Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-22
"WntLl why doat you say : t0ld

AAIbss! why don't you say WI"
w you so'7"
DIoky growled out the words after he
had taken long, eloquent look at the sign
For Rent Caretaker win show the house.
which decorated the front entrance OF Put
nam Manor
did not answer him. In the frst place,
I was too tired and hungry after our long
tramp TO do anything more than stare et
the deserted Inn. Dicky had told me 10
much of It's excellent meals and the won.
derful pioturesquenoss pt ita interior Una.
was woefully disappointed at hnd'ns 7"
closed.
"Go on. why don't you say it, Dieky
appeared bent on taking his own tTthuoh
out on me. when we had started for our
long tramp from Marvin, the little STATION
TO which we had come for long DAY N
the country. had begRed Dicky to INQUIRE
whether or not Putnam Manor was open
nut. manlike. he had made fun OF my In
Estence and refused TO make any IN
aulry saying the Inn had been open every
winter for years. And now, tired ana
ravenous,y hungry, we faced sign, f, fo,
Rent" instead OF the chicken ana heatoou
meal which Dcky had 80 glowinBy ue-
scrlbed during our walk.
~ don't think thore IL anything for mo
20 ray" replied quietly / have always
prided myself upon being a woman who
would not say ~ told you So no matter
how great provocation had.
"Oh. no. there's nothing for you TO say
hut you stand there with that innrtyr-ht-
the-atake look on your face roflecting on
how different everything would have been
n only had taken your advice. I'd much
rather you'd rave around and call few
names"
Don't you think you are trne unrea-
sonabie. DlclSy7 / am as hungry and dis
appointed nH you are II I reproached you
because you would not inquire about this
place this morning you certainly would be
angry. Because ! say nothing you are an.
noycd. II you viii kindly tell mo just
what TO do ! will do IT,"
suppose my last words were not call
Culated TO soothe Diclty. He gave short
disagreeablc laugh and turned away.
mo use standing here" he growled
Might as well go back to tho station ana
get the train to the city"
"Dicky" said aEhast. WHY, II lie only
n few minutea after twelve. We have the
whole afternoon Surely there must be
some place around here where we can get
something to eat?'
~ don't know OF n place." he returned,
but evidently my eagerness TO stay ana
finish our day Modified him, for he dropped
his unpleasant manner
would you like to look around the old
shack now you are hero?" he asked. i
sec it's for sale as we'll as for rent and II
it's sold OF course the vandals that buy II
will tear the old house down and split UP
the land into building lots"
with n row OF houses each exactly like
the others" 1 agreed with little 5hudder
at the picture / had called up.
Sure" returned Dcky You'd think
out here, where there is plenty OF room
people would like touch OF individuality
in their homes. OF course you do find lots
OF attractive housen, but tho majority OF
the people seem content with hoFes that
look ma II they had been poured out OF
mold In some factory"
am so anxious to sec the inside of this old
ring the bell," Dicky exclaimed scorn-
fully. 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 immense knock
err of the kind that adorned the old colonial
homes / lifted II and let II drop, but the
sound that came from It seemed muiiied
doubted whether any one inside could hear
IT,
The sharp peal Of bell may not have
tho sound of the olden time, but II Is more
effective" said Dlcky, answering the look
on my face but the opening OF the door
his woTds,
A tall, thin woman stood In the open
Ing Her face was pale. her hair drawn
back from her race ana colleu III a tBW
little knot on the top OF her head. Her
dress was clean and tidy, but very plain
and coarse. She held a plump baby in
her arms, while another little one, scarce
ly more than n baby herself peeped at US
from tho shelter of her mothers skirt.
II see the house is for rent" began
DIckv genially. How much is II per
month and how soon could one take pos
session."
looked Mt him In amnzement. knew
he had no more intention OF renting this
Immense place than he had OF flying TO
the moon. AS l watched his Difference 20
the woman / realized that she would not
object to our looking II over.
My cheeks flushed with chagrin. Nothing
ia so foreign TO my nature as pretense OF
any kind. would far. far rather have
never seen tho old house than to 60 over
II on the pretext OF Wishing TO rent IL
II do not know what price Is put upon