The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-05-14
AsCRAP0FP PAPER
ey EsTELLE NJ. rIpp.

The first time the telephone ram
that morning young Mrs. B. pickle,
up the receiver and heard the follow
ing:
THAT you, Nelli Say, did you no
tice little folded piece of paper OF
the hall floor after left? Didn't
Well. will you look, please; and say
Nell, If you find 1t. don't look at II
please, do you hear? It's little bi
private. I'll hold the line. Hurr,
back"
The paper was quickly found ant
Nell rushed back to inform her hus
band of her success.
Good I~don't want to lose that
was. the reply. Put II In the little
drawer In my desk, and you wont
look at 1t, will you. Nell? Promise"
"Awfully private. 1t seems to me, buI
you needn't worry. won't look al
your precious paper. Good-by."
She sat for a moment. regarding the
bit Of paper with hostile eyes.
Pretty fussy to call 1t folded
piece Of paper" she unused indignant
ly. Looks to me like note-a regu'
lar note"
Presently there rushed In upon her
julia D, her best and frankest
friend.
Have you heard the latestT she
demanded. "Sue B. Is here-came
Tuesday; she's going to stay month.
She's looking magnificent. Funny she
hasn't visited In town since your en-
gagement to Harley was announced
over two years ago. She used to be
crazy about him. They made the most
stunning pair-everybody turned to
look. / wonder" she paused abrupt
ly, then ratified on: Say, Nell,
wouldn't dare to marry a handsome
man-you never can tell-Goodness.
Nell, don't ever wear that shade Of
blue again. You look five years older
In it,"
Julia had just whirled out when the
telephone rang again. Harley's sister
Lou wanted Nelrs new recipe for egg
less cake, and after hearing 1t she con-
tributed her share to the morning )
budget. 81
Whose car were you out in last
night at Pinetree Heights? After you
had whizzed by, breaking every speed
law ever made, realized that one Of
the men was Harley. 1t was so near
dark couldn't recognize anyone else,
but l suppose you were along. You
certainly had a reckless person at the
wheel"
I'LL tell you all about 1t later,
Lou. II think there's something
burning on the stove. Good-by."
She hung up the receiver. Out at
Pinetree Heights last night, and he
had told her it was business en-
gagement that had kept him until 30.
He had been unusually high-spirited
during the evening, and then alternate
ly absorbed in thought.
What could 1t mean? Miserably she
went about her work. She thought in
cessantly of that arch-charmer. Sue
B., and the mysterious note. and
though she felt wholesome distaste
in doing so, still she kept wondering
whether Sue B and the note did or
did not belong together.
mo, / won't look at It," she assured
herself. II said wouldn't, and 1
WON'T won't" ,s..a a.r..
But before she had finished speak
ing her, hand reached straight to the
drawer. opened 1t and drew out the
paper. aDf a5 e.9f
"All the rest OF the day." she
choked, rive got to live with this aw-
full note"
Springing up, she crumpled 1t in her
hand.
81 know what I'll do. I'll burn up
the horrid thing. Harley shan't have
it-nobody shall have it, and II it's
burned up I can't read it,"
Lighting a match, she kns64 before
the crate. She had justsfhrown down
the flaming scrap when the frnnt door
banged and her husband entered the
room, going straight tosthe desk In the
corner.
Building a fire. Nell7 Say, where's
that paper l 'phoned about?" His voice
was edged with excitement. That's
important"
"Yes, Of course--very important-to
you. Oh, know all about II"
"what'd you look at 1t fort BY
George. you said you wouldn't. like
that"
II didn't look at It'll" she famed. II
had some degree of honor, but I've
burned the horrible thing, and didn't
have to read 1t to find out few things
joy riding way out to Pinetree
Heights last night. for instance-and"
"whatr" broke In Harley. "You
burned that paper-you silly-and lit
tie you know what l was out to Pine
tree Heights for. That peachy little
bungalow out there, you know. Nell,
that we are both crazy about. I've
rented 1t, with chance to buy II
later, perhaps. We can have garden
and chickens and help out on our bit.
/ was out there again this afternoon,
looking the place over, and have come
= Al And Ifo-