The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1916-11-13
THE PROFESSORS SHIRT
BY FRANCES LAW.

there on the swing sat MISS Marina
Tilbridge, crOcheting.
"a little warm for SO early in the
year." he remarked, pleasantly. 1t
seemed that although these two had
been nelghbors for years they never
got past the conventional subject OF
the weather or how much better the
lilacs were doing this year than last.
He was quite up on his own porch
and had his hand on the screen door
before Martha had the courage to ask
"How are you getting along, since
Mrs. Gold went awayT
"Pretty well. Her niece is here to
look after me until she returns"
my, but l wish I had his teeth
when he slniles!" sighed Martha and,
not realizing that her words weren't
exactly what she meant at all, she
sat a minute idle, but her thoughts
were buster than her hands. that's
q shiftless creature that's keeping
house for him now. I suppose it's the
best he could do, though. Well, l
guess I'd better get a cup Of tea. I
do believe he'd like a piece of that
nut: bread of mine. I'll take over a
plate Of It,"
So, rolling up the work, she went
back to the kitchen. Then, before
thinking of her wi lunch, she fixed
up the professors treat, covered 1t
with a napkin and took 1t over the
back way. The clOthesline was d.
rectly across her path and she had to
dodge various articles Of wearing ap-
parel as she went.
Suddenly her sharp eyes made a
discovery hole right in the breast
Of one of the professors fine white
I shirts. The housekeeper had COM
planned to her at one time about his
propensity for splitting acids upon him.
self in the laboratory and what a time
she had with his mending.
Martha ate her lunch and the pro.
lessor went back to school. The street
I quieted down and Martha prepared for
a hap.e Then, remembering a waist
that was minus a button, she got out
her sewing basket.
Then it just happened that she
looked out Of the window in time to
see the girl in the next house lock the
door. and go out. =,
Instantly her thoughts reverted to
the shirt The clothes though dry.
were still on the line, and here was
she with thread and needle all ready.
No second thought was necessary. She
ran downstairs, through the kitchen
door, around the lilac bush and had
the shirt in her arms in no time. Then
indoors again with her precious bur-
den.
So she patched the shirt with
stitches so fine and SO neat that 1t
would take sharp eyes indeed to de-
tect the situation.
But who was that just turning the
corner? The professor himself COM
ing home early! In a panic. she
picked up her mending and tore down.
stairs to the yard. She managed to
get the clothespins back to place, al
| though her fingers trembled dreadful
ly and she was shaking with fright.
Then! She went upstairs-and
found the professors shirt lying on
her bed!
Her eyes widened with horror.
What had she done? Weakly she got
to the back room window, and there,
swinging in the lazy afternoon breeze,
was her waist on the professors
clothesline. She almost tainted with
dismay.
There was nothing to do but wait.
And waiting only brought increased
dismay, for the maid returned and
gathered in the clothes, with her waist
among them.
Get the waist she must-s0me way.
So that evening, when the dishes were
done and "the street" was sitting out
in front, she saw the professor 60 out
with some books under his arm, and,
later, Hattie, in Haunting pink, de-
parted with a beau for a movie. The
house next door was dark and de-
serted.
Finally she reused herself with IN
effort, and tiptoed across the back
lawns to the other house. A window
opened onto the porch and nothing
stood between her and the coveted
interior but a rickety screen. She
pushed and it gave. She was soon
inside the black kitchen cropping for
the laundry basket.
Then her hand touched It! Thank
heaven, and right On top was her waist.
She could tell 1t by the lace collar she
had made herself. The shirt was
quickly substituted for it and she was
retreating when q light was switched
on suddenly and the professor stood
In the dining room door!
Martha looked at him an instant
with wide.open eyes, and then prompt
~ and quietly tainted.
She revived almost Immediately and
saw the agitated professor bending
over her. Then, with a fresh realiza.
ton Of what had happened, she shud'
dered aud closed her eyes again. She
wanted to die! But he had one of her
hands in his and didn't let 90. As she
com~prehended that fact, her cheeks
went from a deathly white to vivid
red, and then the tears started. II
only she could get awayl
!. She tried to stand up, and he helped
her to her feet. But, instead Of let
ting the hand go, he took possession
OF the other one.
martha, how you frightened me.
dear" he said. II thought you were
dead. I thought I had lost you."