The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-01-28
They TOOK THE CAKE
BY DOROTHY sLAckMoRE.

Hortense Ingraham asked the ques-
tion over the telephone. She had
been sent to the village to bring
home a cake that her mother had
ordered from the Woman's Exchange
and she had reached the exchange
too late to get the cake. Therefore.
she was trying to reach Mrs. Way.
who had charge of the selling that
afternoon.
"Oh," she went on, after some mo-
ments Of conversation, "and you think
/ can find it myself? Yes, l under
stand. I'll get the key next door. Oh.
surely; good-by," and Hortense hung
up the receiver.
She ran to her mother. "Mrs. Way
says l can get the key from the man
next door and go right in and get the
cake, which she left all wrapped up
for me. I'll jump In the car and
drive right down, mother. So long,"
But, after hanging up the receiver.
Mrs. Way remembered that the man
next door had said something about
going to lodge, and she became fear
full lest Hortense find 1t impossible
to obtain the key in order to get into
the little house used as an exchange.
She called her nephew who was
visiting her and told him Of her fears.
Suppose I go down and try to get
It for the young woman" he said,
promptly. Truth to tell he was glad
of an opportunity to find something
to liven his visit to his aunt.
That's good Of you, Tom. Take
my key and go right in and turn on
the lights-the switch Is In the kitch-
en- and this lights the whole house.
You'll be amused at the way In which
the electricity has been put hits
all on this one switch. Then-when
Hortense comes she'll be able to find
you. Mrs. Way gave her nephew the
key and dismissed the worry about
the cake for Mrs. Ingraham from her
mind.
Meantime, Hortense was on her
way to the house next door to get
the key. She found the neighbor In
and no gave her the key and even
offered to go over with her to open
the door.
ooh, wouldn't hear OF such
thing. Mr.. Way told me Just where
to look, so I won't bother you.
Thank you"
The girl carefully fitted the key in
the lock OF the door and entered the
dark place, not without some misgiv-
ings The light from the street lamp
81 xxhn q
was going.
"Who goes there?" said a mans
voice from within.
Hortense was petrified with fear
md the. door banged behind her.
"Who is it?' repeated the voice.
tits l." said Hortense illuminat-
ingly. 1--we come for my cake
And I've come to light up the
place for you and can't find the
switch" said the man.
"W-who are you?" asked Hor-
tense still glued to the same spot and
trembling like a leaf.
I'm Tom Garfield, Mrs. Ways
nephew from Cincinnati. Wait-ah!
I have it, Presto!" He had found
the switch and the place had become
suddenly lighted.
Hortense looked at Tom and Tom
looked at Hortense.
Its funny enough for a movie,
the man said.
yves" laughed Hortense.
You're frightened, poor girl" Tom
began. But you see my aunt be-
came worried about your not being
able to get the key from next door so
she asked me If / would take her key
and come down here to have the place
open for you. And-there's your
cake, I guess
"Yes-that's it. And won't you let
me drive you home? / came down in
the runabcut and you came here on
my account. so do let me take you"
Il should say I would" acquiesced
Tom. -
And as he sat beside the girl he
began to think that the visit to his
aunt was going to prove more inter
esting than 1t had promised.
II was frightened perfectly stif
when you roared out, Who's there?"
I1OIteHot loiu uih, 90 thOJ opOu WV
the pavements.
81 was a brute" Tom admitted.
mot at all. How could you know
It was II"
How, indeed? And you were bully
not to faint and give me q fright In
turn, do you know that?"
Hortense laughed merrily. Faint!
I never did such silly trick in my
life. Out here in this seaside village
we have real girls-not city girls
such as perhaps you know" she said.
And with that entering wedge OF
banter Tom Immediately became on
friendly terms with the girl and went
80 far as to ask himself to call on her
with his aunt on the following day
to help eat the cake "over which 1t
Is all about" he said.
"I'll save you piece, anyway"
Hortense said. And IL Mrs. Way
likes she may bring you"