Mexico Missouri message., 1913-12-25

Mr. Won invalid coming-basket-l
tern-warn the shelterhouse!"
Great Scott" Mr.. Pierce said
Here. you girls crawl over the fence;
youll be hidden there. I'll run back
and warn them"
The lantern was swinging again. Mr..
Thoburn's grumbling came to us
through the snow.
Il cant climb the fence" Miss Pat.
ty said pitifully. But Mr.. Pierce had
gone.
reached my basket through the
bars and climbed the fence in hurry.
Miss Patty had got almost to the top
and was standing there on one snow
covered rail, staring across at me
through the darkness.
81 can't, Minnie" she whispered
hopelessly, Il never could climb
fence, and in this skirt"
Quick" / said in low tone The
lantern was very close. Put your leg
over"
She did, and sat there looking down
at me like a scared baby.
Now the other"
II can't" she whispered. III
put them both over I'll fall"
"Hurry!!"
With little grunt she put The 9th
er foot over, sat a minute with agony
in her face and her arms out, then she
slid of with a squeal and brought up
In a sitting position inside the fence
corner. | dropped beside her.
What was that noise?" said Tho
burn, almost upon US. Something's
moving inside that fence corner"
ITS them deers," Mikes voice this
time. We could make out the three
figures. "Darned nuisance, them deers
is. They'd have been shot long ago
II the sprlnghouse girl hadn't object
ed. She thinks she's the whole cheese
around here"
Set it down again." Mr.. Won In
wald painted. We heard the rattle OF
bottles as they put down the basket
and the next instant Thoburn's fat
hand was resting on the rail OF the
fence over our heads. ! could feel
Miss Patty trembling beside me.
But he didn't look over. He stood
| there resting, breathing hard, and
swearing at the weather, while Mike
waited. in surly silence, and the Won
| invalid cursed In German.
After my heart had been beating in
my ears for about three years the fat
hand moved and | heard the rattle OF
glass again and Thoburn's groans as
he bent over his half of the load.
Come on" he said. and the others
grunted and started on.
When they had disappeared in the
snow we got out OF our cramped posi-.
ton and prepared to scurry home.
climbed the fence and looked after
them. "Humph!" said, Il guess that
basket isn't for the hungry poor. I'd
give a good bit to know" Then ]
turned and looked for Miss Patty. She
was fiat on the snow, crawling be
tween the two lower rails OF the fence
Have you no shame?" l demanded
She looked up at me with her head
and half her long sealskin coat
through the fence.
None" she said pitifully. Minnie
I'm stuck perfectly tight!"
You ought to be left as you are"
said, Jerking at her, for people to
come"-jerk-"to to look at'-
jerk. She came through at that, and
we lay together In the snow and like
to burst a rib laughing.
You'll never be princess, Miss
Patty" declared. You're too lowly
minded"
She sat UP suddenly and straight
ened her sealskin cap on her head.
Il wish" she said unpleasantly. 81
wish you wouldn't always drag in dis
agreeable things, Minnie!"
And she was sulky all the way tc
the house.
Miss Summers came to my room
that night as was putting my hot-wa
ter bottle TO bed. in a baby-blue sill
wrapper with a band OF fur arounC
the low neck-Miss Summers, o.
course, not the hot-water bottle.
Well" she said, sitting down OF
the foot OF the bed and staring at me
We'll, young woman, for a person whC
has never been farther away than Fin
leyville you do pretty well!"
DO what?" asked, with the coyeri
up TO my chin.
do what, Miss Innocence!" she saic
mockingly. You're the only red-haireC
woman | ever saw who didn't look al
sophisticated as the devil. I'll tell yo,
one thing, though" She reached dowi
into the pocket OF her dressing -gowr
and brought up a cigarette and
match. You never had me fooled 70
a minute." She looked at me over IN,
match.
! lay and stared back
And another thing" she said. "
never had any real intention OF marry
ing Dicky Carter and raising a bab,
sanatorium. | wouldn't have the fac
to ask Arabella to live here"
I'm glad you feel that way, Mis-
Summers, said. I've gone througl
a lot; I'm an old woman In the las
two weeks. My hairs falling from II
having to stand up on end half tn
time"