Omaha daily bee., 1918-09-15
Author OF "Pollyanna."

awful lot of time that way. But |
couldn't do it. | bought lot of 'em,
too, an tried it; but | expect | didn't
begin young enough. tell We, Mr..
Smith, I've about come to the con-
clusion that there amt a thing in the
world so hard to kill as time. I've
tried it, and know. Why, | got so
l couldn't even kill it eatin'-though
I most killed myself tryin' to! An
let me tell we another thing. A full
stomach amt in it with bein' hungry
an knowing a good dinners coming,
Why, there was whole weeks at a
time back there that / didn't know
the meaning of the word hungry
You'd oughter seen the jolt l give
one O them waiter chaps one day
when he comes up with his paper and
his pencil and asks me what l
wanted. WantP says |. There
amt but one thing on this earth |
want, and you can't give it to me. |
want to want something. I'm tired
of bein' so blamed satisfied all the
timer"
And what did-Alphonso say to
that" chuckled Mr.. Smith ap-
preciatively.
"Alphonsc? Oh, the waiter fellow,
you mean? Oh, he just stared min
ute, then mumbled his usual Yes,
Sir, very good, sir and showed that
COMPOUNDED printed card of his lit
tie nearer to my nose. But, there!
l guess you've heard enough of this,
Mr.. Smith. It's only that l was try
ing to tell you why I'm actually glad
we lost that money. It's give me
back my mans job again"
Good! All right, then. | won't
waste any more sympathy on you"
laughed Mr.. Smith.
well, you needn't. And there's
another thing. l hope it'll give me
back little of my old faith in my fey
low man"
what do you mean by that"
Gust this. l won't suspect every
man, woman and child that says a
civil word to me now of having de-
signs on my pocketbook. Why, Mr..
Smith, you wouldn't believe it. if I
told, you, the things that's been done
and said to get little money out Of
me. Of course, the open gold-brick
schemes I knew enough to dodge,
most of 'em (unless you count in that
darn Benson mining stock, and |
spotted the blackmailers all right,
most generally.
But | was habbergasted when a
woman tackled the job and began
to make love to me-actually
make love to me!-one day
when James back was turned. CORY!
Do I look such a fool as that, Mr..
Smith? Well, anyhow, there won't
be any more of that kind, nor any
body after my money now, ! guess"
he finished with a sage wag of his
head as he turned away.
To Miss Maggie that evening Mr..
Smith said after reeounting the earl
Ter portion Of the conversation: SO,
you see you were right, after all. /
shall have to own il up. Mr.. Frank
Blaisdell had plenty to retire upon,
but nothing to retire to. But I'm
glad-if he's happy now"
"And he isn't the only one that that
$4,000 loss has done good turn to"
nodded Miss Maggie. "Mellicent has
just been here You know she's home
from school. It's the Easter vacation.
anyway. but she isn't going back. It's
too expensive.
Miss Maggie spoke with studied
casualness. but there was an added
color in her eheeks-Miss Maggie al
ways flushed little when she men
toned Mellicent's name to Mr.. Smith,
in spite Of her indignant efforts not
to do so.
cob, is that true9"
YES Well, the Pennocks had a
dance last night, and Mellieent went
She said she had 70 laugh to see Mrs,
Pennoeks efforts 10 keep Carl away
from her-the loss OF the money Is
known everywhere now, and has been
greatly exaggerated, I've heard She
said that even Hibbard GayIord had
the air Of one trying to let her 3awn
easy. NEGLIGENT was immensely
amused"
Where was Donald GRAY 20
"Oh, be wasn't there he dursa ?
move IA the Pennock crowd mu,h
But Aelhccut secs him. and and
*verythlng's all right there. aau.
That's why Mslliccnt 10 go happy