Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-29
- F..
CHAPTER xx


terhouse % usual that night, but I
might have saved myself the trouble.
Mrs. Dfcky was sitting on box. with
her hair In puts and the folding card
table before her. and Mr.. Dick was un.
corkng bottle Of champagne with .
nzn. There were two or three queer.
looking cans open On the table.
Mrs. Dick looked 1T my basket and
turned up her nose.
Put It anywhere. Minnie" she said
1oftily. II dare say 1t doesn't contain
anything reckless"
"Cold ham and egg salad" I said,
setting It down with slam. "stewed
prunes and boiled rice for dessert. II
those cans taste % they smell. you'd
better keep the basket to fall back on.
'Where'd you get that?"
Mr.. Dick looked Ut me over the bot.
tie and winked.
In the next ROOM" he said. ''iced to
the proper temperature, paid for by
somebody else, and coming after q two
weeks drought! Minnie. there isn't .
shadow on my joy!"
He'll miss it." said. But Mr.. Dick
was pouring out three large tumblers-
full Of the stun, and he held one out to
me.
Miss it," he exclaimed. Hasn't he
been out three times today. tapping
his little cache? And didn't he bring
out Moody and the senator and Won In
wald this afternoon, and didn't they
sit In the next room there from two to
four, roaring songs and cracking bot
ties and jokes"
'Beasts!" Mrs. Dicky said savagely.
1.-TWO hours. and we daren't novel;"
Drink pretty creature!" Mr.. Dick
said. motioning to my glass. Don't
be afraid Of it. Minnie; it's food and
drink"
Il don't like IT," I said. slipping at
It. "Id rather have the spring va.
tor"
You'll have to cultivate a taste for
It" he explained. you'll like the sec
ond half better"
got 1t down somehow and started
for the door. Mr.. Dick came after me
with something that smelled fishy on
the end Of q fork.
Better. eat something" he suggest
ed. THAT was considerable cham
payne. Minnie"
.Stufe and nonsense" said. II was
bred and it has rested me. That's ALL
M. Dick"
Sure"
.Certainly,. said with dignity. I'm
really rested. Mr.. Dick. And happy
I'm very happy. Mr.. Dick"
.Psrhsps I'd better close the door,"
be said. The Hight may be seen"
You needn't close 1t until I've I'm
ished talking" I said. I've done my
best for you and yours, Mr.. Dick. !
hope you appreciate it. Night after
night I've tramped out here through
the snow, and lost sleep, and lied my.
self black In the face-you've no idea
how I've had to lie, Mr.. Dick"
Come in and shut the door, Dick."
Mrs. Dick called, I'm freezing"
That made mo mad.
Exactly" I said. glaring at her
through the snow. bringing you meals
that you scorn-oh, yes. you scorn
them. What did you do to the basket
tonight? Look at 1t, lying there. neg
lected in . corner, with p-perfecty
good ham and stewed fruit In it."
All of sudden felt terrible about
the way they had treated the basket.
and cat down on the steps and began
TO cry. remember that, and Mr.. Dick
sitting down beside. me and putting
his arm around me- and calling me
good old Minnie" and for heavens
sake mot to cry DO loud. But was
past caring I had sort Of recollec-
ton 81 his getting me to stand up, and
our walking through sa1out II
miles Of snow to the springhouse.
When we got there he stood OF in the
TWILIGHT and looked at me.
'Tm sorry. Minnie" he said. II new
er dreamed it would do that"
do what?"
Nothing. You're sure you won't for.
lset?"
I. II never forget" I said. I had got
mp the steps by this time and was try
.lng to figure why the springhouse
door had two knobs. hadn't any idea
\. what he meant
~Remember," he said, very slowly,
f.ThOburn 10 going to have his party
5tonikht instead of tomorrow Tell
Pierce that. Tonight, not tomorrow"
I was pretty we'll ashamed when
Got ii the springhouse and sat down
iin the dark. kept saying over and
over 10 myself, 10 I'd not forget, Ito
sinixhG not tomorrow" but couldn't
remember what was to be tonight. l
was sleepy, too, and my legs were cold
and numb. remember going into the
panty for . steamer rug, and sitting
down there for minute, with the rug
Around. my knees before started to
Tho house. And that is all l do re-
member.
& WAS awakened by a terrible ham.
mcring in the top of my head.
reached out for the glass of water
lthatsI always. put beside my bed at
might and l touched door-knob in.
stead. Then / realized that the knock
! iing wasn't al In my head. There
;;was sort Of steady movement of feet
Ion the other side Of the door, with
EpsoplA talking and laughing. And
labovs it al rose the steady knock
knock Of somebody beating on tin.
Cant do It," It was the bishops
voice. II am convinced that nothing
but dynamite will open this tin Of
jpbster."
"Jsst moment, bishop" Mr.. Tho
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