Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-10-10

in fact, the bluff fairly teemed with
them and spilled over and ran out to
meet her. Bonnie headed the on
slaught and was followed by Ethel
Maud and Luella Kinney and several
Tynes Of assorted sizes. AS they
brought up beside her, Ethel Maud
stepped on one of her own feet in q
most amazing way and fell sprawling
in such manner as to Craze her little
retrousse nose on the tip of Miss Gym
thia's shoe. A mighty wall ensued,
which was augmented by Bennie's
most unsympathetic prediction that
she would be denied the privilege Of
attendance at the party.
"Oh-oh-o--ho, can go, too!
don't eat with my nose. and see with
my eyes and they won't be nothing to
smell. Ohio. cant go, Miss Gym
thie?"
Eyes, indeed you can" answered
Miss Cynthia, as she wiped the barked
little dot with her clean handkerchief
and failed to notice the smutty prints
from the small fingers that chung to
the sleeve OF her snowy frock. Ben
ME mustn't say that. He knows 1t
wouldn't be a nice party if you had to
stay at home with sick nose. Now
come on and let's get your mother to
put some camphor on It," And they
all proceeded down street
Mrs. Kinney hailed them from her
open window with the rolling-pin. She
was almost, literally speaking, elbow
deep In pies, and the aroma thereof
spread across the street Her front
stoop glistenSd damply in the sunlight
and the front walk was spotless. The
gate was tied up as signal for the
children to jump over the fence and ap-
proach their home with caution-on
the grass.
But across the street the Dobbs res
idence was undergoing more In tho
way of general toilet than that
which had been finished at the Kin
ney house. The front door stood wide
open and the little hall and front room
presented swept and garnished ap-
pearance All the flower pots on the
window ledge had green paper covers
and haunted many brilliant colors. for
flowers doomed under the ministra-
lions OF Mrs. Dobbs' easy good nature.
As Miss Cynthia was opposite the
gate the lady Of the house came
around from the side yard with .
bucket OF foaming whitewash In her
hand and an old broom, whose brush
was swathed in rags.
Now, Bonnie, I've done caught you
fair! Come on and finish that last
panel Of fence you done got tired ON
last week. You've put the brush
away so as not to find 1t handy, but
these rags on a broomstick Is Just
as good. Make him come. Miss Gym
THE" And Mrs. Dobbs smiled a jo-
vial appeal to Miss Cynthia to use her
influence with the reluctant Bennie.
why. boys like to whitewash. Mrs
Dobbs," answered Miss Cynthia en-.
couragingly. How nice everything
looks. everywhere"
well. it oughter, for Miss Seliny
'Lue come around and walked us all up
long fore five o'clock. I'm afraid to set
down. fer I am so stiff that mightn't
be able to git up again." answered
Mrs. Dobbs, plaintively.
well, l know Bonnie and Ethel
Maud are going to stay now and help
you get done so you can rest" said
Miss Cynthia with significant glance
at the two deserters, who fell to on
the fonco with a will
BE sure and notice them new lace
curtains Mis- Jim Peters is a-putting
up In her front windows" Mrs. Dobbs
called after her as she started down
the street. Miss Cynthia smiled and
nodded as she looked over with inter
est at slender figure poised on a
chair by the window in the little cot
Peters waved her hand In greeting
and Miss Cynthia caught a glimpse
Of the precious little cradle through
the open door.
The front regions OF the grocery
were deserted and presented their
usual unitarian appearance. except
that huge punches OF fragrant sweet
fern were set around in different
homely receptacles and arranged with
q decidedly artistic effect.
Miss Cynthia's eyes roamed delight.
eddy over the cool, dark interior. but
In second were focused on . scene
n the back Of the store.
On the floor, collar flaring. sleeves
rolled to his shoulders and grit by an
ample Bingham apron. knelt Mr.. Alan
with large tub full Of squirming ba-
bies before him. and with praisewor-
thy despatch he was polishing OF the
head Of Carrots Of the flaming hair.
The brother Of Carrots wiggled and
splashed and seemed intent on q deep
sea dive.
Here. young man, can't scrub
Carrots and keep you up too. Sit
tight a moment, can't you. old slip
pery?" The voice had a slightly anx.
ious note.
Lands alive. Mr.. Alan, you hadn't
oughter soaped them both to onct!"
said Miss Selma Lue's voice from the
Just hold 'em still until
button Blossoms neck and put Glenn
ME on the floor and III come. A soapy
baby amt thing to take risks with,
can tell you"
Gould help?" Miss Cynthia's
voice was sweetly solicitous, but it
acted on the be-aproned scrubber in
the manner expected Of two-pound
bomb. He sat back on the floor SO
suddenly that Carrots slipped danger
ously and the other Flarjty almost &C.
his plunge A man on his
knees before a deep tub of water With
q soapy baby in each hand is at a dis