The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-06
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Riddle.
BY OLIVE RosERTs BARTON.
Copyright 1919, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.

w but won't 90 up the chimney
Up a0s down the chimney up!'
jimmy Sudds, third row, five, re-
citad the riddle glibly through missing
front tooth. The school was petrified
mot ss.at It was rddle-for Miss
Eeaton herself had suggested the form
Of recreation that day much to their de
light, but they were petrified by the
I; enormity Of the proposition Jimmy
propounded
After a moment Miss Eaton sug-
gested gently, Suppose you say ~
again, Jimmy; IT'S such a long one,
you know. Now, go very slowly. !"
Again jimmy, inflated with Importance
and the size of his riddle, repeated
the amazing words.
THAT certainly is hard one, jim
myI" Miss Eaton remarked, smiling,
and then realizing that fifteen pairs
Of eyes recently concentrated on the
third row, five. had shifted their gaze
to the door behind her, she turned.
Mr.. Milford, the principal, had open
ed 1t quietly, evidently just in time
TO hear the second rendition.
Miss Eaton's cheeks took unge OIL
pink, but she rose 10 the occasion beau
tifllly.,
"oh, Mr.. Milford, won't you help US
guess riddles? It's recreation time
you know ard we thought we'd have
them for a change. We are tired OF
old games"
Mr., Milford was silent for moment
then said crisply, miss Eaton, III
send down some primary history read
crs. The children will like them u
think, and they are more improving
than-than riddles, I'm sure" Where
upon he went out and closed the door,
but not before he had seen the deep
rose in Miss Eaton's cheeks deepen
to a painful crimson as she caught
the implied rebuke.
Outside he hesitated an Instant:
then suddenly sqYaring his shoulders
he strobe over to his desk, in thel
office. where he savaGaly grebbed
UP his zen and proceeded to finish
the Application blanks for the follow
ing term. Why was it that Rebecca
EP' on insisted so on inviting re9ri-
mand?
VIZ? was it she was always doing
something entirely without precedent,
establishing a system 0f her own, So
to speak-tearlng down the school eth
les daily. abciishing military precision
that had been the very foundation Of
the system
"Of course. he reflected. cher disci-
pine is perfect, and" Che pulled a
record card OF No. 5 out Of a pigeon
hole) "her years average is the high
est in the school. But rlddles lnI
school! Ridiculous!"
What goes down the chimney upl
and up the chimney down but WON'T
go down the chimney What was It'll
the youngster was saying?" Then
suddenly Strengthening, he ran fin
ger down the neglected page. Where
was I? Miss Eliza Smart? Oh, yes!
Age, 5S, address-street, town, state,
hereby do wish to be considered
Again Mr.. Milford's grey eyes wan
dered out Of the window to the line
Of naples waving gay salutes at the
fluffy white clouds above them. And
just beyond, a full grown, regular
Santa Claus chimney lifted its capable
shoulders. What goes up the Chin
ney up and down the chimney DOWN.
Where do you suppose that kid ever
heard it?"
Mr.. Milford got up and paced his
office rafting the keys in his pocket.
Nov what can go up the chimney up,i
do you suppose?" He stopped thought
fully in front OF a bookcase. "I'll just
take those history readers over to No,
5 myself and see If they're still guess
ing"
But when Mr.. Milford appeared
again in Miss Milford's room his north
ern latitude completely collapsed by al
pile Of red-backed History Readers, I"
No. had its nose buried deep in null
tiplication tables.
Miss Eaton helped him unload andi
turned back to her marking. A GER
tain amused defiance had replaced the
distress in her eyes which Mr.. Mil
ford noted with uneasiness He Meth
or enjoyed nor understood her sense
OF humor. Once, he remembered, she
had told him it was because he had
been born without any himself. The
smile had disappeared from his own
lips, but not the curiosity from his
brain.
He sought Jlmmy's desk and show.
ed him that q K are not "a. "0h,
by the way, did they guess your riddle,
Jimmy?" he asked casually.
mo, sir!" answered Jimmy prompt,
ly and proudly. II had to tell EN-"
But he volunteered no further infor-
nation.
"Will you please stop in the office
before you go this evening. Miss Ba-
ton?' he sad as he left, "The appli.
cation blanks are ready for next sea-
son awaiting your signature"
AT 5:15 every blank had been filled,
from Miss libby Tilbury who taught
A B G In No. /. to Miss Marcia Stone
who brtke into Beginners Latin I'M
"A Sth-all except one-Mdss Eaton
from No. 8 had not appeared to affiX
her signature to her application.
And another-Mr. Richard Milford,
principal, also had not put down his
name. Unt1 an hour ago. he had
fully intended to sign for reXt term,
why then was he waiting? He looked
anxIously at the blank for No then
across the hall to the closed door.
Things were beginning to clear slow
u up IN his mind. He was realizing
very zeenly now why he would or
would not apply for next year. III
all depended on Rabecca Eaton.
A shadow came over tho sun and dar