The Little River news., 1919-12-10

'ninedly squelched that something and presented an unsmiling face to the young man.
 Chester Radiker seemed oblivious to her coldness. With much gallantry hs took her bag, complimented her on her appearance. helped her into the car, and kept up running fire of cOnver- sation during the three-mle drive. He described his sisters house In aE amused fashion, commented on its name, and answered that he would leave that to Elizabeth to explain.
 of course" thought Sally inwardly, this is all for the benefit of the jitney man, He's making show of treating me like any guest of his sister. I'll be just as nonchalant about it as he is."
 When the car stopped and Chet pulled back the curtains Sally behed tiny house, hip-roofed and shngled, nesting close 10 the country road. On the broad veranda stood Elizabeth and her husband, his arm about ner shoul- ders. While Chet was settling with the jitney man his sister drew Sally indoors and up to the guest room, where cheerful fire burned on ths hearth
 "Take off your wet things and get into negligee," she commanded, "and let's make ourselves comfy here by the fire. The men of the house will start dinner. l want to talk to you before we go down, so save your ex- clamatiOns about the house and the view-yOu can't see it well, anyway, till later.
 First, I'll confess that told you a fib about Chet's not being able to come. Now don't get huffy--it's be- cause Pm fond of you and want you for sister that I'm taking all this trouble just at this time when Pm up to my neck in work. I wasn't cam ming in my letter. We are hard up just now, and besides fixing up this house on next to nothing I'm earning enough to carry us along for the pres ent, just doing those little water colors.''
 "But I thought Jock" began Sally.
 "Now don't interrupt till I finish" went oN her hostess. Jock has gone stale. You know that often happens to writers. Ever since he had the flu. He hasn't written word for two months. He'll come back all right here, though, where he can live the outdoor life he loves. We spent alto- gether too much money in the city last winter too. Well, he said that if l had to take the mans place for a while the only decent thing for him to do was to go fifty-fifty on the house. hold work. And he does. That's where our house gets its name."
 ''I sat Chet down in front of me this morning and told him all have told you-and some more: now I couldn't have done this if I hadn't kept my hand in and had a market for my stuff If Jock had been insistent on my doing nothing outside our home when we had plenty, why-"'
 A cheerful voice sounded from the foot of the stairs. Say, the potatoes are in the oven, the table is set, the meats cooking-and it's cleared off. There's a glorious sunset, girls; come on down on the porch and view it with us."
 "Oh, Chet," called his sister, "come up here a minute" But when he ar- rived, two steps at a time, she sud- denly remembered that Jock was igno- rant of the mysteries of salad mixing, and disappeared.
 "Tm convert, Sally" frankly con- fessed the young man. You may keep up your interior decorating. Only see that you don't earn more than the old man-he'd be jealous"