Evening star., 1919-11-09
By SeWell Ford

for about q week or ten days later Wee
gets q postcard from Ma Gummidge
sayin' that it was lucky they got there
just as they did. for they found Brother
Jim pretty sick. She was sure she'd
have him prancin' around again soon.
and she couldn't say how much she
thanked us all for what we'd done.
And with that the Gummidges sort
Of fades out. Not another word comes
from 'em. Must have been year and
half ago they went. More, expect.
We had one or two other things to
think of meanwhile. You know how
easy 1t is to forget people like that.
specially when you make UP your mind
that they're sort of crossed off for
good. And after a spell if somebody
mentioned Texas maybe I'd recall
vague that I knew some one who was
down there. and wonder who it was. :
Then here the other afternoon comes
Wee with this announcement that the
Gummidges We're back. Do you won.
:. der didn't give way to any wild, un.
controlled joy? Z could see us goin'
through the same old program with
'em; listenin' to Pa Gummidge whine
about how bad he felt, tryin' to keep
his job for him, plannin' out a career
for Horatio, and watchin' Rowena split
out more shirt waists.
Wee show UP prompt a little before
closin' time She's in taxi and has a
big suit case and basket full of con-
tributions. What puzzles me-" says
she, ''is how he could get back his old
place so readily"
Needn't worry you long," says I.
Lets go on up and have it over with
and then go somewhere for dinner"
So, of course. when we rolls up to
the Patricia apartments we dives down
into janitor's quarters as usual. But
we're halted by a putty-faced Swede
person in blue denims, who can con-
verse and smoke pipe at the same
time.
''Ya. bane' yanitor here long time"
says he.
"Eh:" says I. What about Gum.
midge. then:
"Oh, Meester Gummidge," says he.
HE bane new tenant on second floor.
yes? Sublet. furnished. two days ago
yet Nice peoples"
Well. at that stares at Wee and
she stares back
"Whaddye mean. nicer" I demands.
Swell peoples" says tho Swede,
soundin' the ''v" in swell "Second
: floor" s.
There must be some mistake" says
Wee. but I suppose we might as we'll
go up and see"
So up we trails to the elevator. me
with the suit case in one hand and the
basket in the other. like a Santa Claus
who has lost his way
'Mr. Henry Gummidge?" says the
neat elevator girl "Yes'm. Second"
And in another minute Wee was be.
ing greeted in the dark hallway and
folded in impetuous by Ma Gummidge
herself. But as we are towed into the
. white and gold living room. where half
: a dozen pink-shaded electric bulbs are
biazin', we could see that 1t wasn't ex-
acty the same Mrs Gummidge we'd
known She's about tho same build. and
she has the same number of chins. Also
there's the old familiar chuckly laugh,
But that's as far as 1t goes This Mrs.
Gummidge Is attired-thats the proper
"SANs SAPSSs d UldCk SaIln Cventn
dress that fits her like she'd been cast
into 1t. Also her mop Of brownish hair
has been done up neat and artistic, and
with the turquoise necklace dangltn,
down to her waist, and the marauise
dinner ring flashin' on her right hand.
she's more or less impressive to behold.
why. Mrs. Gummidge!" gasps Wee.
Il just thought that's what you'd
say" says she. But wait till you've
seen Rowena. Come, dearie, here's
comp'ny."
She was dead right. 1t was a case
OF waitin' to see Rowena. and we held
our breaths while she rustled in. Saw.
who'd have thought that a few clothes
could mako such difference? For in.
stead Of the big sloppy young female
who used to slouch sigglin' around the
basement who should breeze in but a
zippy young lady. bit heavy about
the shoulders maybe for that flimsv
style Of costume, but more or less Stun
Mn. for all that. Rowena had bloomeJ
out In fact, she had the lilies of th.
field lookin' like crepe paper limitations
And we'd no sooner caught our
breath after inspcctin' her than Ho
ratio makes an entrance. and we be
hold the youngster whose usual cos
tune was an old gray sweater and Il