The Wahpeton times., 1918-11-14
HIS CURIOSITY
BY MILDRED L. DAVIDSON.
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newsps,
pee Syndicate.)

Il
pse Syndicate.)
The new principal Of Elmtown
grammar school was no longer new in
any sense Of the word, but he was still
the most talked Of man in that little
village. "Schoolmaster's" methods of
punishment and his ideas on various
matters were Of never-ending impsr.
tance to the village gossips.
Not only about the dinner table OF
many country farm was the schssl.
master discussed. For although Rich
ard Brown had been teaching in Elm.
town nearly 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 'That
there Mr.. Brown is lacking In a 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 q good time in
making him show the curiosity which
she was sure was there.
Miss bearings opportunity to test
Mr.. Brown came sooner than she an.
ticipated.
A wealthy farmer In Mmtown had.
upon his death, left Nmtown hiah
school substantial library. Richard
Brown thought that this library
should bs catalogued, and 20 asked
Miss Deasing and Miss Barton, his ~
sistants at the school. to assast hin.
They co0seoted, and the next Saturday
was decided upoa % Q good day to d
the work.
When Aiss Dsafing axoks On Sat
urday she found that Il was raining
steadily. but being Q good sport 20
well - healthy slrl. thas did net dis
turb her n TIE least.
Tea o'clock found Richard Brown.
Mrs Deazng and Miss BARTON at work
In the school library.
At noon they stopped work and went
home to. lunch. Alss Dearing and Miss
Barton going to nearby farm. and
Mr.. Brown driving back to his board
Ing place.
NJ. BsoWn aaid that he would bs
back at one O'Clock. but when Miss
Dearing and Miss Barton returned at
quarter after one. he had not arrived.
As the sehoolmsster had the key to the
school. there was no way for the girls
to get In.
Mics Dearing thought that this
would b q One opportunity to make
Mr.. Brown display his curiosity, II
they could get in. Miss Barton
agreed, but could see no way Of get.
ting In.
| Alter some time Miss Dearing ran
over to the next farmhouse and 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.
Il was Just looking to see if it were
still raining" she said, dropping the
screwdriver behind her and not noting
that it fell into her umbrella.
Miss Dearing was very angry with
Mr.. Brown as we'll as herself, and it
did not decrease her passion to find
that Mr.. Brown had no intention of in
quiring how she and Miss Barton had
gotten into the schoolhouse. Instead
he went quickly to his work without a
question.
1t was quite dark when the cata.
loguing was finished, and Mr.. 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 Dearing
and Mr. Brown started up the street
It began again. Miss Dearing raised
her umbrella aud, to her horror, out
dropped the screwdriver which she
had entirely forgotten.
MIR. 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 Dearing's
gate Mr.. Brown took the screwdrives
from his pocket and, looking at it,
said:
"Jessie. I suppose you have heard
that ridiculous story about my lack
Of curiosity. and are wondering why I
did not ask how you and Miss Barton
got into the schoolhouse."
AS Miss Dearing did not reply, he
continued.
swell. I once made up my mind, just
as an experiment, that should not
ask unnecessary questions. Just q
whim. suppose one would call it, but
not bad one after all. really have
good bump Of curiosity, and Just now
am wondering what q ceftain young
lady BY the name Of Jessie Dearine
thinks Of man named Richard
Brown. Will she tell me?"
Jessie's answer must have been at.
isfactory. because 1t was some time
l latop In 0nito ~ Tho ro1o <het nsnA