Evening star., 1911-08-20

0NE of the best things about vlstln IS
j gettn back home again. And since
this last Weekend whirl I've been SO
stuck on this little joint of mine at Rock
hurst t-on-the- Sound that its lucky | amt
taxed accordin' to my own valuation
But Sadie she's the riSitin member OF our
firm. She thinks nothn' at all of packin a
trunk, takin little Sullv and the nurse, and
pikin' off down on Long Island or up in the
Berkshires for few days. She'll settle down
in someone elses house, spread herself out
in couple Of rooms, and be perfectly conf
table While Newell, after the first night
/ want to get back where | know just
when breakfast will be ready, and where the
bath towels are kept, and what | can do after
dinner without interferln with anybody 5
plans.
Sadie'd been out to the Montgomery Gun
nerses in the Jersey hills before, and always
raved over the place. She and Mrs. Gunners
had got to know each other by being mixed
up on opposite sides of a committee row when
they was both helpin' to start the Colony
Club in town, and they'd come to be great
friends. So every summer since then Sadie
has put in week or so with them and Mrs.
Gunne-s has been up to see US once or twice.
Montgomery had always ducked, and 50 had
l. There was no special reason on my part,
and as for him | always understood he never
went anywhere. Besides, we'd never met, and
neither of us was takin any chances.
BuC CnlS LllIc, With SeIS tilC usual
invite for a visit to Laurel Lodge, and an
nounces that Mrs. Gunners says she thinks
might come out for a day or SO anyway, |
happens to feel Just in the mood.
"All right, says |, III run up Friday after
noon, and maybe if they treat me right Ill
stav until Monday mornin.a
"Why that will be hne!" says Sadie. |
could see, though, that she wa mt wild about
it. And then she tacks on, 4 hope you'll
like Mr. Gunners'
"Guess if l don't can hide it, says |. Il
amt so scrappy, you know, but what | can
keep from thrown stones at my host.
"He-he's little peculiar at times" says
she.
aWho ainton SAYS l. "But as long as he
don't start anything messy, won't"
SOMEHOW, this hint Of Sadie's that maybe
- wouldn't get along with party that she
could stand kind of reused up the mule in my
disposition, and after that | wouldn't have
missed meetin' Montgomery Gunners for a
farm. So Friday mornin' goes to town with
bag all packed, and early that afternoon
Swiftly Joe with enough power Of attorney to
Sunday, and hits tube train under the Mort
I'm met at the station all proper by man wit
seated yellow blackboard, and after half an hou
I'm landed at the front door OF Laurel Lodge.
There's nothin' grand imposin' about tn
just low, conf table, roomy affair, with a
dorner windows, and vines and climbin' roses
almost to the ridgepole. But there's acres and
lawn in front and woods and hills behind, all c
the man tells me, is on the place. He says tt
half dozen horses, herd of fancy cows, and
angora goats, not to mention ducks, pheasants
and few hundred plain hens. The garden h
kind of vegetable in it you can think Of
"AIust raise enough to supply hotel,
@Where do YOU market it ALP
"Lor', Sir we don't sell nothing, Sir, says h
Gunners won't allow it, Sir.
"One Of his whims eh?' says |. "Got ma
like that, has he?'
a wouldn't care to say, Sir, says the man, S
sort Of nervous and glancin' around. He's |
fsted boy too; but it clear the boss has him well
finds Sadie and Mrs. Gunnars chattin cozy
able on the south veranda behind the vines WI
snoozin away in a bed hammock, and as I've
just as the maids luggin out the tea tray sides
Oolong by maxim out that needs to stretch
I'll tramp around the place awhile, says
work up dinner appetite