The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1913-04-03
GAME OF BORROWING
BY EMILY JOHNSON.

When Platchett first moved into the
Pleasantville neighborhood the men
all though him a remarkably likable
fellow. AS many of the women as
managed to get 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 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 SIS he searched
his pockets in full view of everybody
in the car. Then. with 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 confidence-only to
draw 1t out again empty.
cin q
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 so
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 il 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 month
lacking just one day-the neigbbors
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-
ous Offices. 1t was discovered that
Platchett had not caught tt s:15.
The women Of the suburb knew later
In the that he had not gone to town
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 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 1t over SOS yo' wouldn't have
to come after it,
Before Uncle Eben was out of sight
the half grown Turman boy came up
the steps with a talking machine in
his arms. Ma said she'd save you
q trip" he pouted, and it's time you
was usin' it again" He turned and
was gone.
AS the Turman boy went out of the
front gate little Bobby larson, from
the brick house down the street,
trudged up the front walk with a
basket filed with neatly tied and Ia
beled packages. These were marked
cup of sugar." "pinoh Of tea," "olive
oil for salad dressing" vinegar you
forgot to order" and flour to do till
the grocer's boy gets here" He set
the basket down, pointed to 1t with a
gesture evidently rehearsed and went
away.
AS Bobby larson vanished Mrs. Mar
ley, the next-door neighbor, called in
person. I'm going to my sisters to
spend the day." she began, land l
thought I'd just come over before l
left and tell you that you can have the
surrey and old Dick this afternoon. So
you won't have to run out to tele-
phone for them, you know" She
turned and marched down the steps,
looking back not at all.
Mrs. Platchett moved the various OBJ
jects inside the house and shut the
door. She was smiling and when she
called Platchett he smiled as usual.
When the men came from town that
evening they ate suppers and made
their way to Penderby's for the meet
ing. They wanted more news than
they had been able to get
H. s-1h l.