The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-18
The Evening Story
Scandal In the Pet Store.
(By Mary Marshall.)

Scandal In the Pet Store.
(By Mary Marshall.)
Nancy Morder was the little old maid
down in Peace street who kept the
pet store. She sold cuttlefish. seed
and song restorer for canary birds, SUM-
flower seeds for parrots, dog biscuits,
goldfish, Persian powder and dear knows
what else. She was humming a cheer
full tune to her birds early one brisk
winter morning as she replenished
their seed aid water cups when in
waddled Mrs. Gowdy.
why. Mrs. Gowdy, you out ana
around 10 early?" said Nancy. almost
dropping one Of the water cups in her
surprise, land on such q cold day. I
| thought your rheumatism kept you
pretty close"
well" simpered Mrs. Gowdy look
| ing into Nancy's m rry brown eyes
searchingly. Il wanted to get some cut
| tlefish.''
How long since you have kept
bird, Mrs. Gowdy?" asked Nancy stand
ing ON the tips Of her little feet and
stretching her round little body to get
| the cuttlefishr box on the shelf.
We'll. I haven't got one yet, but
I'm thinking Of gettine one,' she said.
| Then with another searching look at
| Nancy. 'I suppose you don't know
ing. I wanted to be one of the first
| to congratulate you. That's part why
stopped in to get the cuttlefish,
| though I may say there's none more
surprised than I am
Congratulated" said Nancy. For
why?''
Because of what Jerusha Detwet-
ter left you, of course. Isn't that
enough? Five thousand dollars ought
i to look pretty good to you. In first
mortgages. too
"Detwetter left mel" gasped Nancy.
| Mrs. Gowdy, I am sure
There. don't carry on, Nancy Nor
people are going to talk and wonder
and say things and you'd best just act
calm and say nothing. You could
| have knocked me over with a feather
this morning, when t. e milk man told
me about it. And you not being at
| the funeral yesterday or anything! I
| knew old Jerusha kept a parrot and
| some canaries and used to drop in
here for parrot seeds, but as for
thinking that there was anything be-
tween you...- Well. 1T does certainly
take my breath away
You needn't talk to me like that,
Mary Jane Gowdy,. said Nancy, the
color rising in her cheeks. LAS If I'd
have anything to do with that-with
him! AS II I knew any more about it
than you do! How dare you!"
IT am sure I didn't mean anything.
Miss Morder,' 5aid Mrs. Gowdy. mo.
come to think Of it, don't think
will take that cuttlefsh. It might
dry out before got the bird. Good
morning."
well Of all things" said Nancy.
walking to a large green parrot which
craned its neck inquisitively at Nancy.
You remember that old Mr.. Detwet-
ter, the old man with the cane and
the bushy white eyebrows and an
overcoat that had faded green, used
to come in to get sunflower seeds for
/ his parrot and never said a word to
me, though he talked to all you birds,
and you-you wretch-used to swear at
him? Well the poor old soul Is dead
and here comes Mrs. Gowdy to accuse
me Of being heir to his fortune. Fun
ny fat old gossip. isn't she. Polly?"
Nancy stopped suddenly as the rosy,
spectacled face of the local real estate
dealer appeared at the door.
How dye do. Miss Morder? How
are you?" he asked with an effort at
great cordiality. ''I have been mean
/ ing to call on you for some time in my
rounds" he went on, but wasn't
quite sure where to find you. Lovely
birds you have. am sure. and I
! should say a very ENJOYABLE profession
take a seat. won't your" said Miss
Morder, pushing a chair up to the
stove. You won't mind IL just go on
with the birds, will your she asked,
going from cage to cage to I'LL the wa
ter cups. The agent warmed his fat
hands before the fire and talked on
random subjects, then narrowed down
to the real aim of his call
IF you were even thinking Of buying
a house. now that you have fortune,
and I am sure that you won't want to
live behind the store much longer, re-
member that selling houses Is my busi-
ness. OF course. we none Of us knew
! that there was any ties between you
and old Jerusha," he said with a grin.
| but as said to my partner this morn
ing, he must have been q cousin or an
uncle, for I am sure there wasn't any
attraction between such good look
ing young lady as Nancy Morder and
that old-excuse me-that old gentle
man.
You needn't begin to call me a good
looking young lady" said Nancy snap
pishly. You never did before and I
don't see as there is any reason for be-
my own name. which I am not at all
sure have. Good morning to you. and
when I want to buy a house will be
, my own agent
sold like hot cakes and Nancy had to
Iopen a second box Of cuttlefish, the de-
mand on that commodity was % great.
Cuttlefish being only cents. was the
glimpse of the Interesting Nancy Nor
der.
Il Il was O'Clock and dark as mid
might when Judge Hendricks arrived
from the big city. But Nancy was sit
ting waiting supper In the little coxy
lparlor behind her pet store. She was
i leaning over the open coal fire making
i toast when he let himself in through
1.-THE unlocked doors. The light from the
fire brought out the soft brilhance Of
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