The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-09-06
Under
Difficulties
This is something like it, SAID

6iouCeu pdCh az the race curtains OF
the boarding house window. Inside
the parlor the gas glared holly, light
ing up the hair wreath above the man
tel and glittering on the gaudy vases
beneath
Nov, that it's got warm enough to
sit outdoors" pursued young Borgus,
stretching his long legs over three
steps below him, I'VE can shake the
parlor in there! Gee, but 1t was
fierce last winter, never to get a word
with you without a lot of old women
butting In with, Excuse me, but am
Hooking for my crochet work! Lovely
evening, isn't 1t, Mr.. Borgus? or
glazing at us for being there at ALL
Or having callers Of their own! Nice,
chatty conversations we could carry
on that way, couldn't we? I"
"Oh," said voice behind them as
the screen door creaked, is some one
out here? oh, it's you, Miss Clancy
and Mr.. Borgus, of course! Ahem-
not that / meant anything. at all!
suppose I've interrupted your CONVEX
sation, but 1t was SO hot in there--I
can go right In
Don't think of it, Mrs. Miner" said
Miss Clancy, airily, rising. you can
have the steps and welcome. We are
just going for a walk anyhow. Come
on, JIMMY"
Wouldn't that frost you'll" exclaimed
young Borgus after they had proceed
ed a safe distance. Just wanted to
find out what We were talking about!
Catch her sitting out there by her
self! Well circle the block and see!"
When they got near enough again
to see the steps young Borgus gave
low gurgle of triumph. The steps
were empty.
Come on" he said. Lets go get
some ice cream. Just as sure as we
go back there somebody else'll come
out!"
In sympathetic sort of disgust
they sought the brilliantly lighted
candy store on the corner and found
vacant table.
"Strawb'ree for me-" said Miss
Clancy. II just wonder, Jimmy, that
you haven't got tired before this and
quit me. It's fierce, going to see a
girl that hasn't parlor of her own to
entertain company in! We've sure
been chased around enough by them
other boarders!"
well, were's away from 'em right
now" said young Borgus. Lets make
the most of II. I"
why, the ideal" broke in high
pitched voice at the next table. "If
1t isn't Miss Clancy! Oh-how do
you do, Mr.. Borgus!" There was an
arch infection to the greeting that
was intended to carry the idea that
the speaker appreciated the sentimen-
tai situation.
"How-do, Miss Binks?" said Miss
Clancy stonily.
Miss Binks was forty, dressed like
twenty and fondly thought she looked
like sixteen. She made eyes at young
Borgus, who turned purple. Then she
arose with her plate Of ice cream and
fluttered into the vacant chair at their
table. Its so lonesome by myself"
she purred apologetically II was so
thirsty just had to come out after
something cold, but shrink from 60
ing out in the evening unescorted. It's
more sociable this way, don't you
Think"
ooh, my, yes!" agreed Miss Clancy
with sarcasm that was totally lost.
Sorry we're just through. We've got
an engagement to meet some friends!"
LET me slip back and stick some
cold poison in her ice cream" growled
young Borgus throatily after they had
escaped. she's the limit! Another
second and she'd have asked to go
walking with us! Let's go down to
the little park. It's only few blocks
away"
He tucked Miss Clancy's hand in the
crook of his arm and they walked on
with regained cheerfulness. It was
not SO bad to be out in the dusk with
the faint echoes OF street piano in
the air and automobiles whirring by.
ell of the walk that ran around the lit
tie park and they strolled on till they
found a bench that was unoccupied.
A lilac bush IN bloom waved above
them. nj
"Gee!" breathed young Borgus with
vast exhaling Of breath signifying
peace of mind at last
He laid one hand over Miss Clancy's
and she did not reprove him. Pres
emily he turned his head toward her,
but the words on his lips died in thin
air. A ponderous footed person en-
quilted in alcoholic aura swayed to-
ward their bench and dropped mas
sively on the other end and leered at
them. "Bu'ful night7" he asked, ap
pealingly. ..s-s-.
Young Borgus and Miss Clancy did
not speak till they were a block away.
Then they halted and young Borgus
spoke. See here" he said, in the
desperate tones of a man at bay, II
wasn't going to say anything till got
a boost In my pay, but I'm likely to
blow up and remove a few people from
the landscape II this goes on much
longer! II you can scrape along fol.
a while on what I'm getting I'll speak
for a fat tomorrow! Our own parlor
think of fti Ana our own norchi