Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-05-03
SISTER BELL FIXES UP
BY JANE OSBORN.

Brother Benson's apartment that she
would get In In some way, but 1t was
really an easier matter than she had
hoped
I'm Mr.. Bridges sister, and want
keys for his apartment she told the
woman who come up from the base
ment In answer TO the ringing OF the
bell marked "Janitor." "rve come In
his absence to fix his place up. He
forgot TO send me the keys"
OF course Benson had never had any
intention Of sending the keys not re-
rnotely dreaming that any DC '4the folks
from home woulH mike him visit Ias'
his new city abode. He had gone away
on an extended business trip and Sis
ter Bell had chosen the time as oppor-
tune for her fxlng-up process.
Fortunately the janitor's wife was
new and green and unsuspicious. ITS
the third floor 'front.'" Sister Bell told
her, and that was enough. She got the
keys and mounted the stairs to the
wee three-room-and-kit apart
ment.
ly so-she felt at first. but at least it
was full Of cenvenienees. There was
one bedroom just large enough for a
three-quarter bed, O chair and O bu.
reau. No curtains hung at the win
d0w-how Sister Bell rsjoiced at her
scheme when she saw all these omis.
sions. The only pictures to be seen
sIa4 an
her own and another. "Benson's latest
girl. Of course" OWNED Bell Though
but eight years older than her twenty
two-year-old brother, she felt and act.
ed the mother to him.
Sister Bell had arrived at ten in the
morning. Al four she had her task
mapped out aud went in search OF
meat and drink for her solitary supper.
with arms full Of bread and lettuce
and eggs and milk bottles she made
her way back up the two long flights
Of stairs for the third time that day,
| II was ON the last fight that she
turned and looked back Mt theAInan
who had been following her up the
stairs. She dropped the loaf of bread
and he picked 1t mp for her. Then
while he was still standing holding II
for her, she opened the door of the
apartment and stood to take II from
him.
There was look Of momentary sur
prise Ia the face Of the man which was
explained to Sister Bells satisfaction
when he said " So you are Ben's sis
ter. have seen your plcture--in his
room. He's great boy and hnva
been hlg-brotheging him around 4 10
! tie. At nhsmN Sister Ben shifted Nnass
| OF hNF 55k1Cnsss laila = alniS6 0us ID zsIi
in gFmtitade and they were friends
1--we been fixing Up his place" she
said. "Since the poor lad has to live
In such close quarters might as wei
have II cozy. Perhaps you win come
la sometime this evening and tell me
whether II Is progressing to suit
bachelor" The newcomer PROMISED
and funbied in his pocket, then turned
and went downstairs with the excuse
OF having mlslald his key and needing
TO get duplicate from the JanItor.
That evening Martin Stowe kept his
promise and made his visit of Inspec
ton.
Every evening. and sometimes in the
morning besides, Mr.. Stowe made an
excuse to come and see how the work
| progressed. Sometimes 1t was also e
borrow one OF Benson's books, some,
times even 20 get something out Of his
trunk that he had left In Benson's
dining room, and as the dining ro0n
shaped itself with inexpensive but ef
fective furniture he took the trunt
back into bis own narrow back apart
ment--a mere bedroom with a bath. |,
was his within 10 live in cramped quar-
ters he told Sister Bell.
The day that Benson came home Mr..
Stowe met him at the station. He
asked Sister Bell to go with him but
she said she would rather stay horne
and have the kitchenette dinner ready
for them on their return. A week had
passed since she had come and there
had been many changes.
When Benson and Stowe returned
from the station the explanation WINS
not long In coming. or course 1t hadnt
been Benson's apartment at all. 1t was
| Stoves, and, Of course, Stowe should
have told Sister Bell to begin with
| But, manlIke, he had not wanted to
tell Benson's sister that the brother
was living In one-room back apart
ment when the sister was disappointed
at the smallness Of the larger one In
the front. When he realized what Sis.
ter Bell was really doing he hadn't
wanted to disappoint her. He hoped
somehow that by the time Benson
came back he would be able to afford
the larger apartment.
"And then thought that perhaps
Sister Bell might consent to stay mere
with u.s." he said "What trio we
would bel We'd let Ben have break
fasts with US. too, wouldn't we?v
Sister Bell was still in a daze, re-
hearsing every event of the wonderful
days to make sure that she had not at
some time been very blind not TO see
the situation. but I was so sure
she said. 4Why, Just seeing my picture
| on Benson's bureau made me sure.
And the other grill thought that was
Benson's new glrli"
1T Isl Stowe assured. TITS his girl
md my kind sister. The duplicate Is
on Benson's chlffonier. But Benson
had but one picture OF you, SO I took
that. That was before had seen you,v
and knew even then"
| Copyright. 1911. by the Mcclure Nawspa-
per Syndicatal