't ask you to, but we will
be married next Wednesday wait and
see"
Not without her full consent" was
the reply and then they drove on in
silence.
Five days TN succession at exactly
the same hour Phillip Brewster asked
the same question and received the
same answer. Then he would tako
Constance driving and return to dis
cover if Aunt Clcora had changed her
mind. Always II vas the same repy:
We're too good friends. what's the
use Of breaking things by fixing them
so there's sure to be a quarrel after
ward?"
on the afternoon OF the sixth day a
change came The household was in
despair. Miss Cleora was wrought up
TO a nervous tension which was tense.
even for her. and Constance was of in
a vain search for plumber.
The water pipes have burst I'm the
attic" was the explanation Miss Gle
ora vouch5afed The whole lower
floors were flooded before discovered
IT, We turned the water or In the
basement and tclephoned everywhere
for plumber and not one to be
found What shall | do?"
81 understood the plumbers had
gone out on strike and. Of course. the
few who are working have their hands
fun with city Jobs. They won't come
, into the suburbs now for compare
lively trining leak. Haven't you any
water at all?"
only what we carry from the
! spring We haven't had a drop ex.
cept what we've carried since yester-
! day and the missionaries are coming
to dinner to-morror.
Where's Constance?"
What has Constance to do with
/ burst water pipes?" she demanded.
| Constance only laughs at the predica-
| ment and says she can carry all that
| is needed or-that we dine the mis-
sionaries in the city We can't do IL:
II is not treating them with proper re-
spect for they are hoping for day
in the country Those pipes must be
repaired at once. only. who. who. who
Is TO do it?"
Where is the leak?" Phillip asked
the question with studied careless
ness May see lt?"
What good viii that do?" she re-
turned irritably. Looking at Il
won't mend It, You're not plumber.
but II you were anything Of friend
you'd hunt up one somewhere"
lie laughed. starting up the stair
way In the attic. think you said.
I'll take a look at IT,"
In ten minutes he was again In the
hall where Constance was drawing
on her gloves.
IL went TO every establishment
could find and in only one did they
give me any encouragement" sho
said. There they said they were
busy night and day with orders al
ready in, but would try and get out
here next week"
Miss Cleora sank down upon the
lower step and sigh weled up from
the very bottom of her heart. Those
poor. starving missionaries" Phillip
turned away to laugh and Constance
wiped her lips vigorously: then he
/ faced her.
. Miss Cleora. may Constance and I
, be married by those missionaries be-
J., fore dinner tomorrow"
r This is no time for jesting." Miss
Cleora rose like star in tragedy and
brought her foot down with a snap.
do you want those missionaries to
o starve?" lie asked the question in
a low. awestruck tones.
f, 10 nj IA
II her angry demand
II Everything. II you consent to what
, I've asked you 1l3 times by actua
=. count. I'll mend those pipes in less
n than 30 minutes"
"You?" she shifted.
- Eyes. /. do you consent?"
y, Lets see the pipes mended first,
was the ungraclous response.
N When the paint was scrubbed of
- his hands and the water was iowinl
- smoothly through the pipes he ap
~ preached Miss Cleora again.
q. II had long talk with father las
20 night" he said, softly. "and he sen
= you a letter by me today. | know
- what II contains and may | add m!
% pleading to his. Miss Cleora? Yol
have had lonesome life and no low
, in II except that Of Constance. Whel
70 we are gone" his voice broke
:. Father told me TO call him over tn
"a phone II there was any hope" h
placed the missive in her hand, ado
=, ing, "lt would be nice II we could hav
W a double wedding tomorrow"
?" Il may have seemed Ike a eros
old woman to you. Philip" her arr
I'd stole round the shoulders OF he
/ niece and drew her close. But II
Il not so(very old-only 40-and II ha
or seemed to me that Constance had cos
We me all the sweetness life ever hel,
er II made me love her all the more an
ke ! couldn't give her up. l loved you
m father so much In those days and
ar Phillip rose with alacrity. Dad
OF waiting to hear how | succeeded" b
is. said I'm ring him up and toll hii