The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-08-18

Mabel aerbert urne, here" declared
Mrs. Barclay, who
had spent most of the afternoon dilat-
ing on the advantages Of their coun-
try home. "Now, isn't this better than
being cooped up in the hot city"
"Yes, this is very pleasant" MUIR
INJURED Helen, who had conscientiously
played the part of an admiring, en-
thusiastic guest.
"How about mosquitoes?" Warren
was scratching his ankle.
"Oh, Howard will leave that screen
door open! But they're no worse than
they are in town. Mr.. Phillips was out
last Sunday-he said he'd been almost
eaten up in his apartment"
The cooling darkness had relieved
somewhat the glazing heat of the day,
but the air was still close and sultry,
and the "breeze," of which Mrs. Bar
clay boosted, had to be necessarily
stirred by palm-leaf fans.
Barclay, what time did you say
that train went" Warren reached
over to knock the ashes from his
cigar.
"Well, tomorrow I've got to get the
seven-forty, but you don't have to go
that early. Why don't you take the
eighteen"
'Oh, no, We'll go in with you," sup
pressing yawn as he glanced at his
watch by the dim light from the din
ing room.
wouldn't you like to see the eel
lar before you go up?" suggested Mr..
Barclay. "You won't have time in
the morning"
ooh, I'd love to-" lied Helen, won
.dering If she could marshal her over
worked adjective to a proper apprecia-
ton Of the cellar.
Since their arrival on the noon train
lA1Afrs. Barclay had dragged her through
every room in the house, expatiating on
the comforts and conveniences Of her
home, while Helen had kept up con-
Itinuous murmur Of:
"How attractive! How very con-
venient! You really have charm
dng housed Oh, what delightful
view! Yes, this is such pleasant
room! What lovely big closets! Oh,
what a cheerful maids room!"
When she had gushed over the kitch-
ZEN. pantry, back porch and garden, she
felt she had done her full duty, but
here was the cellar still to be ex-
plored.
"Howard, don't you want to show
Mr.. Curtis the furnace?"
"Sure," her husband rose with alac-
rity. "We've got about the best and
simplest thing in furnaces. Kept the
whole house warm last winter with
only ten TONS"
"Why, that's very little" ventured
Helen, who knew absolutely nothing
about coal, but who was trying to
cover Warren's unresponsive silence
as with evident reluctance he laid
down his cigar.
"Yes, the Petersons just below here
used over fifteen. And their house Is
much smaller-but it's poorly built.
That's one thing about this house
its exceptionally well built"
"The walls are so thick" contrib
uted Mrs. Barclay, 'it's very easy
house to keep warm" Then as she
gathered up the porch cushions. 1T
may rain tonight-we'd better take
these in"
Through the dining room, out
Through the pantry, and they made
their way down the steep, narrow
steps into the damp, musty-smelling
cellar.
"Oh, what lovely large cellar" en-
Unused Helen, almost before the light
was turned on.
"This is only half Of it," proudly
"The storeroom and laundry are over
here"
While Mr.. Barclay demonstrated to
Warren the admirable points OF the
now cold and empty furnace, Mrs. Bar
clay showed Helen the storeroom.
"You've no idea what IL saves in Ice
bills. We really don't need an icebox
at all Most cellars are damp and
moldy--but this is always SO perfectly
dry"
AS the darkened streaks on the
cement wall were oozing dampness'
Helen refrained from commenting on
this statement.
Here's my jelly closet" drawing
curtain back from some rough shelves
on which were a few glasses and Jars.
In nervous effort to conceal war
ren's silent boredom, Helen admired
everything in extravagant terms. She
was tired and sleepy, and her feet
ached from the heat and new pair
of pumps, but there was no release
until they had seen every corner ana
convenience" Of the cellar.
In the laundry, the patent washing
machine, the double wringer, even the
revolving clothes rack had to be dem