South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-06-19

view il there was not a wrinkle in the
felt nor a lump underneath TO mar its
smoothness.
Elated with the success of that job,
Helen went around TO see what else
could be fixed up with putty and glue.
If ones tastes run to antique furniture
there is always something that needs
attention. A piece OF veneering was
off the library table and another off
the bookcase, both of which Helen had
saved, and which she now glued back.
With the can of mahogany staine.
which she had opened TO touch up a
few places on the desk, she went
around staining over the scars and
scratches of the other furniture.
The chiffonier drawer that Warren
had complained about needed only a
little sandpapering to make ii run
smoothly. Helen was in her element.
for she loved TO potter around" and
Elk things up.
But as yet she had found no other
use for her putty. 1t seemed a shame
20 have all that putty and her hands
already grimed up and not be able To
use any more of il.
Then, in the dining room, Helen no
ticed some fine white plaster dust that
had sifted down from the panelled
wall. For some time Maggie had been
grumbling about this. and Helen spoke
TO the janitor. but he had sent no one
to fix it.
Maggie" called Helen, bring me
that kitchen chair I'll stop this plas-
ter from sitting down right now"
Maggie brought the kitchen chair
and turned il over TO form a step
ladder. In a moment Helen. with a
lump of putty in one hand and a knife
in the other was filling up the crevices
at the top OF the oak panel through
which the fine dust sifted.
That's going to show, ma'am, -"
warned Maggie. viewing il critically,
for the putty was lighter than the dark
wood.
Yes know; just hand me that
can Of stain there"
Helen had left the stain and the
brush IN the open dining room window
and now. as Maggie went TO get IT, the
brush rolled of the sill out the win
dow 10 the court yard below.
Well youll just have to go down
after it." said Helen, GROSSLY. impa-
tient at being delayed with her work.
Its the only one we have"
Resentfully Maggie slammed out
the hall door.
When in a few moments the bell
rang Helen climbed down the step
ladder. provoked that Maggie should
be so careless as 10 lock herself out.
Her hands were covered with putty
and paint. and she took up her apron To
turn the knob To her horror il was
not Maggie - but Mrs. and Miss
Clemens in their best calling costumes.
She Lets Her Callers In.
As the hall was dark. they did not
recognize Helen.
lis Mrs Curtis in ." asked Mrs. Glenn
ems. staring al what she thought was
most untidy maid. for any house
maid would have been ashamed to
look as Helen did just then.
With a gasp of astonishment and
dismay. Helen had stepped partly be-
hind the door, but Miss Clemens eye
sight was keener than her mothers
why. it's Mrs. Curtis herselfi' in
an amazed tone.
Just what she said or did in the next
few moments Helen could never quite
remember but with some laughing.
hysterical comments about this being
her general carpentry and furniture
repairing" day. in some way she got
them into the front room
I'm 50 sorry We interrupted you,
effused Mrs. Clemens but the hall
boy told US TO come right up"
I'm a fash Helen remembered that
new hal! boy had come yesterday.
So ne had been ignorant enough TO
send them up unannounced,
Immaculate in their white kid
gloved. sable-furred and oroadclothed
elegance. the callers were 10 polite 60
really stare at Helen. But in quick