The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-01-19
THE GUEST
BY OLIVER LoRIMo.

,
!. Jerry opened the kitchen door wit
noury fingers to let in the man Wit
the groceries.
Halfway across the kitchen loo
MS ace-crusted heel slipped on tn
nnoleum and he went down With,
crash.
Good g~raciousl" cried Jerry, ar
you hurti".
NO" he said. getting to his feet an,
eyins the conglomeration Of broker
bags on the door.
MY, ! thought you we're Patsyr"
Patsy No. my names Dennis"
That's a wretched joke" said Jerr,
with contempt.
IT Isn't q joke" said Dennis, ut,
the truth. How could 1t be a Joker"
Look here, l haven't got time "a
stand here and answer riddles. Just
look around at the kitchen and then
at the mess you've made all over my
floor and tell me II you think ri gel
through before the day after tomor.
row."
But Dennis only looked at her
smooth, flushed cheeks, swapping gray
eyes and the rebelliOus hair that shook
curls over her forehead when she
talked.
Just look at It, / say"
This time bis eyes followed the d.
rection Of her finger and he saw a
table full of pots and pans, bowls and
spoons ready for washing.
Jerry regarded him curiously. "Say.
are you really a grocery man or what.
all dressed up that way? And what's
the matter with Patsy today7"
PATSY couldn't come, 80 l came in
his place"
"Oh, see! Well, do you know what
Patsy would do If he spilled the beans
and coffee and things?"
He'd apologize! | suppose"
APOLOGIZE Humphl He'd pick
'em all up"
But | was just going to-"
"Going TOT You're a cyclone. aren't
you!"
Dennis looked puzzled. but without
more talking he pulled up his trousers,
got down on his knees and went to
work.
Say" said Jerry finally when three
neatly-assorted piles had been brought
out OF the chaos. do you like choco-
late cake?"
Indeed I do" admitted Dennis.
"And doughnutsT
"You're right"
sand mince pie7"
Il like 1t very much, indeed"
well, I'm going to give you a sam.
pie Of each while I'm washing these
dishes. Sort Of try 'em on the dog,
you might say, to see how they co.. I'm
going to let you in on a secret. I'm
not the girl. I'm the missus, or one
Of them. There's three of us, Aunt
Genevieye and Meg and me. You1l
get to know us better some day. We're
poor as Jobs turkey and proud as
Lucifer-the whole bunch Of US. That
Is, Aunt Genevleve and Meg are. I'm
not"
Jerry set a plate of good things be.
fore him and perched on the edge Of
the table. swell. they think I'm the
limit because I've got no family feel. !.
Ing, as they put 1t. Our mothers f.
Their was the seventh son Of a some.
thing or other, and our fathers rela.
tives are all away up In G in England.
Last year Meg went over to visit some
them." Jerry sighed, then sudden.
y, Say, how's the pie"
TITS just splendid" said Dennis,
4 never tasted anything like 1t. You
ire a wonderful cook, aren't you7"
They all say that, and that's the
trouble. When anybody's coming
lave to spend days in the kitchen here
o get ready, and I'm nearly dead.
Why, you ought to see that pantry.
baked doughnuts and cakes and +
'ies and all sorts Of things to get
eady for the earl"
"The earlT"
"Oh, ! forgot. l didn't finish about
deg. When she went to England .
here was an earl she liked very much.
nd when she found he was coming to
AMERICA this week she invited him to
isit us. He's coming tomorrow. That's
Thy I'm fixing things. Gee, I'm tired"
TITS too bad" said Dennis sympa.
hetically, looking down at the head Of
.ying curls. "But I'm going to help
lash these pans and things. You don't
eed to worry about my place. The
rocery boy had an accident and I was
They took him home and the
'uck to the garage. There was only
ne box Of groceries to be delivered, 80
said I'd bring 1t in my car. Come on,
hat do you do first"
Jerry looked away In dismay. "Noth.
,g. I'm not going to let you help
ow. You run along home to your
life aud family and tell them the Joke
. me-" ,
Il have no wife and family, and
mt see any Joke on you. Come on
show me what to do"
mo"
"You must. I've never had my word
and I'm not going to now.
ct me the-the towel and you wash f,
q things"
Suddenly Jerry laughed. II hope |
unit Genevleve and Meg don't come
and find you here"
II hope they do" declared Dennis.
IN proud of my company, and I was
ver SO happy In my life"