The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-08-23
HIS CURIOSITY
BY MILDRED l.. DAVIDSON.
A1s5't ~ tfft ks1ass-st As NFS
per Syndicate.1

The new principal Of Elmtown
grammar school was no longer new In
aay sense of the word, but he was still
the most talked OF man In that little
village. "Schoolmasters methods of
punishment and his ideas on various
matters were Of never-ending impor-
tance to the village gossiDs.
Not only about the dinner table OF
many country farm was the school
master discussed. For although Rich
ard Brown had been teaching In Elm
town nearly a year, he was still re-
garded with lively interest by his asso-
ciates at the district school
The greatest cause Of this Interest
lay In the fact that Mr.. Richard Brown
had never been known to ask an un-
necessary question, nor to display the
least interest in any question under
discussion. Village gossips said s"Fhat
there Mr.. Brown Is lacking In nat'ral
sense Of curiosity"
Jessie Dearing, the primary teacher,
who possessed good sense of humor,
was very much amused by this man,
and determined to have d good time in
making him show the curiosity which
she was sure was there.
Miss Bearings opportunity to test
MIR. Brown came sooner than she an
ticipated.
A wealthy farmer In Elmtown had,
upon his death, left Elmtown high
school substantial library. Richard
Brown thought that this library
should be catalogued, and so asked
Miss Dearing and Miss Barton, his as
slstants at the school, to assist him.
They consented. and the next Saturday
was decided upon as good day to do
the work.
When Miss Dearing awoke on Sat
urday she found that 1t was raining
steadily. but being good sport as
well as healthy girl, this did not dis
turb her in the least.
Ten o'clock found Richard Brown,
Miss Dearlng and Miss Barton at work
In the school library.
Al noon they stopped work and went
home to lunch. Miss Dearing and Miss
Barton going TO d nearby farm, and
Mr.. Brown driving back to his board-
Ing place.
Mr.. Brown said that he would be
back at one o'clock, but when Miss
Dearing and Miss Barton returned ut
quarter after one, he had not arrived.
AS the schoolmaster had the key to the
school, there was no way for the girls
to get In.
Miss Dearing thought that this
would be fine opportunity TO make
Mr.. Brown display his curiosity If
they could get In. Miss Barton
agreed, but could see no way Of get
ting in.
After some time Miss Dearing ran
over to the next farmhouse ana bor-
rowed screwdriver. Unscrewing
several Of the iron bars which crossed
the basement windows, she was able to
open the window and squeeze In. 1t
was very easy then to replace the bars
and run upstairs to let Miss Barton
In.
Miss Bearings next thought was to
return the screwdriver, but as she
opened the door she was confronted
by Mr.. Richard Brown.
II was just looking to see If 1t were
still raining" she said, dropping the
screwdriver behind her and not noting
that 1t fell into her umbrella.
Miss Dearing was very angry with
Mr.. Brown as we'll us herself, and 1T
did not decrease her passion to find
that Mr.. Brown had no intention Of in
curing how she and Miss Barton had
gotten into the sehoolhouse. Instead
he went quickly TO his work without a
question.
1t was quite dark when the cata-
loguing was finished and MIR. Brown
announced his intention Of walking
home with Miss Dearing, who lived
some distance from the school.
1t had stopped raining during the
afternoon, but just as Miss Dearine
and Mr.. Brown started up the street
1t began again. Miss Dearing raised
her umbrella and, to her horror, out
dropped the screwdriver which she
had entirely forgotten.
Mr.. Brown picked up the offensive
article and put it into his pocket with
out word. Neither did Miss Dearing
speak about the screwdriver the rest
of the way home
When they reached Miss bearings
gate Mr.. Brown took the serewdriver
from his pocket and, looking at it,
said:
Jessie, suppose you have heard
that ridiculous story about my lack
Of curiosity, and are wondering why
did not ask how you and Miss Barton
got into the schooll4ouse'
AS Miss Dearing did not reply, he
continued.
Well, I once made up my mind, just
as an experiment, that | should not
ask unnecessary questions. Just q
whim, suppose one would call 1t, but
not bad one after all. really have
good bump OF curiosity, and just now
/ am wondering what certain young
lady by the name of Jessie Dearing
thinks OF man named Richard
Brown VIII she tell mel"
Jessie's answer must have been sat.
isfactory. because 1t was some time