Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-03-29
SISTER BELL Fixes Up
1y JANE OSBORN.


out to the city to Elk things up" in
Brother Benson's apartment that she
would get in in some way, but it was
really an easier matter than she had
hoped.
I'm Mr. Bridges sister, and I 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 cantor" 1--WE 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-
mOtely dreaming that any Of "the folks
from home" would make him a visit in
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 fixing-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-ki tchenette apart
ment.
The place was small-disappoin
ly so-she felt at first, but at least it
was full Of conveniences. There was
one bedroom just large enough for a
three-Quarter bed, chair and a bu-
reau. No curtains hung at the win
dow-hOw Sister Bell rejoiced at her
scheme when she saw all these Omis-
siOns. The only pictures to be seen
were two that stood on the bureau
her own and another. 'BenSOn's latest
girl, of course" OWNED Bell. Though
but eight years older than her twenty
twc-year-old brother, she felt and act
ed the mother to him.
Sister Bell had arrived at ten in the
morning. At four she had her task
mapped out and 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.
1t was on the last flight that she
turned and looked back at the man
who had been following her up the
stairs. She dropped the loaf of bread
and he picked it up for her. Then,
while he was still standing holding it
for her, she opened the door of the
apartment and stood to take it from
him.
There was q look of mOmentary sur
prise in 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 picture-in his
room. He's a great boy and | have
been -brOthering him around a lit
tie" At this Sister Bell shifted some
of her parcels, held hand out to him
in gratitude and they were friends.
'Tve been fixing up his place. she
said. "Since the poor lad has to live
in such close quarters / might as well
have it coy. Perhaps you will come
in sometime this evening and tell me
whether it is progressing to suit a
bachelor" The newcomer promised
and fumbled in his pocket, then turned
and went downstairs with the excuse
of having mislaid his key and needing
I to get a 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 it was also to
borrow one of BenSon'S books, some.
times even to get something out of his
trunk that he had left in Benson's
dining room, and as the dining room
fective furniture he took the trunk
back into his own narrow back apart.
ment-a mere bedroom with a bath. II
was his Whim to live in cramped quar-.
tiers, 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 home
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 was
not long in coming. OF course it hadn't
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 4 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.
Sand then I thought that perhaps
Sister Bell might consent to stay mere
with u.s." he said. what a trio we