The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-02-16
Cornelia's
Customer
BY HARRIET LUMM1s SMITH
copyright. 1917. by Associated Literary Press)

copyright. 1911. by Associated Literary Press
1T really isn't anything to get ex
cited about, Aunt Nancy" Cornelil
said soothingly.
Cornelia herself was not at all ex
cited. Her serenity was in mos
agreeable contrast to Aunt Nancy's
Tutoring perturbation. To be sure
It was Aunt Nancy's silver closet te
which Cornelia had lost the key.
III 1t falls into the hands of dis
honest person." observed Aunt Nan
cy. ON the point Of tears, then good.
by Ito the silver. including the loving
cup from which General Washington
drank and the tablespoon on which
yoar great grandfather Bennett cut
his. teeth"
Dear Aunt Nancy" Cornelia rea-
soned kindly, unless the dishonest
person were a mind reader, too, he
could not possibly know that this
partiouiar key fitted your silver
cloSet." She was about to continue
hers argument along this line when
Aunt Nancy executed one OF her
liloSical fops.
will be necessary to cancel our
invitation for Friday" remarked
Aunt Nancy. with the silver locked
up and only half dozen spoons and
three forks available 1t is out of the
question to entertainpa dinner party"
Cornelia looked at her watch. II
will get a locksmith at once" she
replied. "The key will be ready by
tonight and Mary can clean the silver
In the morning" She went to put on
her street things, wondering that
Aunt Nancy could not see how much
better 1t was to be calm and philo-
sophical in case of some trifiing an
noyance like losing the key of the
silver closet.
: Cornelia is an observant young
woman. Weeks before, when nothing
was further from her expectation
than the need of such services, she
had noticed the sign "Locksmith" in
a window of little hardware store
near where she was waiting to take
the car. In the direction of this
steps. A bell changed loudly as she
opened the door, and a wizened, elder
ly person swooped out from a back
room and asked what she wanted.
COrnelia explained. II should like
to have you see to the matter at once,
II you please" she said, "for my aunt
is In great hurry for the key"
Cant do thing before Saturday"
snapped the locksmith, seemingly Of
Tended because she had not wished
to purchase range for the kitchen.
'But you must, you know" Cor
nelia answered him kindly. Il must
have the key tonight. My aunt en-
tertains at dinner tomorrow"
81 won't have nobody to leave the
store with before Saturday" persisted
the locksmith obstinately. "Then my
grandsonrl be out of school, and, if he
feels like it, he'll stay here while I
get the impression of your lock. Them
jobs is more trouble than they are
worth"
Yes, but you see l can't wait for
your grandson Cornelia explained.
you will have to go at once. | will
stay and take care of the things until
you are back"
She seated herself on a stool be-
hind the counter as an evidence of
good faith.
Anybody in charge of this here
store has got to be on to the job" the
owner exclaimed. "Only last week
rake was stolen out front while was
waiting on a customer. There's an
ice cream freezer by the steps now
that worth three-fifty If somebody
was to come along and snatch that"
Nobody will snatch anything while
I'm here" said Cornelia 1.-The ad-
dress Is on this card, and please say
to the servant that you are the lock-
smith Miss Halves was to send" She
folded her arms and gave her atten-
ton to a shelf of cooking utensils
several feet above the locksmith's
head. That individual after several
half-hearted attempts to distract her
attention, put on his coat and de-
parted on his errand.
The echo of his footsteps had hardly
died away when the customer appear
ed. At first view. Cornelia had no
thought that he was a customer, for
he seemed to be strolling along in
somewhat aimless fashion.
Good morning" said Cornelia ris-
ing Can l do anything for you to-
day." Then with sudden dismay she
realized that out of the stock in the
hardware store, she knew the price |
of but one article. 1t happens, how
ever. that Cornelia is young woman |
Of resources. Perhaps I can interest |
you in Ice cream freezers," she said
with her most businesslike air.
Oddly enough, this was exactly
what the young man was looking for.
20, yes" he exclaimed, with seeming
relief, Il should like to look at some
thing first class"
Cornelia led the way to the door.
This Is our best freezer" she said,
indicating by a gesture the article in
question. IF you'll just set it inside,
please--it's quite heavy"