Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1913-06-27
RUSE OF SISTER JEAN
BY MARTHA mcuLLocH-WiL-
LiAMS.


himself with both hands upon the
desk-top:
Patches are premeditated pow
erty You know that-yet you do
worse than patch. Is this the third or
fourth time you've made over that
hat?, I'm sick OF seeing it-of seeing
you messing with it. A new one,
much better looking. would cost only
a couple OF dollars believe you in
sist upon trimming such things your
self
Correct Every way" Jean an
swered impassively. Il am not in love
with my hat-making-nor even with
my own way of trimming. Maybe l
might be if
"If what2" Wingheld asked almost
saYagely az she paused.
She smiled at him-rather hard
smile but wistful II was about to
say II | could buy the things | like
rather than the things | can afford"
she said.
you mean those poodle-dog feath-
ers that fly in the face Of everybody
Wingfeld queried.
She shook her head, saying, No
praise be. Willow plumes don't tempt
me in the least. But | would like
say for this summer real fine straw
the seven-dollar sort, as pliable as
cloth almost and very rich broad pale
purple velvet for a bow and a trail OF
orchids | say just the thing yester-
day-for seventeen dollars-and a
Paris tip, inside the crown-to make
believe It came from there"
go get it" Wingfeld ordered, pull
ing a roll of bills from his pocket and
tossing them TO her.
She did not touch the money. She
looked at him steadily, smiling still
that old smile. Il have never yet put
the rent into finery,' she said, drop
ping her eyes.
Wingfield scowled. 81 am begin
ming to believe it might better for us
If you did" he said. You're not bit
bad-looking- nobody wants
dowdy anywhere. That's how you're
left out of things. / have to go-it Is
part of the game to be seen right
and things are slow enough as it is.
II have not complained" Jean said
calmly. ut is not very-exhilarating
eating bread and cheese in the kiteh-
en- alone, when you are with your
friends. Still, somehow | would rath-
err stick to the bread and cheese. They
do not bore me-not anything like the
gang which haunts those table dhote
places
Jean has risen, hat In hand. She
turned to the mirror and set 1t upon
her head, speculation in her eyes,
stronger frown underneath the brim.
1T looks like a last years bird
nest she commented, tossing 1t to
the ceiling and catching 1t askew.
Nobody would believe | was once
fielder, though a substitute, she SAID
with a faint twinkle. DO you re-
member the game Tim? Out in the
back lott was just thirteen ana
gawky as a young calf-but | could
run-and had the only pair OF real
legs left available
81 remember-well," Tim nodded.
THAT was game sure. Accident
was epfdemic-ten of our noble team
canned with sprained legs, arms
shoulders-what not. But not one
could have caught the fly you did-lt
saved the game for US. That REMINDS
mel met Treptow last week-and al
most the first thing he said was;
Where is that sister of yours The
girl OF the tiy2'"
you didn't tell him-of course,
Jean said quietly.
Winsfield looked down. "You know
can't tell people" he said almost
fretfully. "if they knew I've kept
house they'd expect-O! hang IT.
You know why"
Perfectly" Jean said. you are
ashamed to seem poor-youd mlnd
that worse. much worse, than being
poor. You like TO be liberal-mind--
| don't say extravagant. Since you
earn most of the money, you have
right to spend it as you choose |
have never complained never SHAH.
But this | ask-if Billy Treptow
comes in your way again-ask him
here to dinner"
Ask him! When he has all the rich
folk running after him! Don't you
know that?" Wingfeld demanded.
Jean nodded. but persisted. Ask
him. | know he'll eome-if you tell
him / am to be cook
Somehow Wingfield did ask Billy.
In fact. he could not very we'll escape
It, because Billy developed suddenly a
turn of inquiry that quickly brought
out the facts Jean was In the city
keeping house for her brother-Billy
| straightway demanded the address
| wingheld went home laggardly. II
was late when he got there--too late
for anything but hurried change OF
costume II took him all aback TO find
| the living room deserted. the dining
| room. tiny place. likewise empty
| except for massed roses. He Won
dered H. after all. Billy Treptow was
not coming. IL was five minutes past
the hour. Suddenly from the kitchen
he heard voices and laughter,
Pushing into the door-there was
| not room to 20 clean inside-he saw
/ Billy with both arms about Jean,
whost hands upheld platter of de
lectable fried chicken. She was
laughing and saying: Mind You'll
upset your dinner" to which he was
| answering. mot on your life. I've
been waiting Ave years to eat your
cooking-now l mean to eat II al
ways"
tN TOR
In one of his witty Thanksgiving
addresses Senator Depew once said:
Our forefathers went to Thanks
giving service on Thanksgiving morn
| with blunderbuses on their shoulders