Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1911-08-18
CHAPTER Continued.


lima, Cynthia and Alan. Kent. ST.. comes
10 the Bluff and denounces his son.
CHAPTER discontinued
beetle-browed, fierce, white whis-
kered old gentleman sat In the tom
neau and berated in a most astonish-
Ing way very meek young chauffeur.
"Now, you'll have to walk back to
the garage and get one and leave me
here to burn up in this unm1tigated
sun, you numskull-d'you hear p
numskull!"
The meek young man answered
meekly, but not at all as II terrified,
for there was something comic in the
old gentleman's rage and there was
q twinkle under the bushy eyebrows.
"Now, don't be bothered, mister"
said Miss Selma LVe from the gro
Gerry steps, where she stood sur
rounded by all the small fry on the
Bluff, none of whom had ever before
had the opportunity Of such close
acquaintance with the mysterious ami
NAL known as the t'ottermobile. The
young man can go In on tho next car
and be- back in no time with the
monkey-wrench or whatever you need
to fix it with And you come right
IN and set here in the shade OF the
blackberry where you can git the river
breeze. Bonnie, set out the big chair.
and, Ethel Maud, you and Luella run
to the we'll and draw a bucket of fresh
water and hand some In that new
gourd hanging by my door. just come
over here and be comfortable. mister,
Twill admire to have you"
Miss Selma Lue's bustling hospit,
able enthusiasm had the old gentle
man out of the machine and seated by
the grocery door before he knew 1t
himself
upon my wor-, madam, this is
pleasant after the hot sum-" he said in
booming voice. very pleasant
i'you hear?-very pleasant" and his
brows drew up In an arch OF amuse-
ment as Ethel Maud and Luella pre-
sented themselves before him with q
dripping gourd held in two pairs Of
small hands, for not for worlds would
either of them have relinquished a
part in the presentation OF the cool
Ing draft.
my, my, what nice pair of little
girls we have here! A very interest
Ing family, all of them-d'you hear?-
very interesting family-and large
-eh?
Lands alive, mister, this is all the
children on the Bluff; they don't none
of EN- belong to me- said Miss Selma
Lue, as she took the gourd from him
and began to water the children one
at time, according to size.
Now, that's too bad, madam
dyou hear?-too bad Such a fine
lot! But, bless my soul, / think you
are lucky not to own a single one!
live got the most outrageous pig
headed child myself and well, l
Just can't express myself about him:
outrageous pig-head-d'you hear
outrageous pig-head!"
my, now, amt that PITY" said
Miss Selma Lue sympathetically.
did the poor boy take to drink"
Drink? No, madam, he did not!
He's everything a gentleman ought to
be, and more. the pig-head-d'you
hear?-the pig-head!"
Couldn't you do nothing with
him." asked Miss Selma Lue with
interest. you have to make allow
,ances fer young men-folks; looks like
Jest they youngness goes to they
heads. Where did he break out?"
Miss Selma Lue seated herself on the
step beside his chair, keeping a watch
full eye on the children. who stood as
close as possible to the red marvel
and discussed its wonders In the
highest-pitched voices at their COM
mand. sAs usual, her sympathetic
and interested way had its effect OF
irresistibly inviting confidence.
In a most unexpected pig headed
ness-left me and the business to go
to the dogs and went trailing of after
moonshine- d'you hear-m oonshine!"
Well, now, expect he thought
you could take mighty good keer Of
yourself and the business. too; you
seem so strong fer any age at all"
said Miss Selma Lue soothingly. The
old gentleman drew himself up In his
chair and looked quite rejuvenated by
the mention Of his obvious youthful
ness. n
oh, could pull the business
through well enough, but 1t was his
leaving It for moonshine nonsense
d'you hear?moonshine nonsense!
Well, things do happen strange in
this world, and 1t looks like they
can't nobody weigh out anybody else's
cake fer EN-. Boys and fathers lots
Of times don't want to bite offen the
same slice Of life" Miss Selma Lue's
eyes had far-away look in them and
'she spoke very softly.
But what's man to do? Build .
great business and have a son come
along and scorn it-d'you hear
scorn it?''
1T might be that what man
thought was 4 great thing to do in
life would look like small potatoes to
his son. certainly am sorrowful fer
sou about being 20 disappointed N