Putnam patriot., 1917-08-24
THE RUNMAGE SALE



women used 10 wear over their hair
when they went out in the evening. q
set of bone dishes Of the same date Of
usefulness. an lumber Of dilapidated
umbrellas, band-boxes fun Of old hats
and pieces Of hats, ssucers without
any cups and cups without any saH-
GERS. and a motley collection Of out
efdate mems and women's clothing
such wes the array Of articles that
Molly Bergen found IN the living room
one cool morning in November when
she returned from her usual trip u
the village
Whatever on earth"-she began.
pulling OF her gloves and slipping out
Of her sport coat
Her mother anticipated her ques-
ton. Those are for the rummage
sale for the benefit Of the old peoples
home Mrs Bergen was sitting at
her desk iabOriousiy rubbing the
names of from Christmas and Easter
and other seasonal cards I'm get
ting these cards ready, too. I've saved
them ever since before you were born.
There are many hundreds OF them
and most Of them | can use. We can
sell them for five for a cent. Some
one will want to buy them
Molly drew her chair to the open
fireplace and stretched out her hands
to the blaze. Have you heard the
news, mother?" she asked by way OF
announcing that there was news to
tell The Stanleys' house is opened
again. Yes. 1t is Tom Stanley, |
think. though / know you don't agree
with me when | say that he Is quite
the best looking man that | ever saw.
/ know what you are going to say.
You're going to say that it isn't be-
coming for young, eligible girl TO
make complimentary remarks Ike
that about men-you weren't going TO
say II Just that way, but that would
have been the gist of It. But really
you mustn't mind. All girls are quite
frank about those things nowadays
Il wasn't going to say that at all,
assured the mother I'm sure Mr..
Stanley Is very handsome, but don't
imagine for a minute that the heir to
that large fortune is going to be one
little bit interested in little country
mouse like you.
I'm not a country mouse at all
Haven't | been away to boarding
school? Anyway, I've met that Stan
ley man and he's fine His cousin was
at boarding school-not that he cared
at all for her She was engaged at
tho time. He dropped around to see
her once or twice. | met him. But
what were you going to say
Simply that your remark gave me
an idea that | might telephone there
for a bundle of rummage. | am sure
they have plenty OF old things that
they don't want that would sell very
easily"
mo one is there but old Tom and
the man who drives hls car Old man
hates the country. Son adores 1t.
He's making the old house head
quarters for u hunting trip. Just gets
In tho village on the eleyen-seyen and
starts out hunting again this after
noon. That's what the village gossips
say"
Before Molly had finished. Mrs. Ber-
gen had picked up her desk phone to
get into communication with tho Stan
ley house Her voice was sweetness
personifled when she spoke.
Mr.. Stanley. excuse me for phon-
ing the minute you arrived. but we are
giving a rummage sale, beginning this
afternoon, for the benefit" and so
she went on with her honeyed words
of explanation.
As matter of fact. the telephone
bell had been ringing when Stanley
arrived at tho house. Tom had
dropped the armful of paraphernalia
| that he had with him on the front
| porch to hurry in TO answer the call.
| There was chance that 1t was impor-
| tent business news from New York.
| Meantime his one-time chauffeur, who
was active as chief cook and bottle
washer and boon companion on the
proposed hunting trip. had stopped at
| the village for provisions and Tom had
! dismissed the station taxi.
I'm sure | can dig up something
Old books we have lots Of, Tom said
over the phone And | have trunk
full OF old clothes somewhere. Ill
get my man to hunt them up. Moth
ing very wonderful, Of course. for we
have to wear our clothes til they are
worn out. but perhaps they will be
4 salable for few cents. really
wouldn't dare 70 give you anything
from around the house. though | am
quite sure there are loads Of useless
things but when my sister comes out
next time she might discover that
had given away all the family heir
looms I'll send my man over with
the bundle"
Please don't bother" Mrs. Stanley
replied Il shall be delighted TO stop
You may be away ON your trip. In
that case, leave the bundle on the
front veranda. My daughter will run
down in the car My daughter says
she has met you. No. indeed. should
really rather have her stop for them. =
Tom Stanley experienced a decided
| ly agreeable turn of memory at the
name of Mrs, Stanley's daughter. Yes,
she was the decidedly pretty, viva
| cious brunette he had met at his cou.
sins boarding school She had told
him that her home was near one OF
his many homes. He had promised
himself the pleasure OK hunting Der up
some time In fact. he had made two
trgpp ~ tha country With "A half idea