South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-27


evidently the correct size.
why. Madge!" his mother ex-
claimed, you've done wonders. All
looks exactly like the picture in the
front OF the Red Cross instruction
books"
! Her son made a wry face and
| looked down quizzically at me as
still held the helmet front on his
face.
You don't think 7 look like that
dear little picture. do you?' he ask
ed in a low tone.
NO, indeed" I murmured back,
laughingly. and then I couldn't help
turning a triumphant little glance
( toward Cousin Agatha, who sat next
! my mother-in-law.
Il don't think I shall have TO
unravel this. do you. Cousin Aga
tia p" I queried meekly. "Of course,
whenever l make a mistake ! take
! everything out so that I don't
waste any yarn
Cousin Agatha didn't answer at
first She SIMPLY looked al me. a
/ Ions. suspicious. significant gaze
made me miserab bly, conscious all al
/ once that the position in which
stood holding the helmet up 10 AL
| fred Durkees face was not one
which accorded with the strict
I ideals OF behavior held either by
, Cousin Agatha or my mother-in-
| law. | fancied that ] saw disap-
proval in my mother-in-law's eyes
also, and hated myself for the hot
! flush that rose TO my cheeks.
Hope on Don't Object"
you have done very we'll" Cou-
sin Agatha said slowly at last
That helmet fits as we'll as it evil
IDENTIFY will be appreciated.
The words were innocuous, but
the tone pointing them was unmis-
/ taxable. dropped my hands
abruptly from Alfred Durkees face,
! only 10 find them caught and held,
knitting and all. by that young man,
whose eyes were flashing with in
dignation.
You can just bet it Will be ap-
preciatedi" he said, and then turn
ing to Dicky he said -detiantly
Hope you don't object Dicky-
bird"
He fairly swept me from my feet
at the words, kissed me full upon
the lips and set me down again.
That just expresses a tiny part
of my gratitude, my dear" he said,
bowling low. And I'll be the proud
man when I'm wearing the whole
outfit. Gee! those things sure ought
to be nice and warm"
Little Mrs. Durkee clapped her
hands softly as her son so enthusi-
astically showed his approval Of my
work.
Aren't you getting to be the
popular lady, though, Madge?" she
said You ought to go down 10
one of those booths where the
pretty girls are giving kisses TO the
men who volunteer for the army.
The most hardened Stacker would
volunteer if he had a chance to kiss
you, Madge."
Rent Your House."
1t was an unfortuna Q little speech
in view of the fact that Dicky had
as yet given no indication of vOlun-
teering or even Of thinking serious
" upon the subject. And it was
the more unfortunate because for
the space of a long half minute no
one answered it 1 saw a slow
flush creep up from Dicky's neck,
knew that the unintentiOnal point of
the little speech had pierced him.
and for the moment was fiercely
resentful toward NV little neighbor.
II was she, however, who
changed the subject the next mo-
ment. She did it feverishly, abrupt
". in a manner which unintention-
ally pointed her intention, but the
topic she introduced was absorbing
enough to enable us to ignore her
previous words.
DO you know any one who
wants TO rent our house," she de-
manded.
Rent your house" Dicky coun-
tered quickly. / realized that he
was glad to seize the ball of the new
topic and toss it back TO her. why,
you've just bought"
Yes, 1 know" the little woman
returned. But 1 never could stay
in that house alone after Alfred
goes. even with you do near,
Madge." She stopped 70 blow a kiss
at me prettily.
But what will you do?" Dicky
kept strictly 10 his questioning.
Why, 1 shall go 10 Plattsburg
first" Mrs. Durkee replied. I'm
going to keep near ALI just as long
as l cam shivered at the heart
break the little woman's words COW
cred. II have nothing TO do but
follow him around. Perhaps /
shall even go 10 France. I spent one
year in London, YOU know, and
have always wanted TO go back"
You wouldn't cross the ocean
with those submarines in action.
would you ?" Cousin Agatha's voice
expressed Mortified incredulousness.
Il shouldn't care for either Yep
pelins or submarines" little Mrs.
Durkee returned, laughing.
was so seasick the last time I went
over l would have been glad if a
submarine had ended by misery"
The little woman was still child
Z