Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-06-06
Benny Quest
By VICTORIA LEE
Copyright Isls. Western Newspaper Union
BY VICTORIA LEE

copyright, 1913. western Newspaper Union.)
"And it is so lonely !" mourned
Miss Huldah Morse, land if it wasn't
for lean little Benny here I should
fairly die Of ennul."
"Dear little Benny" inspecting a toy
whistle the lady bountiful speaker had
just brought him, pricked up his ears,
came up to Miss Morse, kissed her on
the cheek and said expansively: wish
I lived with you all the timel Every
body says you're the good lady, and 1t
makes me proud to tell them l know
you bestesti"
"You sweet little cherubi !" praised
Miss Morse, with true affection for the
little fellow. 'Yes, Mrs. Woods, It's
dreadfully lonesome. l am really
thinking of selling the place and board
ing"
"Too bad, Huldah," spoke Mrs.
Woods, "what you need is a hus-
band"
Miss Morse flushed and futtered,
murmured something about being
stated for a single life," and mo one
wanting her" Hers was a gentle, af-
fectionate nature, and she had often
wished it had been her part to have
met some loving life partner upon
whom she might lavish care and ten
derness. Love had not come her way.
Bonnie lived with his aunt, who a
several children Of her own. When
Benny's mother died, Mr.. Rankin had
left the child in her care. He was a
travelling man and only saw Benny
when he returned from his long busi-
ness trips. Miss Morse had never met
him, but his sister had told him of the
strong, fond companionship Of the
twain.
"Guess I'll get right at It," solilo-
quized Benny as he left the house, ig-
nored his playmates and proceeded sew
eral squares, serious faced, thoughtful
and on the keen lookout. He finally
hailed a portly, contented looking gen.
tleman sauntering along the street.
Mister" spoke Bonnie, satisfied
with his appearance, edo you want to
be a husband?"
sDo I-what?" queried Bennie's vic
tim, with a stare.
"Yes. sir, / am looking for a hus-
band for a very beautiful lady"
"Sorry, little man." smiled the gen.
tleman, but Tn a husband already"
"OOh!" muttered Bonnie disconso-
lately. Then he came across a second
object of interest, lounging outside OF
a store. Bonnie began his s~tereotyped
inquisition, but paused in the middle
of his first query.
ssNo, you won't do" he observed, half
Up
collar and you don't loek clean, and
Miss Morse Is neat" and left the man
in a maze of mystery.
Bonnie returned home, weary and
disappointed. 81 haven't found any
husband yet" he Illuminated. 'but to-
morrow I'll go down to the depot.
where there's crowds sometimes, and
pick one out"
But Bonnie was not destined to full
fill his mission. He awoke the next
morning in a weak and fevered condi-
Non. At noon Mrs. Woods sent for a
physician, who announced that Bonnie
had symptoms of an infectious dis
ease.
"You must allow me to remove Ben
ME to my home" insisted Miss Morse.
.You mustn't risk your own children,
Mrs. Woods"
So the loving two were practically
~uuarantined. Tender was the care OF
Miss Morse through strenuous weeks OF
nursing. Glorious was the career of
little Bernie when days Of GONZALES
cence arrived. With them came his
father, and his grateful expressions
made Miss Morse feel that her minis
trations had been worth while.
'Papa," spoke the little fellow one
day, when they were alone in a room.
81 can't get down town for a week
yet, the doctor says"
"Not alone, Bennie," answered Mr..
Rankip.
ssThen maybe you can do something
for me-something l didn't finish when
I was taken sick"
sNWhat was that, Bennie?"
81 was to have found a husband for
Miss Morse"
Mr.. Rankin looked grave, fearing the
fever was coming on again. Then he
smiled broadly, as Bonnie explained.
but how do you know Miss Morse
really wants a husband?" he ques-
toned.
"Oh, she got red in the face, and
O beautifuller than ever, and said
70 one would care for her when Aunty
q she needed d husband"
wxI1er," said Mr.. Rankin, whim-
half in earnest. II won
the next room. an
per, apprized her