The Connecticut labor press., 1919-10-25

keep me out in the open air. But if perhaps your finances"
 "Oh, 1t isn't that so much" the old gentleman laughed uncomfortably. T guess we could still afford a new horse or two, if need be-"
 T thought you said"
 The Major waved his hand airily. "Oh, few retrenchments where things were useless. And if you want this thing so very much"
 Its not important enough to bother about, really, of course"
 "Well, let's wait till autumn. then, |" said the Major in a tone of relief. ''We'n see about 1t in the autumn, if you're still in the mind for it then. You remind me of it, along in Sep tember-or October. We'll see what can be done." He rubbed his hands cheerfully. "We'll see what can be done about 1t then, Georgie. We'll see."
 And George, in reporting this con- versation to his mother, was ruefully humorous. "In fact, the old boy
 
 you'd have thought he'd got a real load off his mind. Of course know he's anything but miserly; still I can't help thinking he must be salting a lot of money away. I know prices are higher than they used to be, but he doesn't spend within thousands of what he used to, and we certainly can't be spending more than we always have spent. Where does 1t all go to? Uncle George told me grandfather had sold some pieces of property, and 1t looks little queer. I have a faint suspicion, not that he's getting miserly not that at all-but that old age has begun to make him timid about money. There's no doubt about it, he's get ting little queer: he can't keep his mind on a subject long. Right in the middle of talking about one thing he'll wander off to something else; and shouldn't be surprised if he turned out to be a lot better off than any of us guess"
 Isabel had a bright idea. "Georgie Instead of a tandem wouldn't 1t inter est you to get one of Eugene's automo- biles?"
 "I don't think so. They're fast enough, of course. In fact, running one of those things is getting to be quite on the cards for sport, and people go all over the country in lem. But they're dirty things, and they keep getting out, of order, so that you're always lying down on your back in the mud and"
 "Oh, no," she interrupted eagerly. Haven't you noticed? The way they make them now you can get at most of the machinery from the top. I do think you'd be interested, dear"
 George remained indifferent. "Pos- sibly-but I hardly think so. I know a lot of good people are really taking them up, but still"
 "'But stilr what?" she said as he paused. ~
 But still-well, suppose I'm a little old-fashioned and fastidious, but I'm afraid being a sort of engine driver never will appeal to me, mother. It's exciting, and I'd like that part of it, but still it doesn't seem to me precisely the thing a gentleman ought to do. Too much Overalls and monkey wrenches and grease! No; I believe I'd rather wait for September and a tandem. mother"
 Nevertheless George sometimes con- sented to sit in an automobile, while waiting for September, and he ire quently, went driving in one of Eu- genes cars with Lucy and her father. He even allowed himself to be escort ed with his mother and Fanny through the growing factory, which was now, as the foreman of the paint shop in formed the visitors, turning out a car and a quarter a day"
 From the factory Eugene took them to lunch at a new restaurant, just opened in the town, place which sur prised Isabel with its metropolitan air, and, though George made fun of her, in a whisper, she offered every thing the tribute of pleased exclama- tions; and her gayety helped Eu ,ene's to make the little occasion almost a festive one.
 Georges ennui disappeared in spite of himself, and he laughed to see his mother in such spirits. q didn't know mineral waters could go to persons head" he said. -''Or perhaps it's this place. It might pay to have new res taurant opened somewhere in town every time you get the blues.''
 "No," Isabel said, what makes me laugh so much at nothing is Eugene's factory. Wouldn't anybody be delight cd to see an old friend take an idea out of the air like that-an idea that most people laughed at him for wouldn't any old friend of his be