The Ordway new era., 1911-03-10
CHAPTER ~.
The Wonderful Barn Loft.

They can't nobody tell what = mort
gage and \ Golf Club will do"
Miss Selma Lue.
"Now. Bennie. run homo 40 quick
as you can. for I know your mother
is in q hurry fer the things. Here's
tho nickel head Of cabbage. Put 1t
under your arm. and take the sack
OF meal In your hand. See II you
cant carry the potatoes on the other
arm and the piece Of bacon In your
other hand. Instead OF tho sorghum
molasses she sent for. | am going to
send three.for.ten cakes OF soap. fer
she's forgot to buy II bit for more'n
a week. and | am sure she would
rather have 1t. My. what load for
boy! Open your mouth for this
And Miss Selma I.ue steered the heav.
ily.loaded youngster down the steps
and started him toward home.
As she came up again she paused.
and. resting her hands on her hips.
leaned out to look far up the street
There was the shadow OF anxiety on
her usually unrufiied brow. and she
sighed as she picked Blossom out OF
the cracker-box and put her far back
on the counter. hemming her in for
safety with two brooms.
II feel like I amt seen Miss Cynthie
fer a year." she said. and 1t has
been more'n week since she came
down. The cook comes after things
and she says the child amt sick. SO
! amt got no cause TO worry: but
I'm Jest hungry TO see her. Seems
like she Is kind OF n frosted cake
the more you git OF her the more you
want"
Yes. thick with frosting. and white
and cold: it's good to-look At" re-
marked MIR. Alan as he seated him
self on an upturned peck measure
and reached TO head Clemmie OF from
n pile OF scrubbing brushes she seemed
bent on chewing.
We'll. I've got feeling In my
bones she'll come today. and I'm going
to expect her anyway. Mis- Kinney's
bones always gives her notice Of
trouble. but I've got mine trained SO
they ache fer the coming OF good"
Miss Selma I.ues wisdom was an un.
conscious adaptation Of one OF the
principles OF very modern thought.
II was at the lull time at eleven
o'clock. when the Bluff dinners were
all In the pot. and Miss Selma I.ue
could get a breathing spell until the
afternoon rush for supper provender
The Blum bought supplies meal at
time and brought the nickels and
dimes In payment thereof Miss Sc.
lima l.ue had no need OF boOkkeeper
she pnt her money In n cracked vim
egar jug behind the counter. Nor did
she ever have enough to make bank
deposits. as her stock was bought on
much the same principle as that on
which 1t was sold. n little at n time
and cash down.
/ For" she COunsc scled her neighbors
having on hand. mos, OF times means
wasting. and the piece OF meat
oughter 20 In the pot according to
what you know you oughter have and
not what you think you want. Lots
OF folks stomiks amt as greedy as
they is"
Mr. Alan had come in for his din
ner n little before the time. lie spent
most OF his mornings down at the
ferry sketchlng the romst bouts as
they loaded the early boats: but when
the wharf was deserted. he found 1t
pleasant to come and chat with Miss
Selma Lue as she prepared the simple
meal he shared with her. lie liked
to watch the babies tumble and crawl
about the grocery before their noon
maps. for the floor and low-lying re-
gions OF the store offered unlimited
opportunities for adventure to creep
ers. and 1t always interested him to
see what they could manage in the
way Of exciting catastrophes.
Miss Selma Lue at such times fair.
ly radiated with good cheer and in.
terest and he felt constrained to do
likewise. In fact. Miss Selma Lue
Invited condolences as the sun invites