The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1911-12-14
- ANN. q
Father'sHelper
copyright. 1874. by Associated Literary Press
By JANE OSBORNE

Copyright. 1871. by Associated Literary Pressl
When George WaltOn's friend Jack
Gray said he had been transferred
from New York to San Francisco.
and that he was worrying about what
to do with the little home he had
bought at Bredon. a nearby town that
boosted a small college. George had
an inspiration.
In rent the house myself" said
he. ITS Just the sort Of quiet place
I'm looking for where | can finish
this story I'm writing"
One September day George estab-
,lished himself in the Gray bunga-
low on the outskirts of Bredon. He
considered himself lucky The house
was charming. He didn't know a
soul, SO he need fear no interruption.
And he had a thoroughly reliable
housekeeper in the person Of middle
aged Mrs. Bridget Magoon. who had
kept his bachelor apartments in town
and whose only drawback was her
motherless grandson. Patsy Leary,
aged two and half years.
On the morning after his arrival
George was dwelling on his many
blessings when his reveries were in
terrupted by a quick rap on the
screen door. He looked up to see a
young girl perhaps just past twenty
"a comfortable. substantial looking
sort Of girl, with fresh color. warm
brown eyes and a definite way Of
doing things George could tell that
by the way she put one firm brown
hand on the knob of the door.
May come in?" she asked. isn't
this the Gray bungalow"
Assuring her that it was, George
stumbled over a chair In his hurry to
open the door. lie begged her to be
seated and after she had composed
herself comfortably in one Of the
vide wicker chairs, he sat down op'
posite her.
You're just the person want to
see." she said. and George felt fat
tered. "You see, I'm Miss STAGE, Ann
STAGE. And I'm visiting my brother.
Walter STAGE. l came for only a few
weeks, but he wants me to stay the
winter. You know. brothers an In.
structor at the college. and like all
the rest Of them he's as poor as .
church mouse. SO I told him l
wouldn't stay unless I could earn
enough money to take care Of my.
self. I'm not bit clever. and don't
know how to teach or do anything.
But the other day had an idea.
Il hate to play cards and love to
take care OF children-.that's Just the
opposite Of most Of the women about
here. There's q card club at least
once q week-and card parties In be-
tween and trips to town for shop
ping and the matinee And all the
girls who are married to faculty peo'
pie get their husbands to take care
Of their children afternoons when
they want to have a good time. So
thought Id be not mothers helper,
exactly but-a fathers helper.
Ann ended her recital breathless
and laughing.
Isn't It a Jolly idea?" she went on
And It isn't a bit expensive for you
fathers. Club afternoons | entertain
the children for fifteen cents apiece
and call for and deliver them. too
For a quarter apiece take them OF
other days-private treatment, 20,
know, and l have to charge more. FOL
there amt so many children thost
days.
"Walter's wife knows Mrs. Gray
not very well, but they belong to tn
same club. So she sent me over II
see you. l thought maybe you'd b.
one of my customers"
For the first time Ann stoppe'
long enough to let George explain
She looked at him appealingly from
her soft brown eyes.
But I'm not Mr.. Gray" salt
George, with real regret. I'm JUS
MIR. Walton. The Grays have gon'
UNEXPECTEDLY to California. and w
taken their bungalow. You see,
write stories"
"Oh, I'm so sorry" apologize
Ann. Il must have seemed 8
stupid. really beg your pardon"
George was casting about for q
excuse to detain the charming AM
when Patsy ran into the room. H
had bright blue eyes and bright We
low hair. His face was pink an
freckled and his baby lips smile
bewitchingly as he ran confidcntl
up to George.
"Oh. but after ALL" said Ann. whe
she saw the boy. maybe you do wal
me. Isn't he a DEAR"
Isn't he, now" said George Wit
feryor. as an idea for seeing moi
Of Ann came into his head.
And Mrs. Walton does play card
suppose?' questioned Ann.
"Why-you see blundert
George, Mrs. Walton's not here.
oh" AIMS monosyllable vi
comprehensive The scene befo
her became a tragedy. She not
the absence of a button on George
coat-the apparent embarrassing
~, ,;y man who was irving to