Middletown transcript., 1914-08-29
CHAPTER !.
Paradise on Eanx Terms.

city apartment-gas, hot and COLO
water, modern plum ,bing. Only fifty
minutes from Herald square, yet re-
moved from the strife and turmoil OF
the crowded metropolis. A place to
rear children where they could ronp
and play. Close to schools aud
churches. Excellent n larkets. Half an
acre Of ground to raise her own vege-
tables and chickens. A fine view 0f
the bay and plenty OF good air. 4
spot to live as God me- ant her to live.
Only five hundred dollars down and
the rest the same as rent!
Glorious aggrandizement of subur
ban life; vivid picture from the land
sharks brush. The painter struggles
to express on canvas the subtle power
Of nature; with what facile flow OF
verbal coIoring does this other artist
reveal it's charm!
Jane wanted a home and so did
Bob, her husband, and, with their linn
tied means, that meant a home in the
suburbs. At the first inspection of
this modern Elysium the agent per
suaded Reynolds to invest. What bet
ter could they do, he argued. The
pretty little house, new and clean and
so easy to care for. And the land; |;
why, that alone was worth the price.
Think Of the saving a garden would
mean and what a joy those new-laid
eggs! Jane, somehow, was not riot
Ously enthusiastic, but Bob was and
she acQuiesced. The task Of moving
had fallen to her, for her husbands
duties kept him at the office even on
such momentous occasion as this.
"Oh, if the vans would only come, ("
she sighed. What in the world can
have happened? It is four o'clock and
they promised to have them here by
noon"
Down the road, the one that the
Utopian Land company's map digni-
fed as Sunset street, there appeared
a vision of hope. A soiled, swagger-
ing, red-faced, blue-aproned vision.
There's one of the movers now"
exclaimed the young wife. She ad-
vanced to meet him.
Goodness, what makes you sd late?
Mr.. Green said you'd be here by
twelve o'clock. How will we ever get
moved in tonight?"
That's what's bothering me, mad
am. The trucks are down at the en-
trance to this paradise and Rockefel-
Ter himself doesn't own enough gaso-
line to get them up through the sand.
The boss said they was finished
streets. They're finished the way they
we're when Staten island was diseov-
cred, but that's all We've been try
ing for hours, putting boards in front
of the wheels, but it's no go. I've got
to get teams from somewhere. That TIL
be extra That's why l came up TO
see you. Is it all right?"
"Oh, don't know. guess so. You'll
have to settle that with Mr.. Reynolds.
But for mercy sakes do anything NEG
essary to get US moved in. I've waited
here for four hours"
Well do our best. ma'am, but it'll
take some time yet. And | don's
banker after many of these Staten
island jobs"
Mrs Reynolds went back for another.
inspection.
1T is pretty" she said, 'but it's a
little lonesome. If they would only
hurry! And 1 do wish Bob could have
got of He would have stirred those
stupid men up some way"
She had spent the hours Of her long
vigil planning a place for all their
goods and chattels. She had as COM
plete a picture of the ensemble as a
stage manager has of his setting. That
ought to expedite matters. she
thought, when the furniture did come.
After what seemed another intermi-
nable wait she sighted an approaching
wagon. 1t was an ordinary truckman's
cart such as is used in construction
work. 1t was piled high with bureaus,
tables, chairs and boxes in jumbled,
anomalous mass that .augured many
breaks and scratches.
This is the best could do, ma'am,"
called the driver, as he brought the
load to halt at the door. There
amt moving van within five miles
and it'd be dark before we got one.
But Wen get you in all right"
"Oh, do be careful, won't you?" she
answered. Il wouldn't heap things
So"
Startling feats Of prestidigitation
and the energy moving men are wont
to display when their task is nearing
an end soon disposed Of the load. The
contents of the last wagon were dis
appearing when Reynolds arrived. He
had had a hard day at the office and
a tiresome trip on subway, ferry and
trolley that seemed doubly long be-
cause Of the suspense. But he bound
ed into the house like a schoolboy and,
ignoring the presence of the movers,
clasped his wife in his arms and i'm
planted Tesounding kiss.
Hello, honey" he cried as he re-
leased her and stood surveying the
loom. isn't this great? A castle all
3ur own!" Then-as he looked at her
-"and tired, dirty, but beautiful
little queen. And she is just going to
sit down and not stir another time un-
I'll slaves have done her bidding and
served her royal repast Of"
Bologna and potato salad, my
Iord?"
Don't you believe IT Look, Jane.
He unwrapped package hurriedly
and disclosed twopound sirloin