The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-31
MISS RANDALL'S CUSTOMER


and hurried out Of the yard with
burning cheeks.
What II Grabbed cranky old man
he must be-" thought Hester Az she
went home and prepared for bed. IF
II wasn't for the money Id not hak"
another crumb for him The idea
Unfortunately Hester could not give
way IN her injured feelings, for she
needed every penny she could earn Ia
pay off the indebtedness on the littlC
house which was her inheritance from
Woodworking parents. So the follow
Ing Friday evening found her once
more standing ut Mr.. Chambers back
door with her basket of goodies II
was not yet dark. aud she could see "
large china dish on the floor. beside
which lay something white and Oh
long. She picked ii up and Ia the wan.
ing light read her own name I'm bold.
| black characters. She tore II open
and there dropped out another crisp
dollar bin and a scrap Of paper, on
| which was written:
Everything was bully. Don't forget
me this week. | like pie,
Involuntarily Hester smiled aud
| tucked the note away ia her bag with
the money Then she knelt down and
| lifted from her basket a haky cherry
pie, some bread and rolls and cas-
which she piled in the dish Mr.. Chan
der had thoughtfnlly provided. ana
over the whole SHE threw napkin.
She was going down the steps when
once more from the same open win.
dow sounded the harsh voice she had
heard before.
"For heavens sake. clear out OF
here. What are you hanging around
for? You've got all my money and
Hester Randall did not wait 10 hear
any more With burning cheeks she
hurried through the gate and away
from the detestable stranger Not if
the little home she was working SO
hard 10 retain should be sold over her
head would she ever sell another par
ticle of her products To the bOoriSh
mapmaker who lived ia the Paige
house
Let him eat bakers trash" was
| Lester ultlmatllli.
few days later she was talking to
Mrs. Blake.
THAT Mr.. Chandler Is an old man.
isn't he?' asked Hester
"Oh. no; not 40 very old-leastways
he don't appear 50 To me. Hester His
hair is gray rs can he, but lie is 81
pleasant and boyish acting seems as if
he was as young as my Jimmy. lie
sets lot of store by your cooking.
, You've never met him yet, have YOU"
Not exactly" admitted Hester. "rve
heard his voice, though, and | don't see
how anybody can think that's pleas
ant"
. Now, isn't that the funniest thing
Everybody thinks his voice is the incest
thing there Il about him."
IL don't" said Hester, with decision
. When the following Friday came
Hester passed the cottage of Mr.
Chandler with y scornful lift of her
head. Not for the testy mapmaker
:. were the tcothsome dainties she had
!, toiled over all day long What if he
: did like pie? She wouldn't make pies
. for any man who spoke to her in suct
a manner.
!, AS she prepared for bed that night
!, Hester's anger abated little as sh,
thought of the breadless. cakeless. pie
. less state of Mr.. Chandler Somehow
: she could not reconcile Mrs. Blake's
description of him or the boyishly en-
q thusiastlc note he had written with tn,
:, surly voice which had twice accosted
:, her from his window.
Saturday was Testers lazy day Sh,
a rested from her hard work of the DAY
>, before aud usually occupied herself
= with some light needlework or she rea,
little. On this particular Saturda.
n she was sitting on the front porch, he
"a never idle fingers engaged with bi
or fancy work, when the gate opene,
;, aud brisk step sounded on the path
,r An instant later a tall form doomed u
the foot Of the steps
n The stranger was a handsome man
the handsomest she had ever seen, Hes
M ter admitted 10 herself as she took Il
n With swift glance the broad shoul
"a ders, the sun tanned countenance light
n ed by deep blue eyes aud the crop o