The Lamar register., 1912-08-07
COrnelia's
Gust to mer
By HARRnr Euanas SMITH

cited about, Aunt Nancy, Cornelia
laid soothingly.
Cornelia herself was not at all ex
tied. Her serenity was in NEST
'.greeable contrast to Aunt Nancy's
Iuttering perturbation. To be sure.
Il was Aunt Nancy's silver closet to
which Cornelia had lost the key.
IF 1t falls into the hands of. dis
honest person." observed Aunt Nan
cy. on the point Of tears. then good
sup from which General Washington
drank and the tablespoon on which
YOUR great-grandfather Bennett cut
his teeth
Dear Aunt Nsncy." Cornelia rea
soned kindly. unless the dishonest
person were q mind reader. too. he
could not possibly know that th.s
particular key fitted your silver
closet" She was about to continue
her argument along this line when
Aunt Nancy ezecuted one of her
illogical fiops.
1T will be necessary to cancel our
Invitation for Friday" remarked
Aunt Nancy. with the silver locked
up and only half q dozen spoons and
three forks available 1t is out OF the
question to entertain a dinner party"
Cornelia looked at her watch. Il
will get 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 II was to be calm and philo-
noyance like losing the key Of the
silver closet
Cornelia II 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
hardware store she now bent her
steps. bell changed loudly as she
opened the door. and a wisened. elder
ly person swooped out from a back
room and asked what she wanted.
Cornelia explained. 81 should like
to have you see to the matter at once.
II you please" she said. for my aunt
Ii In q great hurry for the key"
Cant do a thing before Saturday"
snapped the locksmith. seemingly Of
Tended because she had not wished
to purchase q 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"
Il won't have nobody to leave the
store with before Saturday" persisted
the locksmith oostinateiy. Then my
grandson1l be oat of school. and. n he
feels like It. hSn stay here while !
get the impress1pa Of your lock Then
Jobs is more 0uable than they are
worth"
Yes. but 20 - can't wait Tor
your grandson Cornelia explained
You will have b 90 at once. will
stay and take oaPs of the things until
you are back"
She seated hassslf on a stool be
hind the coun1sP - an evidence al
good faith.
any Douy N tHIS hcl'
store has got b b. on to the job" the
owner exclaimed "Only last week >
rake was stolen out front while wa.
waiting on . Customer. There's az
ice cream frssase by the steps nov
that worth thrsenfty. II somebnd,
was to come along and snatch that
Nobody viii snatch anything white
I'm here" SAID Cornelia THE All
dress is on this card. and please "a,
to the servant nat you are the lock
smith Miss Halves was to send" She
folded her arms and gave her atien
ton to a shs3 Of cooking utensils
several feet shove the locksmith's
head. That inA1vidual after several
half-hearted attampts to distract her
attention. put On his coat and de
parted on his sEeand.
The echo of hi footsteps had hardly
died away when the customer appear
ed At first WV. Cornelia had no
thought that hs was q customer. for
he seemed to b strolling along in
somewhat aimlaao fashion.
Good mornfn2~ said Cornelia ris
ing. Can I Do anything for you 10
day." Then WIN sudden dismay she
realized that 90 Of the stock In the
hardware store. she knew the price
of but one aYt3eoDL It happens. how