Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-19
CHAPTER vi,
Poor Maggie"

DulI iiOiIlSs
"sure I WILL" agreed Benny with
alaerity. "You don't ever have ter do
any teasin' ter get ter go ter Aunt
Maggie's,
You're fond, of Aunt Maggie
then, | take it."
Benny's eyes widened little.
"Why, Of course! Everybody S
fond of Aunt Maggie, Why, | don t
know anybody that don't like Aunt
Maggie"
"Im sure that speaks .well-for
Aunt Maggie" smiled Mr.. Smith,
Yep! A fcler can take some COM
fort at Aunt Maggie's," continued
Benny, trudging along at Mr.. Smith 5
side. "Shc don't have anythln' just
for show, that you can't touch. like t
is at my house, and there amt any
thin but what you can use without
gettin' snarIed up in mess OF covers
an tides, like t is at Aunt Jane S
But Aunt Maggie don't save anythln
Aunt Jane says. an she'll die some
day in the poorhouse, beln so ex-
travagant. But | don't believe she
will. Do you. Mr.. SMITH"
"Well, really, Benny, l-er-' heSi-
tated the man.
"Well, l don't believe she will
repeated Benny.
Il hope she won't anyhow. Poor
houses amt very nice, are they?
T-I don't think | know very much
about them, Benny"
"Wel1, I don't believe they are.
from what Aunt Jane says. And II
they amt, l don't want Aunt Maggie
ter go. She hadn't ought ter have
:anythin'-but heaven--after Grandpa
duff. Do YOU know Grandpa Duff
mo, my b-boy.' Mr.. Smith was
cho king over cough.
giles sick. He's got chronic
grohch, ma say. Do you know what
that )is?"
T-EI have heard of them"
"WFhat are they? Anything like
chronic rheumatism? know what
chronSc means. 1t means it keeps
goin' without stoppin' rheuma-
tism. I mean, not the folks that's
got it, They. don't go at all, some
times. Old DR.. Cole don't, and that's
what hes got But when | asked ma
what crouch was she said little boys
should be seen and not heard. Ma
always says that when she don't
want to answer any questions. Do
yot1 Have you got any little boys,
Nj. Smith,"
,f'No, Benny. I'm a poor old bache-
lor."'
"oh, are you poor, too? That's too
bad"
"Well, that is, II"
"Ma was wonderin' yesterday what
you lived on. Haven't you got any
money, Mr.. Smith,"
"Oh, yes, Benny, I've got money
enough-to live on" Mr.. Smith spoke
promptly, and with confidence this
time.
ooh, that's nice. You're glad, then,
amt you? Ma says we haven't-got
enough ter live on, l mean; but pa
says we have, if we didn't try ter live
like everybody else lives what's got
more"
Mr.. Smith bit his lip, and looked
down a little apprehensively at the
small boy at his side.
Tim not sure, Benny, but I shall
have to say little boys should be
seen and not" He stopped abruptly.
Benny with a stentorian shout, had
run ahead to gate before small
white cottage. On the cozy, vine
shaded porch sat a white-haired old
man leaning forward on his cane.
Hi, there, Grandpa Duff, I've
brought somebody ter see YEP The
gate was open now and Benny was
halfway up the short walk. ITS Mr..
Smith. Come in Mr.. Smith. Here's
grandpa right here"
With 8 pleasant smile Mr.. Smith
dofed his hat and came forward.
THANK you, Benny. How do you
do, Mr.. Duff. 5'a... ~
The man on the porch looked up
sharply from beneath heavy brows.
"Humphl Your nasne's Smith is
itl"
That what they call me-" The
corners Of Mr.. Smiths mouth
twitched a little.
"Humphl Yes, I've heard OF you"
'You fatter me" Mr.. Smith on the
topmost step, hesitated. rs your--er
daughter in Mr.. Duff" He was still
smiling cheerfully.
Mr.. Duff was not smiling. His
somewhat unfriendly gaze was still
bent upon, the newcomer.
"Just what do you want Of my
.
"Why IL" Plainly nonplussed, the
man paused uncertainty. Then, with
q resumption Of his jaunty cheerful
ness, he smiled straight into the TN
friendly eyes. I'm after some rec
ords, Mr.. Duff--records Of the Blais-
dell family. I'm compiling a book
on"
"Humphl ! thought a. much" in
terrupted Mr.. Duff eurtly, settling
back in his chair. "As I said, I've
heard of you. But you needn't come
hete asking your silly question, I
sha'nt tell you thing, anyway, if you
do. It's none Of your business who
|. and died and what they did be-
fore you were born. If the Lord had
wanted you to know he'd a. put you
here then instead of nowr
Looking very much as IL he had |
received a blow,in the face, Mr.. Smith |
fell back.
"Aw, grandpa"-began Benny, in
grieved expostulation. But 4 CHEEKY
voice interrupted, and Mr.. Smith
turned to see Miss Maggie Duff |
emerging from the doorway.
"Oh, Mr., Smith, how do you dor" |
she greeted him, extending q cordial |