Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-01-02
"A CHANT|CLER HAT
What Happened After Nevin
CRANKY Ran Into Something
Sharp.
BY GRACE MckiNSTRY.

sharp beak and Warlike tail feathers,
to rest, but the chanticler hat nestled
down in a most charming and becom-
ing manner upon her blond bralds.
AS a matter of fact, anything seemed
to be becoming to Maizie she was SO
delightfully."- fresh and wholesome
looking Nevin CRANKY thought SO,
most decidedly. But the worst OF II
was he wasn't alone in this opinion,
for he hadn't called many times at the
house before observing that Bert
Ainsworth, also a frequent caller,
Thought the same thing. Bert and
'Nevin boarded at the same place, but
they had never been particularly
friendly, and now 1t looked as If they
were in a fair way to hate each other.
Maize was kindness itself to both
of them. She accepted Nevin's boxes
of Huyler's and Bert's violets with
equally gracious smiles, and Nevin
Encouraged himself in the belief that
at least they were neck and neck In
the race. But one gloomy evening he
discovered to his dsmay, that he had
fallen behind The whole family were
I'm the library, and the inevitable Bert
also. when the subject of health came
up.
You don't seem to be such a good
advertisement for your boarding
place, CRANKY, as Bert is." said Mr..
Moore, half jokingly. you need to
devote more attention to the matter
inf
milk every night. and take more ex-
ercise in the fresh air"
Nevin fancied that Maizie was com.
pairing him with Bert, and he had to
acknowledge that the latter had all
the advantage. Not only was Bert
the picture of health but he was SO
sure Of himself, so self-assertive, that
he inspired admiration and confidence.
whereas Nevin had always been OF
the pale. thin, quiet type. Nevin went
home that night resolved that he
would not go to the Moore's again un-
til things were different.
Well, how could he alter his appear
ance? He was little inclined to in
digestion, but had no serious Ill
health, so he hardly felt like consult
ing a doctor. Let's see-to begin
with, he could f1etcherize. Then, he
remembered how much he had read
about the danger Of eating raw or in-
sufficiently cooked food-Mrs Haw,
'kins, his landlady, was not as particu-
lar as she might be. And malt
tonic might build him up too. And
he wouldn't forget Mr.. Moores advice
about exercise.
He told Mrs. Hawkins that he
would like to exchange his rooms for
one of her little apartments with a
kitchenette, since he was about to be-
gin certain line Of diet, and expect.
ed to prepare many OF his meals him.
self And he started in with all the
earnestness OF a man who has a seri-
GUS mission In life.
He decided not to seek a new posl.
tion until his health was fully re.
stored He didn't realize that Mrs.
Hawkins was growing suspicious, nor
did he dream that, when she saw the
row Of malt-tonic bottles outside his
door, she inferred that he had been
discharged because he had taken to
drink. But, through Mrs. Hawkins,
Bert Ainsworth must have gotten the
idea, and through Bert the Moores;
for the next time that Nevin CRANKY
called upon Maizie. the atmosphere
felt like a refrigerator.
This did not tend to improve his
health. He grew paler and more
ppirtiless as the days went on. Final
ly, one misty evening, he started out
for a lonely walk, scarcely noticing
where he was going, And the first
thing he knew, he had run into some
thing sharp-something that caused
hm to give a cry Of pain, and put his
hand to his forehead He felt blood
flowing down over his face, he dimly
realized that his left eye was hurt,
but before he tainted he distinctly
heard Maizie Moore's frightened ex.
clamation: oh how horrible that
the beak on my chanticler hat should
have done this!"
Nevin was taken at once to the
hospital The conscience-stricke
Maizie was most attentive, In the way
of calls and inquiries, and delicacfes
But she had heard so many stories
about the strange life that CRANKY
had been leading for some months,
that her interest hardly went beyond
pity, and deep regret that she had
caused the accident. And, besides,
she had almost decided to follow her
fathers advice, and accept Bert Aims
worth. 1t was surprising how proud
and prosperous-looking Bert had be-
come; her mother strongly suspected
that some long-lost uncle had left him
a fortune.
Maizie was thinking along this line,
one day, when she stopped in res
taurant near the hospital to drink a
cup of chocolate before making her
daily inquiry for Nevin CRANKY. 1t
startled her, therefore, to hear two
girls at a nearby table discussing Mr..
CRANKY and Mr.. Ainsworth-it seem.
ed like her own thoughts spoken
aloud.
Yes" said the first girl, Il know
that everybody says those horrid
things about Nevin CRANKY, but they
aren't so. And everybody thinks
Bert Ainsworth Is wonder, and that
isn't 80, either!"
But just look at the difference in
the two men," said her friend. how
do you account for that? Anyone who
has eyes oan see Bert Ainsworth'A