Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-17
, SAuthor of Pollyanna and Just David

me without any difficulty" rejoined
Mr.. Smith bit dryly. "But-you---
You see you have the advantage Of
me, Benny hasn't described you to
! me-" He paused significantly. =
"Oh, I'm Just here to help out.
Mrs. Blaisdell is i'll upstairs-one OF
her headaches. That is why | asked
you not to ring. She gets so nervous
when the bell rings. She thinks it's
, callers, and that she won't be ready to
receive them; and she hurries up and
begins to dress. SO | asked you not
to ring"
"But she isn't seriously ill?"
"Oh, no, just a headache. She has
them often. You wanted to see herr"
"Yes. But it's not important at
all. Another time, just as well, Some
questions-that is all"
'"Oh far the book, of course. Oh,
yes, l have heard about that, too"
She smiled again brightly. But can't
you wait? Mr.. Blaisdell will soon be
here. He's coming early so | can go
home. l have to go home"
And you are"
Miss Duff. My name is Duff"
"You don't mean-'Poor Maggie'~
(Not until the words were out did
Mr.. Smith realize quite how they
would sound). "Er-ah-that is"
He stumbled miserably, and she came
to his rescue.
"Oh, yes, 1'm-'Poor Maggie
There was. an odd something in her
expressive face that Mr.. Smith could
not fathom. He was cropping for some
thing-anythlng ito say, when sudden
ly the little woman at his side sprang
to her feet.
ooh, Hattie, you came DOWN. she
exclaimed as Mrs. James Blaisdell
opened the screen door and stepped
out on to the veranda. Here's Mrs.
Blaisdell now, Mr.. Smith"
"Oh. it's only Mr.. Smith" With a
look very like annoyance Mrs. Blais-
dell advanced and held out her hand.
She looked pale, and her hair hung a
bit untidily about one ear below a
somewhat twisted pyramid of puffs.
Her dress, though manifestly an ex-
pensive one. showed haste in its fast
enings. "Yes, | heard voices, and |
thought some one had come-a caller.
SO | came down"
I'm glad-if you're better" smiled
Miss Maggie. Then I'll go, if you
don't mind. Mr.. Smith has come to
ask you some questions. Hattie. Good
by" With another CHEEKY smile aand
nod to Mr.. Smith, she disappeared
into the Mouse. A inmate later Mr..
Smith saw her hurrying down a side
path to the street.
you called to ask some questions?"
Mrs. Blaisdell sank languidly into
chair
About the Blaisdell family-yes,
But perhaps another day, when you
are feeling better, Mrs. Blaisdell."
"'Oh, no" She smiled little more
cordially. II can answer today as well
as any time-though I'm not sure !
can tell you very much. ever.
Il think it's fine you are making
the book, though. Some way it gives
family such standing, to be written
up like that Don't you think so? And
the Blaisdells are really a very nice
family-one of the oldest in Hillerton.
though of course, they haven't much
money"
Il ought to find good deal of ma
terial here, then. if they have lived
here SO long"
Eyes, l suppose so. Now, what can
I tell you? Of course, | can tell you
about my own family. My husband is
in the real estate business. You knew
that, didn't you? Perhaps you see The
Real Estate Journal. His picture was
in it a year ago last June There was
write-up on Hillerton. was in it,
too, though there wasn't much about
me. But I've got other clippings with
more. if you'd like to see them-where