Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-12-20

absorbed her. "You know" she said
finally waen Alice called her into the
small, flowery, dining room and sat her
down at the dainty table, II could
make lot of those stories into strong
fiction by few touches. The maya
zine is sadly in need of new brains
Just now. I've mind to whip them
in shape and bring out Philip Cheyne
as writer"
"Oh, Helen Wouldn't that be CREATE
| just wish 1 weren't so stupid and
could help YOU"
"You can help by being just your
sweet, lovable feminine little self. 1
can put you right into those stories.
You are the type that's needed here.
SO you see, dearie, you will be the
means of many big checks going into
that tin box for Philip Cheyne when
he returns from the war"
A little silence fell on the two en-
thusiastic girls.
Each felt the sinister chill of those
three words, "when he returns"
A month or two passed happily and
healthlly by. Helen Randolf took ire
mendous amount of pleasure In whip
ping the strangely acquired stories Of
Philip Cheyne into shape and as each
was finished giving 1t a place on the
pages of the big successful magazine.
They turned out even better than she
had anticipated. She was more than
proud of her new writer and promi-
nence was given them. The illustra-
lions were delightful.
The checks paid for those stories
were so big that one would have paid
the rent of No. Tidy lane for some
six months. Instead Of paying for any
thing each check was placed carefully
in the tin box that Alice had dug up
while planting the hydrangeas.
The girls had been In the wonderful
straylng cottage of Tidy lane some
seven months and five of Philip Chey-
mes stories had been published.
Then, by telegram, came the all-too-
sudden news that Cheyne had been
brought home, wounded soldier to
recuperate In his Long Island cottage.
Helen and Alice were grateful that
he had at least returned alive. They
could not help regret or two at leav-
Ing the little village to which they had
both become attached.
A tiny cottage that had not strayed
from the fold but remained in the tidy
row was happily vacant.
"Do you think we could furnish 1t
and when Arthur and / are married."
suggested Helen, 1--WE could keep 1t for
weekend cottage3"
"Greatp agreed Alice, II Just hate
to leave Tidy lane and 60 back to the
stuffy city"
SO together they refreshed No. 0
with understanding flowers, left every
thing attractive for the home coming
Of Its soldier owner and moved to
No. 7.
II wish we could peek through the
window and watch him open that box"
pinned Alice, as with four large checks
topping It they closed the box and left
1t conspicuously on the center table
Beside 1t were the four magazines
open to display the stories to Philip
Cheyne.
"Lordy, Lordyp exclaimed that
young man when, battered as to body
but CHEEKY as to spirits, he arrived In
No, o, "some good fairies have been
lluttering about my dump" He hadn't
known just how good It would be to
get back home In his heart he longed
for the one being that makes a home
home, and knew that he was going on
a still hunt for that one person. He
had been single long enough and now
that he had been humanIzed by the
war and Its tragedies he realized the
need Of companionship.
He was so amazed at the seeming
miracle Of his stories that he sat down
and read every word Of them before
an hour had passed. He grlnned at the
sight Of his own name in print and was
delighted beyond belief The checks,
too, were Immensely gratifying, but
somehow the queerness Of fate held
him In silent thought. OF course he
was determined to unearth the good
fairy just as his tin box had been I'm.
earthed.
II would not be difficult, for he had
the editor OF the magazine to consult
Cheyne also knew that he was going to
be able now TO produce more and bet
ter stories. Many big things had come
to him out there in No Mans Land.
Thus II was that he stopped one eve
ming Mt Z Tidy lane. and having stopped
fingered.
Helen always said she saw the way
the wind blew that very first day, and
not long afterward Alice moved into
the little cottage that had struggled
from the fold and became its mistress
ana Helen and Arthur were married
the week-endlng I'm No 7