The herald., 1913-03-13
GAME OF BORROWING
BY EMILY JOHNSON.

When Platchett first moved into the
Pleasantville neighborhood the men
all though him a remarkably likabie
fellow. AS many Of the women as
managed to get a look at the family's
furniture decided that the Platchetts
did not possess any too much OF this
worlds goods. These furnishings
were plain and somewhat scanty, ac-
cord to Pleasantville standards. But
one and all voted the Platchetts desir-
able neighbors.
Platchett made friends readily. He
was usually smiling, was a great story
teller and never failed to laugh at any
story told by another. He was, in
deed, a good listener-he would sit
and listened as if his life depended
upon it. Mrs. Platchett was in these
things a fair match for her husband,
and the little Platchetts seemed to
pattern their behavior similarly.
The first morning that Platchett
Joined the other male members of the
suburban colony for the ride to town
in the smoker of the 8:15 he searched
his pockets in full view of everybody
In the car. Then, with a frank smile,
he accepted a match from Penderby.
He held the match in his hand and
put the other hand into his breast
pocket with full confdence-only to
draw it out again empty.
II came away without a single
smoke!" he declared. What do you
think of that"
Penderby was sympathetic. He
pressed a cigar upon his new neigh
Dor, a cigar of that variety known as
the Penderby choice, three costing 80
cents. The borrower smiled again, lit
the cigar. and seemed we'll pleased.
And he did not bother to return the
smoke the next morning, nor on the
morning following.
Soon the Platchetts became ac-
quainted with every family in Pleas
antville, and then the game began in
earnest.
The front door bell, or maybe the
side door bell, or even the back door
bell of some one Of the houses in
the suburb would ring persistently.
/ A trip to the door would disclose one
of the little Platchetts standing there
ready to deliver his or her message
as soon as the door was opened.
please, ma'am," was invariably fol
lowed by a request that the neighbor
lend mamma this or papa that or
both parents the other thing. 1t went
from bad to worse, and when the Plat.
chetts had been in the house a month
lacking just one day-the neighbors
decided to rebel.
The men were responsible for the
idea, even as they were responsible
for the meeting at which the plan
was formed.
Next day, after the male population
of Pleasantville had gone to its vari
Gus Offices, it was discovered that
Platchett had not caught tf S:15
The women of the suburb knew latel
In the that he had not gone to towr
at all, but before they knew this the
. plan had been put in operation.
Early in the morning an ancient
woolly headed servitor of the Pen
derbys arrived at the Platchett resi-
: dence. He carried a portable vacuum
. cleaner, and he made polite explana
ton. "Marse Penderby done say yo
is to use dis yah today" he said, "an
he sent it over SOS yo' wouldn't hav,
to come after It,"
Before Uncle Eben was out of sigh
the half grown Turman boy came u
the steps with talking machine II
his arms. Ma said she'd save yo'
] q trip" he pouted, "and it's time yo
was usin' it again" He turned an
= was gone.
AS the Turman boy went out Of tn
front gate little Bobby larson, fror
the brick house down the stree
trudged up the front walk with
+ basket filled with neatly tied and Ii
beled packages. These were marke
"cup of sugar." pinch of tea" "oliv
u oil for salad dressing" vinegar yo
l forgot to order" and flour to do ii
the grocer's boy gets here" He 81
!. the basket down, pointed to it with
~ gesture evidently rehearsed and wei
, away.
u AS Bobby larson vanished Mrs. Ma
ley, the nextdoor neighbor, called
. person. I'm going to my sisters
= spend the day." she began, "and
:, thought I'd just come over before
!. left and tell you that you can have II
!, surrey and old Dick this afternoon.
. you won't have to run out to tel
: phone for them. you know" 81
. turned and marched down the STEP
. looking back not at all.
Mrs. Platchett moved the various o
:, iects inside the house and shut Il
- - door. She was smiling and when 81
called Platchett he smiled as usual.
~ When the men came from town tn
a evening they ate suppers and ma,
" their way to Penderby's for the me'
ing. They wanted more news tn;
they had been able to get.
- - Marley, the next-door neighbor, h
- gone to his wife's sisters for dime
and it was late when he arrive
- - Well" he commenced, 81 don't
;. much mind their using old Dick a
"a the surrey to haul all that crowd
!. their new home-five good miles 1t
- to Farville, too but do think it W
- - haul thnir hnucah hf