New Britain herald., 1915-12-14
How Madgc and Dicxy Saw Putnam
 House.

"Well. Why don't you say I 1o1d i you so'?'
 Dicky growled out the words after i he had taken long, eloquent look at the sign For rent. Caretaker will 5h >N the house., which decorated the front entrance of Putnam Manor. l did not answer him. In the first 1 place, was too tired and hungry after l our long tramp to do anything more l than stare at the deserted inn Dicky 1 hati told me so much of it's excellent l meals and the wonderful picturesuue- ness of it's interior that I was vo- fully disappointed at finding it closed "Go on. Why don't you say it?" Dicky appeared bent >n taking his own irritation out on m" When We had started for Our long tramp iron, Marvin, the little station o which we had come For long day in the coun- try, I had begged Dicl>y to inquire whether. or not Putnam Manor was open. But. r1an-lilSe he had made fun of my insistence, and refused to make any inquiry, saying the inn had been open every winter for years And now. tired and ravenously hun sly, we faced a sign, For rent" in stead of the chicken and sea food meal which Dicky had so glowingly de scribed during our walk. "I don't think there is anything for l me to say.' I replied quietly I have always prded myself upon being a woman who would not say T told VOL, sO,' no matter how great provocation I had.
 "Oh, no, there's nothing for you to say, but you stand there with that martyr r-at-the-s sta ke-look on your face lefecting on how different everything would have been if I only had taken , your advice. I'd much rather nyou'd rave around and call few names''
 Don't you think you are a trifie un- reasonable Dicky? I am as huno'.y ] and disappointed as you are If I re- ] preached you because you would not ! inquire about this place this morning i you certainly would be angry E, cause l say nothing you are annoyed. If YOU will kindly tell me just what to do I will do it."
 l.. | suppose my last words were not l calculated to soothe Dicky He gave 1 a short, disa greea ble laugh and turned 1 away.
 ! No use standing here" he growled. 1 Might as we'll go back to the station ! and get the next train to the city"
 Bells and Knockers.
 "Dicky," I said aghast. "Why, it is only few minutes after 12. We havr the whole afternoon. Surely there i must be some place around here where we can get something to eat"
 'I don't know of a place." he re- turned, but evidently my eagerness to stay and finish our day modified him, 1 for he dropped his unpleas sant man. Ter.
 "Would you like to look arf md the ola shack now you arc here?' he 1 asked. "I see it's for sale well as for rent, and if it's sold. of course tn, vandals that buy it will tear the ole house down and split uo lie land into building lots.''
 With a row of houses each exactly 1 like the others" I agreed witt, little shudder at the picture I had called l up.
  think, out here, where there is plenty of room, people would like a touch of individuality in their homes. Of course you do find lots of attra ctiNe houses, but the majority of the people seem content with houses that look as If they had been poured out of a mould in some ia actory.
 Do ring the bell. Dicky," I sai,!.
 G! am sc anxious to sec the inside of
 this old mansion.'
 "Ping the bell" Dicky exclaimed scornfully "Where do you think you
 are? In the twentieth century. Look over your head.'
 looked. and exclaimed in delight for just above my head was an in,
 mensc knockcr of the kind tha
 adorned the old colonial homes.
 lifted it and let it drop. but the sount that came from it seemed untitled
 doubted whether any one inside coul, hear it.
 '"The sharp peal of a he'll may ,G ' have the sound of the olden time, hl,
 it is more effective,' said Dicky, an :. swering the look on my face, but tn
 opening of the door disproved hi words.
 A ta1 thin woman stood in tn
 opening Her face was pale, her
 drawn back from her face and coile = in tight little knot on the top of hc
 bead Her dress was clean and tid, , ,,ut very plain and coarse. She hel = a plump baby in her arms. while al T other little one, scarcely more than ', baby herself. peeped at us fl om tf :, shelter of her mothers skirt. s q see the house is for rent" bega
 Dicky genially How much is it r s month and how soon could one taF l, possession ?"
 f looked at him in anna cement , knew he had no more intention