South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-28
HOW CHANCE CHANGED DICKY'S
PLANS AND THREW THEM
AGAIN INTO STRANGE
COMPANY.

Now then. Sister Sue. mind your
step"
with a merry twinkle in mis- eye.
Dicky swung me down from the
steps Of the accommodation train az
Cold Spring. where we had planned
to spend a week fishing
Mind your own Brother BlL' I
returned gayly. ms heart thrilling
al the foolish little repartee.
For when Dicky called me Sister
sue" knew he was in the rarest
good humor. II was an appellation
playfully given to me by DicNy in
T the days Of our courtshlp when he
had not yet dared 10 call me
. "Madge." and wished 70 say some
thing beside the formal Miss Spen-
Ger" IL was a silly little name,
equally silly was the Brother Bill.
which at that time he had laugh
ineIv given himself But any WON
an can understand how I thrilled at
the old names. which. in the more
matter of fact less playful intimacy
OF our married life had almost fallen
into disuse.
The House is Guaranteed.
We started down the platform to-
ward the tiny station, which was
the only building in sight. Ahead Of
ms tripped the slight figure of the
dark woman with the wonderful
ewes. who had sat in front of us on
the train. and had given Dicky so
marked look of approval as 70
annoy me.
The station appeared to be de-
serted Dicky frowned as he looked
around
Wonder where that chap is?' he
said MY letter distinctly named
the train 7 was coming on, and I
told him to meet u.s. But I don't see
any sign Of a rig andy Jove-'
/ Dicky broke off suddenly and stared
at "A trunk standing on end by the
side of the station. That's surely
our trunk" he said THAT ought
to have been at the house before
this"
We turned the corner Of the sta
/ tion house and discovered a rangy
country lad Of sixteen with splen-
did mop Of blond hair and the
bluest frankest eyes I ever saw in
boys face. He and another lad
about his own age, but far less at
tractive than he. appeared to be the
sole guardians Of the place.
Where is the Halpin's rig?"
Dicky addressed the question 10
both the boys. But il was the blue
eyed one that answered with re-
turn query.
Are You Mr Graham D."
yes" Dicky returned impatient
ly.
Well Mr.. Halpin telephoned this
morning TO see If mother could take
YOU. You see there's a woman there
with some children one of them
has been sick for two or three DAYS.
and they Just found out yesterday
that it was infantile paralysis, and
the house has been quarantined. Mr..
Halpin said ne wired you yesterday
but ne couldn't get any answer
THAT was because we stayed i'm
the city last night 7 interposed
breathlessly.
ct suppose So" Dicky returned,
and then sharply 70 the boy: Has
our trunk been up there 10 Halpin's
at all"
NO" the lad replied; lit came
yesterday Just after they declared
the quarantine. so the station agent
said he would let IL stay right here
until we heard from you"
We'll what's TO be done?" Dicky
turned to me This is about the
rottenest luck ever. stayed az Hal
pins mum her of times It's about
mile up the stream and 7 know
all about IT, This other place is
distinctly taking a chance"
Dicky's words. i'm "A half CON
temptuous tone. were distinctly
audible both TO the blue-eyed boy
who had spoken 20 us and TO our
feminine fellow passenger. who
loitered a little distance away pre-
tending 10 he absorbed in the land
sCape.
over the boys freckled face spread
slow flush. My own face reflect
ed his embarrassment
"Dicky." 7 muHmured protestinClv
ct am sure this other place is all
right"
Your place is on the bank of the
stream. is IL not2" 7 turned 20 the
boy encouraGinElv.
ITO Re Fellow BoardcrS."
cob YES" his face lighted up. end
he turned 10 me with a boyish out
burst Of enthusiasm. There's the
hest fishing i'm the stream right back
Of our house" he said. his face
glowing man pulled some whop-
pers out of there just last week. and
our swimming pool YOU just ought
20 see IT, Pa fixed If up a couple OF
years ago i'm a sort of little cove.
and IFS the finest place for bathing
/ YOU ever saw"
HAS your mother two rooms