The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-12
WHITTAKER'S
 PLACE
By JOSEPH C. LINCOLN
Copyright. 1908. by D. Appleton 6 Go.

&cpyr1SnEs AyOos py O APP1SIO" - OO' I'm blessed if I know what. And not a woman round the place, not even that Debby. Say, look here! Whats your uame-er-Emm1e! 'aaQn pet ter get the doctorF
 The child looked frightened. s'Why?'' she cried, her big eyes open ing. ''Pm not sick, am I?''
 'sSick? No, no! Course not, course not. What would you want to be sick for? But you ought to get warm and dry right off, s'pose, and your duds are all up to the depot. Say, what does what did your ma used to do when you felt-er-them icicles and thingsY'
 ''She changed my clothes and rubbed me, and if I was very wet she put me to bed sometimes"
 Bed? Sure! Why, yes, indeed! Beds a good place to keep off icicles. There's my bedroom right in there. You could turn in just as well as not. Bunk ain't made yet, but I can shake It up in no time. Say-er-er-ySd can undress yourself, can't you?'
 ''Oh, yes, sir! Course I canl Pm most eight"
 Sure you are! Don't act a mite ba- byish. All right; you set still till I shake up that bunk
 He entered the chamber, his own, opening from the sitting room, and pro- ceeded literally to shake up" the bed. It was not a lengthy process, and when it was completed he returned to find his visitor already divested of the coat l and standing before the stove. 'T guess perhaps you'll have to help undo me behind,' observed the young lady. '"This is my best dress, and I can't reach the buttons in the mid dle of the back
 Captain Cy scratched his head. Then he clumsily unbuttoned the wet waist, glancing rather sheepisf1y at the win dow to see if any one was coming.
 "So this is your best dress, hey?' he asked, to cover his confusion. It was obviously not very new, for it was neatly mepded in one or two places. ''Yes, sir.''
 "So. Where'd you buy it-up to Con cordT'
 ''No, sir. Mamma made it 9 year ago." There was a little choke in the child's 8 voice The captain was nightly taken i back
 Hum! Yes, yes." he muttered hur- rfedly. ''Well. there you are. Now i you can get along, can't you?''
 
 ''Trot right in. You mtght-er- ] maybe you might sing out when you're i tucked up. Tn want to know if 1 you've got bedcfothes enough
 Emily disappeared in the bedroom. The door closed. Captain Cy, hls hands in his pockets, walked up and down the length of the sitting room. The expression on his face was a queer one.
 q haven't got any nightgown,'' called voice from the other room. The cap- tain Gasped.
 ssGoNd land, so you ain'tl'' he ex- claimed. What in the world Humph! I wonder
 He went to the lower drawer. of tall ''highboy'' and from the tumbled mass of apparel therein took one of his own night garments.
 Here's one,' he said, coming back with it in his hand. "I guess you'll lave to make this one do for now. 1 It'll fit you enough for three times to glee but it's all I've got.''
 A small hand reached round the edge of the door, and the nightshirt disap- peared. Captain Cy chuckIed and re- sumed his pacing.
 ''Im tucked up," called Miss Thomas The captain entered and found her in bed, the patchwork points and dia- monds of the Rising Sun quilt covering her to the chin and her head denting the uppermost of the two big pillows. Captain Cy liked to 'sleep high.''
 "Got enough over youT' he asked.
 'sYes, sir, thank, you.'
 ''That's good. I'll take your togs out and dry 'em in the kitchen. Don't be scared. I'll be right back"
 In the kitchen he sorted the wet gar ments and hung them about the cook stove. It was strange occupation for him, and he shook his head whim- sically as he completed it. Then he took a f1atiron, one of Mrs. Beasley's purchases, from the shelf in the closet and put it in the oven to heat. Soon afterward he returned to the bedroom bearing the iron wrapped in dish towel
 ''My ma always used to put a hot fiat to my feet when I was a young one and got chilled,'' he explained. >'l afn't used one for some time, but ] guess it's good receipt. How do you feel now? Any more icicles? ?'' l. "No, sir. Pm ever so warm. Isn'1 this nice bed?"
 "Think so, do you? Glad of it. We'll now, I'm goin' to leave you in it while
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