The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-08-01

uOuIo we ScdTtutu uiSu uHu low tOI
some trace Of the valiant little seaman.
but he had disappeared, shiny bag and
all, and Maria was almost as upset as
the pertur0ed captain.
Nv hat In time ails the man 2" mutter
cd the captain for the hundredth time
as he trudged back from the beach.
having searched every square inch of
the little home acre. Amt got a
gr0ji, h and gone back to the city,
iOu don't think that, Maria?"
Don ask me-" admonished Maria
darkly. After shaving myself over
them hatfish and IN extra high short
cake-and | may say that | never saw
little man that could tuck away such
sight of food, Barnabas-after slav'
ing myself all the morning, not to
mention molasses cookies. because you
said he was partial to 'em, to have
him eat and run in this way Is jest
downright scandaous."
81 don't blame you. Maria," said the
captain meekly.
Maria rocked herself to and fro. fan
ming herself with corner of her ging
ham apron.
I'm going down to the postofice to
inquire If anybody's seen him. If Ma.
ria Pitt once clipped an eye on him
she would never forget him. Always
reminds me Of a camera. that woman
does" growled the captain. Struggling
himself into his blue coat and dragging
his cap over his white hair.
When his staiwart form had disap-
peared over the bridge by the -four
mill l leaned back in my chair and
ooked up into the leafy greenness of
he big paper mulberry tree.
remained in this attitude. gazing
Upward. open mouthed and staring.
Miss Telham! Land sakes! What's
the matter?" gasped Maria suddenly.
"Lookw l murmured. pointing up
ward where the pale face Of Ananias
Slime peered down at us from the high
branches Of the mulberry tree.
"Landr' shrilled Maria. And she.
too. gaped at the strange sight.
Nothing was visible save Ananias'
mean little face. and that was pale
and drawn with fright There was
something elusive about the face up
there. 1t reminded me Of the Cheshire
cat in "Alice In Wonderland" and
wondered If Ananias' face would fade
away as did the cats. leaving only a
smile behind.
1t looked possible, for Mr.. Shines
mustache was twitching In an attempt
Mt smile. but every now and then his
prominent blue eyes rolled downward
to the lower branches Of the tree as II
there was something to be feared be-
meath him.
Presently I followed his glance and
saw. and Maria saw ut the same time,
and we were speeches. before the
queerness Of 1t all. In lower crotch
Of the tree. her back supported by the
smooth trunk. her feet incased in bal.
briggan stockings and congress gal
tiers, was the Widow Rowell, Ananias'
prospective landlady. Her hawklike
nose and her sharp chin almost met In
witchlike ferceness as she knitted
stocking
Maria was the first to recover her.
self.
"Hettie Rowell, whatever do you
mean by such actions?'' she shrieked,
going to the edge Of the. piazza. where
her head was on level with that Of
Mrs. Rowell.
Mrs. Rowell smiled sweetly down
upon Mrs. Fish. and her almost vertical
eyebrows went up to meet her gray
hair
"Dear Maria" she lisped pleasantly.
"I'm just waiting for my bOarder, Ana
Mas He thought he'd like to get a
view OF the harbOr from the top Of
the tree"
"Pshaw. AnaniasL What does this
mean?" shouted Maria up into the
treetOp. what air you doing with
your carpetbag up. there and the wild
ow sitting here in the tree like at
catbird"-
like cooling dove, Maria Fish," in.
terrupted the widow with dangerous
smile.
Like cooling dove knitting a red
WoOi StOthluS, uiutIlueu DluIld Sllul-
ly. 81 ask what is she doing here, Ana.
Mas?
waiting for me. Mrs. Fish," said
Ananias quite meekly. "She came aft
er me. she did, saying she'd been wait.
ing dinner for me two hours. and when
told her Id been invited to spend the
night here and couldn't come to her
house till tomorrow. why. she up and
few at ne sO's-w well. I'm a seafaring
man. as you may see. mann, and
faint no hard job for me to get up
into the rigging when things are hot
below" Now Ananias actually smiled.
well. Hettie, what you got to say?
Air you crazy demanded Maria an.
grily.
1.-THE captain engaged board for Mr..
Slime from me, Maria, and. faint no
manner Of use for you to try to keep
him away from my house, attempting
him with all sorts of cookery" she
said in her dulcet tones. "He's my
boarder, and he's going home with me
IL | have to stand here al. night and
wait for him."
Maria was pale with anger. Take
yOur bOardpr and co. she said coldly