Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-05-28

Mabel Herbert to hide her blown
II,,.r hair and cold-red-
dened nose.
Thought you were SO keen about
riding on top"
"oh, 1 am. when 1t isn't 80 cold-but
I'm almost frozen"
well, well get on somewhere for
tea-that'll warm you up. Ought to
strike place along here pretty soon."
Helen loved these long bus-top rides
that on Sunday afternoons run far out
through the quaint London suburbs,
but today 1t was chill and raw.
Here we are" Warren nodded to
the familiar red rampant lion on q
sign up the road.
1t was one of the thousand RED
Lion Inns" about England. But when
they left the bus Helen saw that it
was not well kept, and that 1t had
neither age nor quaintness to recon-
mend it.
"Dear. 1t doesn't look Clean" draw
ing back as she caught glimpse Of
the dingy. dubious.looking dining room
with red-checked table cloths. isn't
that another place down there? Let's
try that.
Farther on. across the road. was an
old gabled house. half hidden by
high box hedge. "The Queens Head"
read the faded swinging sign.
That's more like it." admitted War
rem as they went up the graveled,
shrub-lined path.
They entered a long. low room with
white-clothed tables and cheerful
open fire. Highly-colored chromos of
fish and game hung about, and on the
mantelpiece were some stuffed birds
under a glass dome.
The room was empty. As they walt
ed for someone to serve them, Helen
struggled with her hair. while Warren
turned through the Guest Book" on
the table.
Listen to this" with chuckle.
"'Bed and board good, but rest dis
turbed by growing of ancient rooster
at and a. m That's rich! You
can just see him looking at his watch
and cussing that rooster"
Helen glanced over his shoulder at
the closely scribbled sentiments Of the
various guests.
TOO full for words. Everything
top hole. God save the king" read
Warren. That's British for you. All.
here's choice bit:
1.-THE beef is good,
The tea is fine.
This is bully place to dine"
"Oh. look. dear. l love this one!
Words fail us-to be taken which way
you like"
See here" Warren turned from the
book. how do you raise these peo-
ple?'' rapping on the floor with his
cane.
A sound of a closing door, and a
woman hurried in. Helen noticed that
her eyes were red, and her face white
and drawn.
I'm sorry. sir. II I've kept you wait
ing, but I'm all alone here this after
noon. VIII you have tea, sir?"
Yes. two teas, and one brandy and
soda"
Gould l go somewhere to fix my
hair?" ventured Helen.
Yes. maam, just come right up
stairs"
She led the way up the steep dark
steps to low dormer-windowed room.
BY the high post bed was a chest OF
drawers with an old round mirror.
Helen took OFF her hat and began to
let down her disheveled hair, but the
woman still fingered.
IF things are a bit upset, ma'am-
I hope you won't mind. Ii just heard
that my brother died in a French hos
pital My husband" pausing to steady
her voice. was killed three weeks ago
at Amiens" Then she turned abrupt.
ly and was gone.
Hastily Helen thrust up her hair and
hurried down to Warren.
That's hard lines" he admitted
when she told him.
DO you suppose she's trying to run
this place alone?"
That's. .about the size of II. Some
OF these English women are putting UP
mighty game fight. Now that's the
kind OF a person you'd like to help"
A chug-chug of motor outside, and
a party of three entered-two women
and a man in long motoring coats
They settled themselves noisily.
Three meat teas right away" the
man ordered peremptorily, when the
woman came in to serve Warren's
brandy and soda
Yes. sir" as she hurried out
The man threw off his coat, lit fat
cigar and leaned back with complaceni