The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-01-05
~ ANN. ~
Fathers Helper
(Copyright. 1911. by Associated Literary Press
By JANE OSBORNE


from New York to San Francisco
and that he was worrying about wha
to do with the, little home he hat
bought at Bredop, a nearby townotha
boasted a small college, George hat
an inspiration. sss Aav
18th rent the house myself" sait
he. ITS just the sort of quiet place
I'm looking for where l can finisi
this story I'm writing"
One September day George estab
lished himself in the Gray bunga
low on the outskirts of Bredon. He
considered himself lucky. The house
was charming. He didn't know 6
soul, So he need fear no interruption
And he had a thoroughly reliable
housekeeper in the person of middle
aged Mrs. Bridget Magoon, who had
kept his bachelor apartments in town
and whose only drawback was hel
motherless grandson, Patsy Leary
aged two and half years.
On the morning after his arrival
George was dwelling on his many
blessings when his reveries were in
terrupted by quick rap on the
screen door. He looked up to see a
young girl-perhaps just past twenty
"a comfortable, substantial looking
sort Of, girl. with fresh color, warm
brown eyes and a definite way OF
doing things. George could tell that
BY the way she put one firm brown
hand on the knob of the door.
MAY l come in?" she asked. isn't
this the Gray bungalow"
Assuring her that it was, George
stumbled over a chair in his hurry to
open the, door. He begged her to be
seated and after she had composed
herself comfortably in one of the
wide wicker chairs, he sat down OPP
posite Der.
You're just the person l want to
see" she said, and George felt fiat
tered. "You see, I'm Miss STAGE, Ann
STAGE. And I'm visiting my brother,
Walter STAGE. l came for only few
weeks. but he wants me to stay the
winter. You know, brothers an in
stractor at the college, and like all
the rest of them he's as poor as a
church mouse. So l told him
wouldn't stay unless l could earn
enough money to take care of my
self. I'm not bit clever, and l don't
know how to teach or do anything.
Bat the other day had an idea.
II hate to play cards and I love to
take care of children-that's just the
opposite Of most of the women about
here. There's aNcard club at least
once week-and card parties in be-
tween and trips to town for shop
ping and the matinee And all the
girls who are married to faculty peo-
pie get their husbands to take care
Of their children afternoons when
they want to have a good time. So
thought I'd be not mothers helper,
exactly but-a fathers helper.
Ana ended her recital breathless
and laughing.
isn't it jolly idea?" she went on.
And It isn't a bit expensive for you
fathers. Club afternoons / entertain
the children for fifteen cents apiece
and caA for and deliver them, too.
For quarter apiece take them on
other ,days-private treatment, you
know, and l have to charge more, for
there ain't so many children those
days. a.
Walters wife knows Mrs. Gray
not very well. but they belong to the
same club. So she sent me over to
see YOU, thought maybe you'd be
one Of my customers"
Fur the first time Ann stopped
long enough to let George explain.
She looked at him appealingly from
her soft brown eyes.
But I'm not Mr.. Gray" said
George. with real regret. I'm Just
Mr.. Walton. The Grays have gone
to California, and I've
taken their bungalow. You see, I
write stories"
"Oh, I'm SO sorry" apologized
Ann. II must have seemed SO
stupid. / really beg your pardon"
George was casting about for an
excuse to detain the charming Ann,
when Patsy ran into the room. He
had bright blue eyes and bright vel
low hair His face was pink and
and his baby lips smiled
as he ran confidently
Up to George.
"Oh, but after ALL" said Ann, when
she saw1the boy, maybe you do want
ne. Isn't he a dear!"
Isn't he, now" said George with
'ervor. as an idea for seeing more
II Ann came into his head.
And Mrs. Walton does play cards,
suppose?" questioned Ann.
"Why--you sec" Numbered
George, MRS. walton's not here"
"Oh!" AIMS monosyllable was
The scene before
Ter became tragedy. She noted
he absence Of a button on Georges
,Oat-rthe apparent embarrassment
II the big man who was trying to fill |
! mothers place to the small boy
he childs gleeful ignorance of the
Whole situation. Mentally Ann
dubbed the mother heartless, a brute.
Then you do want me sometimes.
lon't your" she said finally. IL
now could help you make the boy.
lappy."
Before she went George made ar.
g. l.