The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-11-14

keep me out in the open air. But II
perhaps your finances"
sAOh, 1t isn't that 50 much" the old
gentleman laughed uncomfortably. II
guess we could still afford q new horse
or two. II need be-"
II thought you said"
The Major waved his hand airily.
"Oh, a 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 walt till autumn, then.
said the Major In a tone of relief.
wen see about 1t in the autumn. II
you're still In the mind for 1t then.
You remind me Of 1t. along in Sep
tember-or October. Well see what
can be done" He rubbed his hands
cheerfully. wen see what can be
done about 1t then. George. Well
see.''
And George, in reporting this con-
versation to his mother, was ruefully
humorous. "In fact, the old boy
cheered up SO much" he told her.
you'd have thought he'd got a real
load of his mind. OF course / know
he's anything but mIserly; still I can't
help thinking he must be sailing q 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 tor
Uncle George told me grandfather had
sold some pieces of property, and 1t
looks little queer. 1 have a faint
suspicion, not that he's getting misery
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 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 bright idea. George
Instead of q tandem wouldn't it inter
est you to get one of Eugene's automo-
biles?"
II 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 'em.
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. / do
think you'd be interested. dear"
George remained Indifferent "Pos-
sibly-but l hardly think so. l know
a lot of good people are really taking
them up, but still"
"'But still what?" she said as he
paused.
''But still-well, 1 suppose I'm a
little old-fashioned and fastidious, but
I'm afraid being d sort of engine
driver never vtu 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; l
believe I'd rather wait for September
and tandem. mother"
Nevertheless George sometimes con-
scented TO sit in an automobile, while
waiting for September, and he fire.
quently went driving In one of Eu-
genes cars with Lucy and her father
I l. l.
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 car
and quarter day."
From the factory Eugene took them
to lunch at 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-
lions; and her gayety helped Eugene's
to make the little occasion almost a
festive one.
Georges ennui disappeared In spite
IF himself. and he laughed to see his
mother in such spirits. 81 didn't know
mineral waters could go to a PERSONS
head" he said. ''Or perhaps it's this
place. 1t might pay to have new res
-aurant opened somewhere III town
every time you get the blues"
NO" Isabel said. what makes me
augh so much at nothing is Eugene's
Wouldn't anybody be delight
I'd to see an old friend take an idea |
)ut of the air like that-an idea that |
most people laughed at him for
wouldn't any old friend of his be |