The Keota news., 1915-06-11
TWISTED MESSAGES
By MARsroN LEE VERNON.
(Copyright. 1915. by w. G. chapman)


Now do those two errands right
Marvin" directed Leonie Trip to her
little brother. "and will give you an
other cookie when you get back"
"Yes'm, I'll do it," mumbled youth
full Marvin. his mouth full Of portion
OF the advance payment.
You will leave this package OF
books with Mrs. Dunscombe and say
l am greatly obliged. Then run down
to Mrs. Bonds and tell Leslie to come
up to the house tonight about eight
o'clock, as you folks are all going to
be away from home, and we will have
a nice long chat. If Lettie Is not
there. leave word with her mother"
"Yes'm. I'll do that" pledged Mar
win. and started forth in good faith to
execute his mission.
He was telling OF on his fingers the
main points Of his errand. when. turn
ing q corner. alas! a boy on the run
drove him directly on his feet. lin
gered for neither apology nor explains
ton, and poor Marvin went headlong
into the ditch. He arose wrathful and
disordered, his wits all astray. There
was little willingness or system az to
the frame OF mind with which he blum
dered through his double errand:
homeward bound got interested in a
game Of marbles with some playmates
and forgot to even claim that other
cookie from his pretty sister. Then
later he and his parents drove over to
a neighboring town to visit relative,
and Leonie, left alone In the house.
lighted the evening lamp and sat down
to await the coming of her particular
girl friend and confidant, Lettie Bond.
Now. two strange circumstances had
grown out of the episode of the double
message Marvin had got mixed up.
When he arrived at the home Of Mr.
Dunscombe. the new bachelor minis
ter, he found that gentleman away
from home. So he delivered word to
his housekeeper in this amazing fash.
ion:
MY sister Leonie says to tell Mr..
Dunscombe that he IL to come up to
the house tonight about eight o'clock.
ss We folks are all going to be away
from home. and they can have a nice
long chat"
At Mrs. Bonds, Marvin found also
Lettie absent, but he delivered the
package Of books to her mother, say.
Ing Leonie had sent them and was
much obliged. They were two vol.
umes on the subject of woman's clubs.
which the young divine had loaned to
Leonie.
Reverend Dunscombe, shy and re.
tiring. listened agape to the message
communicated to him by his house.
keeper.
"Remarkable!" he breathed to him.
self. Extraordinary" he burst forth.
once alone In his room. "Oh. there's
some mistake!"
First. because. he reasoned, Leonie
was the most modest. though charm.
Ing, young lady In the world. NEXT
Tor the reason that he doubted II she
cared enough for his society to endure
his dull company through a long eve.
ming.
1t was true he had called on her
several times. had loaned her books
and at the Sunday school picnic she
mad been very gracious towards him.
When he compared his quiet, sedate
makeup with some Of the brilliant vii.
lage beaux, however. Elmer Duns.
combe felt that he was in a decided
minority. sensitively he had tried to
smother the budding love that had
taken root In his heart.
With all his analysis of the present
situation. he could not get Leonie and
the strange invitation out Of his mind